AIDS and cancer patients are generally considered to be the primary beneficiaries of the use of medical marijuana. PHOTO BY MATT DETURCK
New York legislators may be closer to approving marijuana for medical use. Assembly member Richard Gottfried and Senator Thomas Duane, both Manhattan Democrats, introduced similar bills last month that are now in the Assembly and Senate Health Committees for review.
Gottfried sponsored similar bills during the last two years, which were passed in the Assembly. But the legislation has never had a sponsor in the Senate until now.
"It is cruel to make seriously ill patients criminals for relying on medial marijuana for relief when their doctor recommends it," Gottfried said in a written statement. "I hope that the Senate and governor will make this the year we protect patients from arrest for simply treating a serious condition."
Patients or designated caregivers would require certification from their licensed physicians stating that their medical conditions warrant this type of treatment. The certification would be good for one year, and then require renewal.
AIDS and cancer patients are seen as the most likely to benefit from medical marijuana, since they frequently have trouble managing pain, nausea, and appetite levels.
The bills allow patients to posses up to 2.5 ounces or to grow up to 12 cannabis plants. The bills would also allow qualified nonprofit organizations to produce and distribute marijuana to patients.
The bills do not make it legal for patients to smoke marijuana in public places, to resell, or to distribute it. Plants must be grown inside private property and out of public view.
It is not clear whether Governor David Paterson will sign the legislation if it is approved.
Comments for "HEALTH CARE: Pushing medical marijuana " (6)
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Lynnzy said on May. 20, 2009 at 9:59am
I'm starting to think that NY is behind with this medical marijuana because the drug companies are all in the politician's wallets. We should have had this a year or two ago but instead we are fussing along with this as though we are Oklahoma or Nebraska. New York is no long first at anything anymore it seems. It might be time to bring back Spitzer.
Matt said on May. 20, 2009 at 3:14pm
It's about time new york!! Email your reps and let them know we support science that says marijuana is medicine - capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=13194986 !!
I had a spinal fusion at age 14, and have suffered from sharp infrequent pains and also long term complications that will never likely go away.
we can do it in the assembly but its the senate that has me worried. I hope we can show compassion to the sick and needy this year new york. Let's make this the year!
Contact your reps with NORML's link i left above! Tell your friends and family to do it ! call your senator and let them know you respectfully urge them to support the s-4041 medical marijuana legislation that will be looked in the upcoming month!
Thank you for the support, let's keep our hopes high new york.
Bingo Long said on May. 21, 2009 at 10:43pm
After the SC refused to consider San Diego's Controlled Substances Act challenge to Prop 215, the federal sign on to Cal's differentiation between cannabis meant for medical use and that meant for recreational use should clear all your consciences, senators--NY DOES have the power to pass medical marijuana legislation and should do so THIS YEAR
Please--my kidney stones are freakin killin me!
Anthony said on May. 22, 2009 at 11:22am
NY is long overdue with medical marijuana. NY needs to have medical marijuana cafes and dispensaries where medical users can safely go and pick out the appropriate cannabis strain(s) to cope with their medical/mental symptoms effectively. It is difficult to find the strains of choice in the black market.
Jack said on May. 26, 2009 at 3:08pm
I agree with Anthony with his comment "It is difficult to find the strains of choice in the black market. "
I am a medical marijuana person of 10 years in California. It's a safe, natural alternative to Zorzac or Zanax for me.
We in California are reviewing our supreme courts decision on limits for this very reason. Let me explain as it isn't about hoarding cannabis.
From Wikipedia;
Cannabis (Cán-na-bis) is a genus of flowering plants that includes three putative species, Cannabis sativa L.,[1] Cannabis indica Lam.,[1] and Cannabis ruderalis Janisch. These three taxa are indigenous to Central Asia, South Asia[2], and surrounding regions
----------
So in truth there are three main genus' and each has properties that through plant breeding can exemplify benefits of cannabis.
Not all Cannabis is the same.
Growing a medical strain of some breeding of the three type of Cannabis is a separate issue from growing a crop of cannabis for commercial sale.
More often than not, great care and emphasis on quality are the two elements in producing a medical strain to treat some ailment.
So I look forward to the results of New York's medical marijuana decision. I hope it is a compassionate one.
We once forbade people of different races to marry and we over came that; we can overcome any fear of a medical usage of this plant.
With Respect to New York...
Jack from California
Ken said on Nov. 22, 2009 at 4:06pm
Look at HEALTH SCIENCES GR (HESG) as a investment !!
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