New York Assembly passes medical marijuana bill; urge the Senate to act!

For the second year in a row, New York Assembly members have voted to stop the heartless policy of labeling the seriously ill as criminals for relieving their suffering in accordance with their doctors' advice. In a 89-52 vote, the Assembly approved Assemblyman Richard Gottfried's medical marijuana bill, A.4867-B.

The legislature adjourns on Monday, so patients urgently need your help to convince the Senate to take up the bill: Please call your state senator's office now.

We've provided talking points and a backgrounder that you can use to help guide your call. This is an election year, when the Senate Republicans are afraid of losing their two-seat majority, so it's especially important that senators hear that voters want the majority to act on this issue.

A.4867 was modified from last year's bill to address the Senate majority's concerns. Like the 12 effective medical marijuana laws, it allows registered patients to grow a modest number of plants for their medical use. To address the Senate majority's wishes that it provide for controlled distribution, it would replace home cultivation with the regulated distribution once the federal government gives it permission to do so. It would also be the most tightly crafted law, applying only to those with life-threatening or debilitating conditions in cases where a doctor believes marijuana would be the most effective treatment.

With virtually the entire state medical community supporting allowing medical marijuana, as well as 76% of voters, there is no excuse for the Senate not to act. So, please implore your senator to urge Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno to call a vote on this compassionate bill. Many senators, including Bruno, have expressed their support in principle for medical marijuana; it's up to you to give them the political will to act.

You can watch testimonials from two of the many patients awaiting relief here.

Thank you for your support. Together, we can make New York the 13th state to stop the cruel and senseless policy of criminalizing medical marijuana patients for relieving their suffering.