We are so close: Call your N.Y. legislators and tell them to pass medical marijuana legislation

Published: June 30, 2010

It’s week two of the Legislature Watch, and we are so close to passing a bill — but not there yet. Yesterday, in order drive home the plight of all the seriously ill New Yorkers suffering without their medicine, longtime advocate and well-known MS patient Montel Willams flew in for a very successful press conference and legislative meetings. The result was electrifying and brings renewed hope to this effort. His visit had a tremendous impact on legislators and received great press coverage and a compelling video. It appears that the Senate is finally, finally starting to get it.

Let us drive the necessity for this bill home by ramping up our efforts again. Please call your senator and your assemblymember TODAY to urge them to vote for the amended version of A. 9016 and to ask their leadership to call a vote as soon as possible.

While it looks like we are not going to be included in the budget, as a result of all of the calls you have put in, and Montel’s great work, we are definitely still alive. We are now looking to pass the bill as a standalone, which means we are targeting all the Democrats and some swing vote Republicans for their votes. Please call your senator and your assemblymember and explain why passing medical marijuana this week is so important.  

Help make sure that this last, best opportunity to help seriously ill patients does not slip away. Please also urge other New Yorkers to act now before it is too late. Forward this message to at least 10 New Yorkers, post the link to your social networking sites, and otherwise spread the word. We must not let another year go by with patients criminalized for treating their illnesses.

Thank you for your support and compassion.