New York has become the latest state to see medical marijuana legislation introduced this year. Assemblyman Richard Gottfried filed Assembly Bill 6357 and Senator Diane Savino have filed companion legislation, Senate Bill 4406. The bills would create a tightly regulated system of medical marijuana supply, complete with patient registries, but would not allow patients or designated caregivers to grow their own medicine. Patients would be limited to possessing no more than 2.5 ounces.
Drug reform and marijuana advocacy groups welcomed the introduction of the bills, but some expressed concerns that the measures as written do not provide enough protection for patients.
“Patients and their families in New York have suffered far too long because New York continues its retrograde approach to marijuana policies, even as other states move forward with more sensible approaches,” said Julie Netherland, deputy director of New York policy for the Drug Policy Alliance.
