The New York State Senate on Monday passed legislation authored by Sen. Joseph Griffo that would help certain critically ill patients obtain emergency access to medical marijuana.
The bill proposes a temporary process to expedite access to medical marijuana for a select group of patients before the state’s medical marijuana program begins next year. A statement from Griffo’s office said the bill would help provide more immediate relief to patients who are suffering from serious life-threatening forms of epilepsy and other progressive, degenerative or life-threatening illnesses.
Since the medical marijuana program was approved last summer, no patients have received medical marijuana and at least four children who might have benefited from such relief have died, Griffo said in the statement.
The bill ”“ which was also sponsored by Assemblyman Richard Gottfried of the 75th District in Manhattan and chairman of the Assembly Health Committee ”“ will now be sent to the Gov. Andrew Cuomo for consideration.
Griffo represents the 47th District, including Rome, Utica and Oneida.
“Now that the medical marijuana program is state law, every day we wait to offer the opportunity for long-awaited relief is one more day that a critically ill child or adult has to endure needless suffering,” Griffo said. “We should make our best efforts to provide potential relief for their suffering now, not next year. The chance the live a normal life, free of severe pain and free of frequent seizures, would mean the world to these children and their families.”
