Medical Marijuana Coming To New York

It seems that New York might become the latest state in the union to legalize medical marijuana. With the current session of the legislature winding down, this bill looks like it will go through, enabling NY residents the ability to cope with serious illnesses by using marijuana. Despite Spitzer's earlier remarks that he would veto the measure, NY state legislator Richard Gottfried (D-Manhattan) is confident the Governor would sign the legislation.

From The New York Daily News:

Under the measure, to acquire marijuana a person would have to have a debilitating or life-threatening illness and would need a doctor's note certifying that marijuana would be beneficial.

Those individuals would be limited to possessing no more than 2½ ounces of cultivated pot or 12 growing plants.

The patients would also need to get a registration card from the state Health Department.

But because marijuana is an illegal substance, people who sell pot to such patients could still face criminal charges, Gottfried acknowledged.

Hopefully the bill will also provide for the establishment of marijuana pharmacies. Many states have them but not all have set up a system of distribution. For instance, Arizona legalized the use but never followed through. In order for this to work, patients need accessible locations to pick up their pot or face the risk of buying from drug dealers. People with state licenses are easy prey for law enforcement agencies if they go out on the street for their meds. If Albany is going to do this right, they better go all the way.