Cuomo to legalize medical marijuana in N.Y.!!!!

[Silver420Surfer]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/...to-legalize-medical-marijuana-in-ny-/4321637/

The governor will make the announcement during his State of the State address on Wednesday, the New York Times reported.


ALBANY, N.Y. — New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo will announce plans to legalize medical marijuana through an executive order, according to a published report Saturday.

Cuomo is expected to legalize medical marijuana on a limited basis at 20 hospitals for specific conditions, the New York Times reported Saturday evening. Cuomo will make the announcement during his State of the State address on Wednesday, the newspaper said, citing unnamed state officials.

The move would be a shift for Cuomo, who is up for re-election in November. As recently as April, he voiced opposition to the idea, questioning whether it could be properly regulated. But he also has said that he would keep an open mind on the issue, saying it is an "evolving one."

"I do not support medical marijuana. I understand the pros and cons. I understand the argument," the Democratic governor told reporters then. "We are looking at it, but at this point, I don't support medical marijuana."

Twenty states have legalized medical marijuana, and Colorado on Wednesday began allowing recreational marijuana use.

There was no immediate comment from Cuomo's office on the report.

The legalization of medical marijuana has repeatedly passed the Democratic-led Assembly, but has failed in the Republican-controlled Senate.

Democratic state Sen. Diane Savino said Saturday she was aware that Cuomo was expected to take a pro-medical marijuana stance in his address. She hailed his change in position.

"I think under his leadership, we can probably have the best, most-regulated, tightest-controlled system in the nation that provides real help for patients," she said.

The Times reported Cuomo is expected to use a provision in the public health law that allows the state health commissioner to approve controlled substances for patients with certain diseases.

State Conservative Party chairman Mike Long knocked Cuomo's stance, saying he should focus on the economy and the weak growth in the state's population.

"Instead of dealing with social issues that appeal to his liberal base, he would be best doing all New Yorkers a favor and get New York back on track," Long said Saturday.

Spector reports for the Gannett Albany (N.Y.) Bureau

 

[aesthyrian]

Oh shit, so now we'll be at 21 states?

4 more to go and we have half the country medical. Then the Federal government can't just keep ignoring the reality for much longer, I hope..

They are going to have reschedule the damn "drug" sooner or later, you can't just have half the country legally allowing the medicinal use of a schedule I drug that "has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States."

 

[newVaper420]

I wonder how hard it will be to procure. I have Crohn's disease potentially (it's a long story), and cannabis is the only thing that works.

 

[max]

"Instead of dealing with social issues that appeal to his liberal base, he would be best doing all New Yorkers a favor and get New York back on track," Long said Saturday.

So 'medical' marijuana is a social issue? I guess so if you're going to stick your head in the sand and maintain that it has no medical benefit. And I wasn't aware that only Democrats benefited from mmj. I guess Republicans have to make do with hard drugs and get hooked like Rush Limbaugh.

 

[mmenzie]

still does not help me yet as i do not have any of the illnesses he will allow it for, but at least its a step in the right direction

 

[lwien]

And I wasn't aware that only Democrats benefited from mmj. I guess Republicans have to make do with hard drugs and get hooked like Rush Limbaugh.

Man, I could REALLY take off on that.....

 

[newVaper420]

still does not help me yet as i do not have any of the illnesses he will allow it for, but at least its a step in the right direction

Yeah definitely agree. I'm hoping a full list will be available on Wednesday. Also, I'm hoping that it won't be, you must have tried all these pharmaceuticals first before we give you this.

Part of the reason I'm doing so well is because of the cannabis (according to the doctors).

 

[NYC5IKH5jabi]

So 'medical' marijuana is a social issue? I guess so if you're going to stick your head in the sand and maintain that it has no medical benefit. And I wasn't aware that only Democrats benefited from mmj. I guess Republicans have to make do with hard drugs and get hooked like Rush Limbaugh.

As much as I support certain things that the republican party has long stood its ground on...at what point don't more and more smart republicans wake up and realize that instead of opposing democrats who while wrong for encouraging certain changes, at the heart of it they do so with every intention to please, improve and serve everyone even if what they feel is good for everyone is actually good for no one. republicans have shown sadly at every opportunity that while the things they may support are right, they themselves are wrong and what they want for us is any and everything that keeps their interests in check.

I can argue with Obama over gay rights and 2nd amendment rights and all, but I can also shake his hand knowing full well he wants the best for me and my family. his understanding may be wrong but his heart is in the right place.
with republicans
you just feel that they don't care about you or your future, they support the good or the bad as it suits them. any man who wants to deny sick people medication should never receive any votes from anyone and yet in our country the political parties shove these ingrates down our throats.

 

[max]

As much as I support certain things that the republican party has long stood its ground on...at what point don't more and more smart republicans wake up and realize that instead of opposing democrats who while wrong for encouraging certain changes, at the heart of it they do so with every intention to please, improve and serve everyone even if what they feel is good for everyone is actually good for no one.

"Certain changes" are only right or wrong depending on each person's perspective and beliefs. Other changes are more obvious, like giving up the idea that tax breaks for big corporations and the rich will boost a bad economy (never has), and acknowledging the thousands of testimonials (ancecdotal or not) from people who have benefited from medical mj, when every other prescription drug has failed. Marijuana certainly isn't a replacement for all pain pills, but it deserves its place as a legal option in situations where it does prove effective, and I believe that someday it will also be proven to have other medical benefits as well- benefits even more significant than pain relief/management.

you just feel that they don't care about you or your future

I'm old enough to know that politics isn't what it used to be, at least in the US. The nastiness is at an all time new level and just seems to get worse, and the attitude that 'whatever you're for, I'm against' is not good for the country.

 

[420time]

whats most important is recreational marijuana use. and that wont happen till marijuana is legalized for 2-5 years.

 

[lwien]

I'm old enough to know that politics isn't what it used to be, at least in the US. The nastiness is at an all time new level and just seems to get worse, and the attitude that 'whatever you're for, I'm against' is not good for the country.

That's true for recent history, but if ya go way back, it was even a helluva lot nastier than it is now.

 

[max]

whats most important is recreational marijuana use.

As much as I enjoy that kind of use, I'd have to disagree that getting high is more important than medical benefits.

and that wont happen till marijuana is legalized for 2-5 years.

Not sure what you mean there. There's legalization for medical use, then there's legalization for all use (legal home use anyway). While I don't see recreational legality being granted before medical legalization any time soon, it may be that down the road both barriers are dropped at the same time. 2-5 years may be a good estimate now, but IMO that won't hold up as the dominoes fall faster later on.

That's true for recent history, but if ya go way back, it was even a helluva lot nastier than it is now.

True, but that was back when life was a lot cheaper and it was easier to be unaccountable for your actions (and the concept that 'all men are created equal' was winked at, while laughing). In general we seem to be getting more civilized and accepting of differences, but politics seems to be going in the opposite direction.

 

[NYC5IKH5jabi]

"Certain changes" are only right or wrong depending on each person's perspective and beliefs. Other changes are more obvious.


I'm old enough to know that politics isn't what it used to be, at least in the US. The nastiness is at an all time new level and just seems to get worse, and the attitude that 'whatever you're for I'm against' is not good for the country.

Exactly, to be honest I think it has alot to do with how we are sending mixed messages to the youth. On the one side we show them that the system works and then on the other side we traumatize them into learning how we lied to them. Americans as a whole today lacks unity, tolerance has sadly replaced unity.

I agree, also id add that regardless of outcomes, there is no right or wrong in pōitics if the intentions are right. Which is not the case today, instead of the desire to empower every single one of us being the sole objective behind any and all public service whether police, law or education. Our public servants have failed to serve and instead have forgotten the primal motive behind the formation of this country, the writing of its constitution and the creation of human rights. When the social institutions that the previous generation empowers, then fails to empower the coming generation you then shift from a functional ascending society to a dysfunctional declining one. Sadly, the only cure is for those without power to once again stand up and take it through sacrifice because those in power sadly have abdicated their duty. But yea, I can support you as a politician till the day you die no matter how many times you screw up As Long As every decision you made as a public servant was truly motivated by the desire to empower us all indiscriminately.

 

[420time]

max, you misunderstood me. what i mean is when they make it legal for recreational marijuana i can go blaze in a car, or somewhere without cops bothering to ask for identification as a medical user or me breaking the law.

 

[grokit]

Even medical users can get busted in a car, especially if they're behind the wheel.

 

[newVaper420]

So far, this is bullshit. No news whatsoever about it.