Marijuana products and paraphernalia are displayed at the Cannabis World Congress Expo on June 19, 2015 in New York City.
Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images
The action also reverses some safeguards originally put into place by the Compassionate Care Act (signed in June) meant to protect the system for inadvertently contributing to illegal marijuana use. That includes registering companies already manufacturing and distributing the drug in other states, although Health Departments throughout New York, itself, are directed to register additional organizations to produce marijuana “as soon as practical.”So far 5 companies are approved to operate the dispensaries statewide.
Among the diseases approved for treatment with medical marijuana in New York are HIV/AIDs, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, cancer, and ALS (aka Lou Gerhrig’s disease). While smoking weed is prohibited, the patients may take it in liquids and oil for vaporiziers or inhalators, as well as capsules.
“This emergency access law is designed to get medicine to the neediest patients, including young children, as quickly as possible,” stated the bill’s sponsor AssemblymanRichard Gottfried (D-Manhattan). “For the most seriously ill patients even minor delays are life-threatening.”
While the emergency program is legally required to conform to federal regulations regarding distribution, it does allow for health departments within New York to determine whether the limited number of 20 dispensaries approved this summer are adequate to meet the demand.
The 2 facilities for Long Island will be located at 2001 Marcus Avenue in Lake Success (Nassau County), and 1333 E. Main St., Riverhead (Suffolk County). In addition, the new law will permit these and other locations in the system to begin operating before the January 5, 2016 target date if certified by both the state’s Health Department and State Police.
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