Contact: Michael Fraser, (518) 455-3751 (office); (518) 859-8518 (cell)
Statement from Assembly Minority Leader Brian M. Kolb (R,C-Canandaigua) on the passage today of legislation (A.7060) to create an emergency medical marijuana program in New York State. Implementation of an emergency program would provide suffering patients with immediate access to medical marijuana rather than force individuals to wait for completion of the state program, expected in 2016.
"This is a critical step toward providing relief to patients coping with unbearable pain each day," Leader Kolb said. "An emergency medical marijuana program will have an immediate impact and improve the lives of children and families throughout New York. Building the state's medical marijuana program has been a complicated and lengthy process that is far from complete. We have the ability and duty to help suffering patients now. I thank the sponsors and supporters of this bill for recognizing the need for immediate action."
The bill passed the Assembly overwhelmingly. The legislation is carried in the Senate (S.5086) by Sen. Joseph Griffo and must be passed in the Senate before the end of session.