NYS Seal

ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE ON HEALTH

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

SUBJECT:
Medical Marijuana Legislation

PURPOSE:
To receive comment on proposed legislation that would authorize medical use of marijuana

BUFFALO
Thursday, December 5th
10:00 AM
Common Council Chambers, 13th Floor
Buffalo City Hall
65 Niagara Square
MINEOLA, LONG ISLAND
Wednesday, December 18th
10:00 AM
Nassau County Legislative Chambers
Theodore Roosevelt Executive and Legislative Building
1550 Franklin Avenue


New York State is considering legislation to allow the medical use of marijuana under a health care practitioner's care, for patients with cancer and other severe debilitating or life-threatening conditions.

Assembly bill A.6357 (Gottfried)/S.4406 (Savino) would set up a tightly regulated and controlled medical marijuana system. Practitioners licensed to prescribe controlled substances could certify patient need, and certified patients would register with the Health Department. Both the certification process and dispensing of medical marijuana would be included in the I-STOP prescription monitoring system for controlled substances enacted in 2012.

The Health Department would license and regulate "registered organizations" to produce and dispense medical marijuana for certified patients. They could be hospitals, pharmacies, or other for-profit businesses or not-for-profit corporations, and would be required to comply with detailed "seed to sale" security controls and regulations. A clinical advisory committee made up predominately of health care professionals would advise the NYS Commissioner of Health on clinical matters.

Testimony at this hearing is by invitation only. Persons wishing to present pertinent testimony to the Committee at the above hearing should complete and return the enclosed reply form as soon as possible, but no later than Monday, December 2nd. It is important that the reply form be fully completed and returned so that persons may be notified in the event of emergency postponement or cancellation.

Oral testimony will be limited to 10 minutes' duration. In preparing the order of witnesses, the Committee will attempt to accommodate individual requests to speak at particular times in view of special circumstances. These requests should be made on the attached reply form or communicated to Committee staff as early as possible.

Ten copies of any prepared testimony should be submitted at the hearing registration desk. The Committee would appreciate advance receipt of prepared statements.

In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the Assembly, in accordance with its policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Assembly facilities and activities.

Hon. Richard N. Gottfried
Member of Assembly
Chair
Committee on Health



PUBLIC HEARING REPLY FORM

Persons invited to present testimony at the public hearing on Medical Marijuana Legislation are requested to complete this reply form as soon as possible, but no later than Monday, December 2nd, and mail, email or fax it to:

Estibaliz Alonso
Senior Legislative Analyst
Assembly Program and Counsel
Room 442 - Capitol
Albany, New York 12248
Email: alonsoe@assembly.state.ny.us
Phone: (518) 455-4371
Fax: (518) 455-4693
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I plan to attend the following public hearing on Medical Marijuana Legislation to be conducted by the Assembly Committee on Health:

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December 5, 2013, Buffalo, NY


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December 18, 2013, Mineola, NY
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I plan to make a public statement at the hearing. My statement will be limited to 10 minutes, and I will answer any questions which may arise. I will provide 10 copies of my prepared statement.
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I will address my remarks to the following subjects:




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I would like to be added to the Committee's mailing list for notices and reports.
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I would like to be removed from the Committee's mailing list.
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I will require assistance and/or handicapped accessibility information. Please specify the type of assistance required:




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