Res. No. 221
Title
Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature and the Governor to expand the Compassionate Care Act, which legalized the medicinal use of marijuana.
Body
By Council Member Levine
Whereas, On July 7, 2014, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed into law the Compassionate Care Act (CCA), making New York the 23rd state to legalize medicinal marijuana; and
Whereas, This law recognizes and affirms progress in the medical community concerning the therapeutic value of medicinal marijuana; and
Whereas, The CCA is a historic step forward in providing vital medical assistance to New Yorkers suffering from debilitating and life-threatening medical conditions, such as cancer, HIV/AIDS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson's Disease, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord damage, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's Disease), neuropathies, and Huntington's Disease; and
Whereas, However, the CCA has several restrictions that unnecessarily burden those in the most need from obtaining and using medicinal marijuana in an effective and timely way; and
Whereas, The CCA prohibits patients from choosing to administer their medicinal marijuana through smoking, leaving options such as edibles, oils, and vaporization up to the discretion of the New York State Department of Health (DOH); and
Whereas, DOH announced new regulations in December 2017 that would allow for the manufacturing and distribution of additional products including topicals such as ointments, lotions and patches; solid and semi-solid products, including chewable and effervescent tablets and lozenges; and certain non-smokable forms of ground plant material; and
Whereas, Administering medicinal marijuana through vapor requires the purchase of a vaporizer unit, which can cost hundreds of dollars, and thus be prohibitively expensive for patients desperately in need; and
Whereas, Smoking medicinal marijuana provides rapid and ...
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