wyteberrywidow
Global
Something i stumbled upon dont know if anyone else posted it but here it goes..
Medical marijuana may be coming to New York soon.
A bill to legalize the possession and use of the drug was recently proposed by New York State Assemblyman Richard Gottfried and is being pushed by supporters of legalization.
The bill stipulates that distribution will only be allowed by licensed entities under the supervision of the New York State Department of Health and will be limited to two and a half ounces.
Despite these measures, opponents claim the bill would send the wrong message to the public.
"There is nothing medicinal in marijuana," Shaun Marie of the New York Conservative Party said.
But according to the Marijuana Policy Project, medical marijuana can relieve symptoms such as nausea, muscle spasms, appetite loss and pain associated with many illnesses. The group stressed that this bill is not about the recreational smoker.
"It's about chronically ill patients being allowed to use the medicine that they feel works best for them without having to fear being arrested or being thrown into jail," Marijuana Policy Project spokesman Kurt Gardinier said.
Citing that "the benefits of medicinal marijuana have been supported by clinical research," the New York State Nurses Association said "prescribers should have all drugs demonstrating any potential clinically effective results available for their use."
But Marie does not believe that any medical need merits legalization.
"What illness is that critical?" Marie said. She also said the bill will "send the wrong message and make it more available in the streets."
Marie cited California, where patients were given the right to cultivate marijuana collectively for medicinal use, as an example of how legalizing medical marijuana can go awry.
Gardinier cited official state government surveys of teen drug use that found that no state with a medical marijuana law experienced an increase in youth marijuana use since the law's enactment.
"In fact, all medical marijuana states have reported overall decreases, many exceeding 50 percent in some age groups," Gardinier said.
Some health care officials say the perception of marijuana has indeed changed since the legalization of medical marijuana has been discussed.
"Since medical marijuana has become a part of public discussion, deflecting many of the myths surrounding the dangers of marijuana [has occurred]," said Cindy Boester, director of health information management at the NYU Clinical Cancer Center.
Supporters of the bill hope it will pass through the New York legislature this year and be signed into law.
"In the past, New York has had a great record of being on the leading edge of public health issues, so I am cautiously hopeful," Boester said.
Elizabeth Gyori is a contributing writer.
Medical marijuana may be coming to New York soon.
A bill to legalize the possession and use of the drug was recently proposed by New York State Assemblyman Richard Gottfried and is being pushed by supporters of legalization.
The bill stipulates that distribution will only be allowed by licensed entities under the supervision of the New York State Department of Health and will be limited to two and a half ounces.
Despite these measures, opponents claim the bill would send the wrong message to the public.
"There is nothing medicinal in marijuana," Shaun Marie of the New York Conservative Party said.
But according to the Marijuana Policy Project, medical marijuana can relieve symptoms such as nausea, muscle spasms, appetite loss and pain associated with many illnesses. The group stressed that this bill is not about the recreational smoker.
"It's about chronically ill patients being allowed to use the medicine that they feel works best for them without having to fear being arrested or being thrown into jail," Marijuana Policy Project spokesman Kurt Gardinier said.
Citing that "the benefits of medicinal marijuana have been supported by clinical research," the New York State Nurses Association said "prescribers should have all drugs demonstrating any potential clinically effective results available for their use."
But Marie does not believe that any medical need merits legalization.
"What illness is that critical?" Marie said. She also said the bill will "send the wrong message and make it more available in the streets."
Marie cited California, where patients were given the right to cultivate marijuana collectively for medicinal use, as an example of how legalizing medical marijuana can go awry.
Gardinier cited official state government surveys of teen drug use that found that no state with a medical marijuana law experienced an increase in youth marijuana use since the law's enactment.
"In fact, all medical marijuana states have reported overall decreases, many exceeding 50 percent in some age groups," Gardinier said.
Some health care officials say the perception of marijuana has indeed changed since the legalization of medical marijuana has been discussed.
"Since medical marijuana has become a part of public discussion, deflecting many of the myths surrounding the dangers of marijuana [has occurred]," said Cindy Boester, director of health information management at the NYU Clinical Cancer Center.
Supporters of the bill hope it will pass through the New York legislature this year and be signed into law.
"In the past, New York has had a great record of being on the leading edge of public health issues, so I am cautiously hopeful," Boester said.
Elizabeth Gyori is a contributing writer.
I am convinced that even if NY passes its going to be nothing like Oregon and California to the effect that they are going to help as few people as possible and charge them crazy taxes so that they can boost their budget...I highly doubt a compassionate bill being passed which actually expresses respect and integrity towards the patients but a strict bill that would allow deathly ill patients to have a couple joints