One question they must answer: Should the state be in the business of growing and distributing marijuana to sick people? And if not, how should those people obtain it?
One proposal is to let users grow up to a dozen plants:
In New York, the Democratic-led Assembly passed a bill on Wednesday that would give doctors the authority to grant eligible patients a certification allowing them to legally acquire and use marijuana or to grow up to a dozen plants at a time....But it is not clear how these plants, or the seeds to grow them, would be acquired. The Assembly’s bill says only that it would be lawful to give patients marijuana or seeds if “nothing of value is transferred in return.”
Another proposal is to have the Health Department grow and dispense the marijuana.
“....The key issue is control. How do you control manufacture, and how do you control dispensement? Those are the two issues that’ll be out there.”
I'm not in favor of the Health Department or Government being in charge because they will probably limit the amount of THC in the plant to the point where it is too weak to be effective. There have already been lawsuits over this:
Doblin and other researchers contend that the government marijuana is low in quality and potency and could never be a stable source of basic ingredients if the Food and Drug Administration ever did approve a marijuana-based medication.
People who are allowed to use it ought to be able to legally grow their own and choose the seeds that work best for them. And those without a green thumb ought to be able to buy it from their dealer of choice without fear of going to jail. Penalties for selling personal use amounts to medical users should be eliminated.
New York legislators are working to pass the bill before the session ends in five days. If you're from New York, now would be a good time to call your Representatives and Senators and urge them to pass the bill. Drop Gov. Spitzer a line too and let him know you appreciate his willingness to change his mind.
Update: Marijuana Policy Project which spearheaded the bill reports:
Passing a medical marijuana law in the country's third-most populous state would be absolutely huge: The bill's passage would mean that more than one-fourth of our nation's residents would live in medical marijuana states.
Medical marijuana enjoys tremendous support in New York. A 2005 Siena Research Institute poll found that 76% of New Yorkers support allowing the medical use of marijuana, including 72% of Republicans. And medical organizations representing the state's medical schools, the state's nurses, and the state's county health officials have voiced their support for the issue.
