Inching toward medical marijuana


While Cuomo and the bill’s main legislative champion Diane Savino were far apart on issues such as a sunset period, the number of dispensaries and diseases that would be involved, Cuomo also said he was open to a Message of Necessity, which would allow a last-minute bill to pass without the usual three day waiting period. Session is set to end on Thursday so a message would have to be used after Tuesday.

Savino and Cuomo did some remote dueling via appearances on Susan Arbetter’s Capitol Pressroom public radio show.

Savino said the governor’s idea of sunsetting a medmar law would be a “non-starter” since it would prevent manufacturers from entering the market. “It would send a red flag to the marijuana industry,” she said.

And she believed the governor’s desire to have only four dispensaries would be inadequate.

Cuomo said he was deferring to health experts and police who have worries about the current proposal, which could lead to a chaotic situation.

“When it comes to public safety and public health we tend to look at the experts. I don’t think Diane Savino can call herself a public safety or a public health expert,” Cuomo said.

Savino termed some of the governor’s remarks “disingenuous”

Here is Savino speaking to a press scrum earlier today:

  1. Bob says:

    Don’t bogart that bill, my friend
    Pass it….

  2. timmay says:

    He won’t pass it. He is that cold hearted. If there isn’t money in it for him, he doesn’t care.

  3. J says:

    that’s awesome Bob!

    but have you read what Cuomo wants? Non-smokeable only, only 5 dispensaries for the entire state and he thinks patients will be allowed to have too much pot and the amounts lowered.

    Oh, I almost forgot, Cuomo also wants to make it a felony for writing unneeded prescriptions and/or falsely obtaining a prescription.

    So what’s the point of this law now? Its been totally watered down to the point of being useless.

    But I do think the Republicans should pass this and force Gov. Cuomo’s hand.

  4. gray matters says:

    Before we go down the medical marijuana road, there’s some very interesting research and social repercussions that should be front and center in the conversation. Please watch Dr. Nora Voltrow’s presentation here:

  5. Hempopotamus says:

    Thank you Senator Savino for attempting to compromise on what should be a “no-brainer.” As some people may put it: how’s that prohibition working out for you? Marijuana is the herbal flower from the cannabis plant. The plant has been used for millenia for many purposes. Why should government determine whether or not I can grow the plant on my land? It’s a non-lethal plant! Where is the fairness in a society that allows people to smoke a toxic mix of tobacco and whatever else that industry rolls into their cigarettes while a farmer can’t choose to grow and smoke, vaporize or eat marijuana – a natural flowering herb of the field?

  6. Joe says:

    What the Governor is trying to say is that NYS is the most over regulated state in the country and it is his job to make sure that this continues. Yes you can have your MJ, you just can’t smoke it. Its how NY operates. One big screw up after another.

  7. timmay says:

    You just won a new car!!!! but you cant have any wheels…

  8. gino says:

    No clue what political or substantive agenda is driving Governor Cuo-NO. Doctors can prescribe oxycontin, percocet, opiates, etc but it’s too dangerous to western civilization to let them prescribe marijuana? Crazed drug addled folks shoot up pharmacies to steal pain meds – does anyone think there is the slighest chance that will happen with medical marijuana?
    This is just absurd. The bill has been around in one version or another for 20 years. Cuo-NO called for it in his budget. And now there are 2 days left in the Session and he still has not put forward his bill. Instead, he makes absurd demands (Can’t be smoked! Only 5 dispensaries! Sunset in 5 years!) that are just narrow-minded, obstructionist, and obfuscating. The Governor needs to get with it. Zephyr Teachout in September!

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