Pubdate: Thu, 09 Jan 2014
Source: Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
Copyright: 2014 Sun-Sentinel Company
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/mVLAxQfA
Website: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/159
Author: Tina Susman, Tribune Newspapers

CUOMO OUTLINES PLAN FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA

NEW YORK - Gov. Andrew Cuomo took the first step toward making New
York the 21st state to legalize marijuana for medical use Wednesday,
announcing plans to let a handful of hospitals distribute the drug to
patients with "serious illnesses."

The announcement in his State of the State speech represents a shift
for Cuomo, who had opposed all use of the drug. But most New Yorkers
want their state to follow the lead of others that have relaxed
marijuana laws, according to several polls.

Cuomo, who is seeking re-election in November, briefly mentioned his
medical marijuana plan in his speech and indicated it would be a pilot
program, not necessarily permanent.

"Research suggests that medical marijuana can help manage the pain and
treatment of cancer and other serious illnesses," Cuomo said, noting
that 20 states have allowed it to be prescribed for some illnesses.

He said New York would establish a program allowing "up to 20
hospitals" to distribute marijuana. "We will monitor the program to
evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of a medical marijuana
system," Cuomo said. He provided no other details.

On Jan. 1, Colorado became the first state to allow the sale of small
amounts of marijuana for recreational use. Washington state is
expected to open some pot stores later this year.

Despite New York's liberal leanings, it has resisted pot legalization.
Several attempts to pass state laws permitting some use of marijuana
have failed, most recently in 2013. A Quinnipiac University survey in
June found 70 percent of New Yorkers favored medical marijuana and 26
percent were opposed.

Proponents of change said Cuomo's announcement was a positive step but
did not go far enough.

"The governor's executive order serves as an important step towards
the wholesale reform of the state's marijuana laws, which are
painfully out of date, needlessly harsh and have a devastating impact
on communities of color," said the executive director of the New York
Civil Liberties Union, Donna Lieberman. The group supports "full
decriminalization" of marijuana, she said.

The Marijuana Policy Project in Washington said Cuomo's plan was
"unworkable" because it relied on a provision in a decades-old public
health law, not new legislation.

"A cynic would say that it's a very popular political issue and this
is a way to make it look like he's supportive of it, without actually
proposing a workable solution," said Karen O'Keefe, the group's
director of state policies.  
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D