Pubdate: Sat, 12 Apr 2014
Source: Day, The (New London,CT)
Copyright: 2014 The Day Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.theday.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/293
Author: Josefa Velasquez, Associated Press
Page: B2

MEDICAL MARIJUANA INCHING TOWARD LEGALIZATION IN N.Y.

Albany, N. Y. (AP) - New York is inching toward legalizing some form
of medical marijuana as support grows in the state Legislature and is
likely to become one of a handful of issues taken up when lawmakers
return later this month.

But it remains unclear where the drug would come from for either Gov.
Andrew Cuomo's limited research program or broader, legalized use
under a proposed medical marijuana bill.

Marijuana for clinical trials comes from the National Institute on
Drug Abuse, which has a contract with the University of Mississippi to
grow marijuana for studies, a Food and Drug Administration spokeswoman
said.

"Obtaining marijuana for research along these lines is notoriously
difficult, but not impossible," said Gabriel Sayegh, the state
director of the Drug Policy Alliance, which advocates for a public
health approach to drug abuse rather than relying on the criminal
justice system.

A spokesman for Cuomo referred questions to the state's health
department, which would oversee New York's medical marijuana program.
A spokesman for the agency said this week that a "senior-level team"
within the department was developing the framework for the research
program, but calls seeking elaboration weren't returned.

It is unclear how particular strains of the drug could be brought into
the state without violating federal law, which prohibits transporting
marijuana across state lines. Calls made to the sponsors of the
medical marijuana bill, Sen. Diane Savino and Assemblyman Richard
Gottfried, weren't returned.
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