STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - Sure, let's just hoist the white flag of surrender in the war against heroin addiction. That's what Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal (D-Manhattan) would effectively do with her bill to legalize "supervised injection facilities" for people to self-administer illegal narcotics under the supervision of medical staff. If it's not the dumbest proposal we've heard to battle drug addiction, it has to rank pretty close to the top of the list. And yet we keep hearing it. [continues 505 words]
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - The battle over medical marijuana will be on the agenda when lawmakers return to Albany for the new legislative session. State Sen. Diane Savino (D-North Shore) plans to introduce her bill legalizing medical marijuana into the Senate in January. But not all of her colleagues in Staten Island's Albany delegation are convinced that medical marijuana is the way to go. The bill would allow seriously ill patients to purchase the drug through a registered dispensing facility, under medical supervision. Patients would have to register with the state Health Department. [continues 695 words]
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Democratic state Sen. Diane Savino and her GOP challenger, Lisa, Grey, battled over immigration policy and medical marijuana during an appearance before the Advance Editorial Board. Ms. Savino (D-North Shore/Brooklyn) is seeking another two-year term in Albany after first being elected in 2004. She said she supports an Assembly bill that would have given college tuition aide to the children of illegal immigrants. She also backs giving illegals a way to gain U.S. citizenship. [continues 691 words]
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Medical marijuana was a flashpoint in a televised debate on Friday between Democratic state Sen. Diane Savino and her GOP challenger, Lisa Grey. The two squared off in a 30-minute encounter sponsored by the Advance and NY1. Ms. Savino (D-North Shore/Brooklyn) has sponsored a bill to legalize medical marijuana in New York state. "Anybody who ever had a family member suffer from a debilitating disease ... learns very quickly the limitations of modern medicine," said Ms. Savino, whose mother and father each died of lung cancer. [continues 485 words]
Not everybody is buying state Sen. Diane Savino's bid to legalize medical marijuana in New York state. "It brings us one step closer to legalizing marijuana for recreational use," said Luke Nasta, head of Camelot Counseling Centers here. Democratic Gov. Mario Cuomo is also a buzz-killer, saying that the risks associated with medical marijuana outweigh the benefits. Ms. Savino (D-North Shore/Brooklyn) plans to introduce her bill tomorrow, which she said will likely be the beginning of a months-long effort to get the legislation approved. [continues 756 words]
