NY Medical Marijuana, Assembly Bill 7542, Senate Bill 4041-A

neMMMM said:

Yah it is great. To those not too familiar with the system over here, whats next?

What after? Basically, what does this have to go through in order for the law to get put into place.

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N.Y.: Senate Health Committee vote on S. 4041-A expected Tuesday

For the first time, the New York State Senate is expected to hold a committee vote on modern medical marijuana legislation next Tuesday, May 26, at noon in Room 123 of the State Capitol in Albany. If you are able, you can attend to see Senate Health Committee Chair Tom Duane, who introduced S. 4041-A, cast an historic vote for patients' rights. If you attend, be sure to dress professionally and act respectfully.
The media is paying attention to this important issue. Now, patients need your help to make sure that state senators hear how much their constituents care about protecting patients.
Please send an e-mail to urge your state senator to vote for Sen. Duane's bill. Then ask your friends and family to do the same. While the Assembly has passed similar bills the past two years, the Senate has never had a floor vote on an effective medical marijuana bill. This is the first time that we have had the majority party introduce identical bills in each chamber, S. 4041-A in the Senate and A. 7542, which was introduced by Assembly Health Committee Chair Richard Gottfried, in the Assembly. Every senator's vote is key, and your feedback will help us determine where to focus our efforts.
Please e-mail your state senator today. Then ask your friends and family to do the same. If you are a patient, a loved one, a medical professional, or a member of law enforcement or clergy who might be interested in speaking out, please contact us at [email protected] to see how you can be of special help in passing this legislation. Please include your nine-digit ZIP code so we can identify your legislators, and please share your connection with medical marijuana.
Also, please contact [EMAIL="[email protected]"][email protected][/EMAIL] to find out all of the ways that you can volunteer this year to make a difference in getting this legislation passed. Please indicate your interest in volunteering and include your nine-digit ZIP code.
The twin bills have a real chance of becoming law this year, but in order for that to happen it is crucial that senators realize this is an issue their constituents support. The Assembly bill has 49 co-sponsors and the Senate bill has 15. Thank you for supporting the Marijuana Policy Project. With your help, this can be the year that New York stops the cruel and senseless policy of arresting the seriously ill.
Sincerely,

Noah Mamber
Legislative Analyst
Marijuana Policy Project

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First-ever N.Y. Senate committee victory for medical marijuana

For the first time in the 12 years that effective medical marijuana legislation has been introduced in New York, it has passed a Senate committee! The Senate Health Committee voted today to approve S. 4041-A, which is sponsored by Senate Health Committee Chair Tom Duane.
Although we've crossed a major hurdle, it's not time to celebrate yet. There's still hard work to be done and it's still a crime for cancer patients to use their medicine ...
There's less than a month left in the legislative session and the bill still has a long way to go. To pass the Senate, it needs to be approved by additional committees and to receive 32 votes on the Senate floor.

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Senate deadlock complicates effort; medical marijuana legislation awaits floor votes



Last update: June 26, 2009
This year started out as a very exciting year for New York's medical marijuana legislation, but until a Senate leadership struggle is resolved compassionate medical marijuana legislation will sadly remain in limbo. For the first time ever, identical medical marijuana bills were introduced in the Assembly and Senate earlier this year, sponsored by Assembly Health Committee Chair Richard Gottfried and Senate Health Committee Chair Tom Duane. With a Democratic majority in place for the first time, Senate bill 4041-A was making steady progress — with 16 co-sponsors and its first committee win. Meanwhile the Assembly bill — which as twice passed the floor — was ready for a floor vote.
Then, on June 8, two Democratic New York City state senators joined 30 Republicans in a vote for a Republican majority leader, Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre). One of the two Democrats has returned to the Democrats, and the Senate is currently deadlocked at 31 votes for each party. The Senate was supposed to adjourn on June 22, but has been meeting in a state of confusion. The Democrats have offered a power-sharing agreement to break the deadlock, but so far there has been no agreement.
Especially in this new climate, it is crucial that the medical marijuana bill enjoy bipartisan support, and that it receive a Senate floor vote. Thus, our champion, Asm. Gottfried, introduced a new amended medical marijuana bill, A. 9016, designed to garner support from senators of both parties. Senate Republicans who are open to allowing medical marijuana have long opposed allowing patients and designated caregivers to grow small amounts of marijuana. The bill would instead allow for safe access by allowing state-registered regulated entities to dispense medical marijuana to qualified patients. A. 9016 passed the Assembly Health Committee, and is awaiting a vote in the Codes Committee and on the floor after the Assembly returns to work later this summer.

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N.Y.: Legislature to reconvene next week — put medical marijuana on the agenda​

Next Tuesday, the New York legislature is expected to come back and do the work of the people. We want to make sure that when the Senate returns we get a vote on our medical marijuana bill, which would remove state criminal sanctions for seriously ill patients using marijuana on their doctors' recommendations.
Please call your senator to ask him or her to commit to supporting this compassionate medical marijuana legislation. Please also call Senate Majority Conference Leader John Sampson (D-Brooklyn) and ask him to make sure S. 4041-B gets a vote when the Senate comes back for its special session. This year is the first that a medical marijuana bill has passed out of a Senate committee, and it is crucial that senators hear that their constituents want it to be a priority this year.
Finally, please e-mail your senator to encourage her or him to support S. 4041-B when it comes up for a vote. Then ask your friends and family to do the same. We have been working all year to make this happen, and time is running short. It is crucial that senators hear that their constituents want it to be a priority in the upcoming special session. If you are someone with a personal story to tell regarding medical marijuana, please edit our letters and include it in your e-mail.
Earlier this year, New York's medical marijuana legislation was modified to garner support from senators of both parties. The twin bills, A. 9016, and S. 4041-B, are sponsored by Assembly Health Committee Chair Richard Gottfried (D-Manhattan) and Senate Health Committee Chair Tom Duane (D-Manhattan). Senate Republicans who are open to allowing medical marijuana have long opposed allowing patients and designated caregivers to grow small amounts of marijuana. The bill would instead allow for safe access by allowing state-registered regulated entities to dispense medical marijuana to qualified patients. We expect that these changes will attract Republican support.
If you are a patient, a loved one, a medical professional, or a member of law enforcement or clergy who might be interested in speaking out, please contact us at [email protected] to see how you can be of special help in passing this legislation. Please include your nine-digit ZIP code so we can identify your legislators, and please share your connection with medical marijuana.
Thank you for supporting the Marijuana Policy Project. Please also pass this message on to your friends and family so that they too can speak out to protect patients who could benefit from medical marijuana. With your help, this can be the year that New York stops the cruel and senseless policy of arresting the seriously ill.
Sincerely,

Noah Mamber
Legislative Analyst
Marijuana Policy Project

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