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S7249Senate2015-2016 SessionSame asA9514

Relates to authorizing the use of medical marihuana for severe chronic pain

Sponsor Gustavo RiveraSD-33Affects Health
Status
In Senate Committee
Health
Impact
Pending
Passage
Pending

Bill progress

Step 2 of 7

In committee · Health

What's happening

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Who cares

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Sponsors

Primary sponsor
Gustavo Rivera

Senator · Senate District 33

No co-sponsors yet.

History

  1. Print number 7249a
  2. Amend and recommit to health
  3. Referred to health

Companion bill

The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.

A9514Assembly

Relates to authorizing the use of medical marihuana for severe chronic pain

Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor Richard Gottfried

Full text

The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.

Sponsor's memo

Title of bill

An act to amend the public health law, in relation to conditions permitting the use of medical marihuana

Purpose

To allow medical marihuana to be used to treat severe chronic pain

Summary of provisions

Section 1: Amends subdivision 7 of § 3360 of the Public Health Law by adding "severe chronic pain" to the list of diseases and conditions treatable by use of medical marihuana

Section 2: Effective date.

Justification

The medical marihuana law authorizes use of medical marihuana for treatment of "severe or chronic pain" only when it is associated with another condition. This bill permits the use of medical marihuana for severe chronic pain. Furthermore, this bill would clarify the limitations of when medical marihuana can be prescribed for chronic pain.

Severe chronic pain is often treated with opioids that are much more dangerous and addictive than medical marihuana. Research in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggests that authorizing medical marihuana for severe chronic pain treatment may reduce mortality from opioid abuse.

Expanding the list of conditions to include severe chronic pain as a standalone condition would offer critical treatment options to more patients whose lives could be improved by medical marihuana.

Legislative history

New bill.

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

Immediately

Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.