What's happening
This bill allows veterinarians to prescribe medical marijuana for animals in New York, expanding access beyond human patients.
Why it matters
Expands the definition of "certified patient" to explicitly include animals. , meaning pets and other animals can now be eligible for medical marijuana treatment under New York law, not just humans.
Allows licensed veterinarians to act as "practitioners" for the purpose of recommending and certifying medical marijuana,. giving them legal authority and professional responsibility in determining which animals may benefit from cannabis-based therapies.
Broadens the scope of qualifying conditions for animals. by permitting veterinarians to use their clinical judgment to recommend medical marijuana for “any medical condition that may benefit,” rather than limiting use to a narrow set of pre-defined diseases—potentially making treatment more accessible for a wide variety of animal health issues.
Could impact animal welfare and veterinary medicine standards. by introducing new treatment options for chronic pain, seizures, and other hard-to-manage animal conditions, while also introducing new oversight, education, and regulatory requirements for veterinarians.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Let Pets Use Medical Marijuana
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
4 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to health
- 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.
Medical Marijuana for Pets
In Senate Committee · Health · Sponsor Diane J. Savino
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
970
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 14, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. PAULIN, LUPARDO, CRESPO, DICKENS, GALEF -- read once and referred to the Committee on Health
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to access to medical marihuana for animals
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivisions 3 and 12 of section 3360 of the public health law, as added by chapter 90 of the laws of 2014, are amended to read as follows:
3. "Certified patient" means a human patient or animal who is a resident of New York state or receiving care and treatment in New York state as determined by the commissioner in regulation, and is certified under section thirty-three hundred sixty-one of this title.
12. "Practitioner" means a practitioner who (i) is a physician licensed by New York state and practicing within the state or is a veterinarian licensed pursuant to article one hundred thirty-five of the education law, (ii) who by training or experience is qualified to treat a serious condition as defined in subdivision seven of this section; and (iii) has completed a two to four hour course as determined by the commissioner in regulation and registered with the department; provided however, a registration shall not be denied without cause. Such course may count toward board certification requirements. The commissioner shall consider the inclusion of nurse practitioners under this title based upon considerations including access and availability. After such consideration the commissioner is authorized to deem nurse practitioners as practitioners under this title.
§ 2. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 7 of section 3360 of the public health law, as amended by chapter 273 of the laws of 2018, is amended to read as follows:
(a) "Serious condition" means:
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02058-01-9
A. 970 2
(i) having one of the following severe debilitating or life-threatening conditions: cancer, positive status for human immunodeficiency virus or acquired immune deficiency syndrome, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, damage to the nervous tissue of the spinal cord with objective neurological indication of intractable spasticity, epilepsy, inflammatory bowel disease, neuropathies, Huntington's disease, post-traumatic stress disorder, pain that degrades health and functional capability where the use of medical marihuana is an alternative to opioid use, substance use disorder, or as added by the commissioner; [and]
(ii) any of the following conditions where it is clinically associated with, or a complication of, a condition under this paragraph or its treatment: cachexia or wasting syndrome; severe or chronic pain; severe nausea; seizures; severe or persistent muscle spasms; or such conditions as are added by the commissioner[.]; and
(iii) any medical condition that may benefit from treatment with medical marihuana as determined by a veterinarian licensed pursuant to article one hundred thirty-five of the education law.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately; provided that the amendments to title 5-A of article 33 of the public health law made by sections one and two of this act shall not affect the repeal of such title and shall be deemed repealed therewith.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.