What's happening
This bill allows veterinarians to certify animals for medical marijuana use in New York, expanding access beyond human patients.
Why it matters
Veterinarians would gain legal authority to certify animals for medical marijuana treatment. , potentially improving access to alternative therapies for pets with chronic pain, seizures, or other serious conditions not well-managed by conventional medicine.
The bill recognizes animals as “certified patients” under New York’s medical marijuana program. , which could lead to new veterinary practices and products, as well as increased oversight and regulation of cannabis use in animals.
“Serious condition” is expanded to include any ailment that may benefit from medical marijuana as determined by a veterinarian. , allowing for professional discretion and individualized care, but also raising questions about guidelines, safety, and appropriate use in different animal species.
Implementation could prompt further research and data collection on the effects of medical marijuana in animals. , potentially influencing future policy, best practices, and even insurance coverage for veterinary cannabis treatments.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Medical Marijuana for Pets
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to health
- Print number 2835a
- Amend and recommit 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.
Let Pets Use Medical Marijuana
In Assembly Committee · Health · Sponsor Amy Paulin
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2835--A
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 29, 2019
Introduced by Sen. SAVINO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Health -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
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:
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02058-03-9
S. 2835--A 2
(a) "Serious condition" means:
(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.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to access to medical marihuana for animals
Purpose
To allow licensed veterinarians to certify patients to use medical mari- huana and to add animals to the list of certified patients under the public health law
Summary of specific provisions
Section one of the bill amends subdivision 3 of section 3360 of the public health law by adding the terms "human" and "animal" to the defi- nition of "certified patient." This section also amends subdivision 12 of section 3360 of the public health law by adding licensed veterinari- ans to the definition of "practitioner."
Section two amends subdivision 7 of section 3360 of the public health law to add any medical condition that may benefit from treatment with medical marihuana as determined by a licensed veterinarian.
Section three provides for an immediate effective date.
Justification
Medical marihuana has helped countless people in the management and treatment of chronic and debilitating illnesses. Research suggests that animals can also benefit from cannabis use to similarly treat their ailments.
This legislation would authorize licensed veterinarians in the State to certify their animal patients to use medical marihuana for any medical condition that may benefit from such treatment. Animal owners and care- givers would therefore be given an alternative option to alleviate their pets' pain. This could be helpful to many animals in need of relief, especially those that have chronic illnesses and for whom more tradi- tional medical treatment has proven to be ineffective.
Other states, including Nevada and California, have introduced legis- lation regarding medical marihuana use for pets. Giving animals access to medical marihuana is a compassionate measure that will help prevent unnecessary discomfort and suffering.
Legislative history
2018 Session - S8772 was a new bill and referred to the health committee with no further action
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.