New York lawmakers introduce medical marijuana bill

ALBANY, N.Y. – The movement to legalize medicinal marijuana is gaining momentum in New York, with a proposal to let some people grow their own or buy from a state-approved organization.

Sen. Thomas Duane of New York City is introducing the bill, which will have a matching version sponsored by Manhattan Assemblyman Richard Gottfried. The Democrat-led Assembly has passed similar measures in recent years, but the issue fizzled in the formerly Republican-led Senate.

Now Democrats have taken control the Senate and the issue could get some traction in that chamber.

The bill calls for plants to be in a fenced in area with a security device, available only to the caregiver or patient. …Assemblyman Sam Hoyt is a multi-sponsor of the bill. State Senator George Maziarz, who is against it, does not know if it has the votes to pass in the senate. Governor Paterson’s office released this statement toady, which said, “If the bill successfully passes both houses and reaches the Governor’s desk, the administration will seek input from interested parties before the Governor acts.”

If medical marijuana passes in New York, it’s all but over for the question of medical use of marijuana in the United States. We’d go from less than one quarter of the US population (23.86%) covered by medical marijuana laws to over 30% in just one year.  Give us New Jersey as well and we’re almost covering one-third the US population.  Throw in Pennsylvania and Illinois and we’re topping 40%.  Give us our wildest dream come true with successes in Alabama, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, and Tennessee and over half the US will be covered by a medical use law (52%).