New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) has signed a bill into law updating the state’s medical marijuana program, with revised rules that grant reciprocity to out-of-state residents, streamline the patient certification process, allow adults 18 and older to grow their own cannabis plants for therapeutic use and more.
The legislation from Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes (D) and Sen. Jeremy Cooney (D), which advanced out of the legislature in June, was signed by the governor on Friday.
Under the newly enacted law, patient certifications will also be valid for two years, rather than one. The reform also removes a requirement that health professionals issuing medical cannabis recommendations must first consult the state prescription monitoring program.
“This legislation reflects New York’s ongoing commitment to compassion, science, access, and equity,” Felicia A.B. Reid, acting executive director of the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) said in a press release.
The bill also gives patients more flexibility with respect to possession limits, clarifying that patients and caregivers can have whichever is a larger amount: the designated maximum under state statute or a 60-day supply.
“Patients deserve a medical cannabis program that truly supports their care, and these updates move us closer to that goal,”
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