Do you live in New York?

Currently, bill A4867 is in the New York State Assembly. This bill provides for the legalization of medical marijuana. I am urging you to contact your representative and let them know your stance on Medical Marijuana.

Please use this link to determine who your local representative is:
NORML -- Tokin' Politics

New York Compassionate Care has a pre-written letter that you can submit. Please feel free to add to this. 12 other US states have legalized Medical Marijuana use, it's time for NY to do so as well.


Here is the letter

Respected medical organizations such as the American Nurses Association, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Public Health Association, and the American Academy of HIV Medicine have endorsed the medical use of marijuana. It is time that we join the 12 other states that have passed laws to protect their sick and dying. There is absolutely no reason why we should subject our patients to arrest, prosecution, and jail time when they are already battling for their lives.

The fact that patients in this state continue to live in fear of arrest for using medical marijuana is absurd. Patients should feel free to consult with their physicians and choose the treatment they think best. The last thing a sick person should have to worry about is whether he or she will be able to make bail for using a medicine that is now recognized as effective by leading medical organizations.

I am asking you to help sick people in our state. If you are worried that doing so would cause law enforcement problems or teen marijuana use to escalate, it won’t. In fact, the data available from 11 states that have medical marijuana laws show that teen use has not increased, but has actually declined. Likewise, no major law enforcement problems have been identified as a result of passing such laws.

Science and the track record of other states speak for themselves. Public opinion is also in favor of reform. A 2005 nationwide Gallup poll found 78% support for “making marijuana legally available for doctors to prescribe in order to reduce pain and suffering.” The percentage of Americans who believe medical marijuana should be available to those who need it has seen a steady increase over the years. A 1999 nationwide Gallup poll using the same language showed support at 73% in this country.

Passing a law that recognizes modern science and current public opinion makes sense. The time to do so is now. I urge you to step forward and make sure that no patient or doctor has to face arrest and prosecution for simply treating an illness. Put quite simply, patients are vulnerable and need your help.

Thank you for taking the time to listen to my concerns. I assure you, there are many others who feel as I do. Please do the right thing and help make this state one that cares for, not punishes, its patients.

New Yorkers must work together to help this pass

Do It Now!!!

this bill has passed in the assembely for the second year in a row, last year it died in the senate while waiting on a vote. it will do the same this year because the senate has recessed for the summer. the only thing that we can do is contact your local senators and ask them to suppor the bill a4867 and encourage them to contact the senate majority leader to call a vote on this bill before Dec. 31 2008.

Do you think your present governor will sign the bill if it ever passes the state senate?

Vi

yes i do, and even if he doesnt it will go back to the assembely and senate, and we know that it will pass through the assembely no problem and then if the senate has another 2/3rds vote on it they can over ride the govoners veto. but i truely think that governer paterson will sign it if it gets to him. its been a long time coming and its just a matter of time spitzer was already starting to support it before he resigned.