NY Patients First – The Fight for Medical Marijuana in New York State

By Evan Nison

After over a decade of medical marijuana legislation in the New York State legislature, it looks like this is the year. Last month the bill passed the Senate Health Committee with its largest margin ever and we anticipate another victory in the Codes Committee, which is its next vote. These achievements, along with a new supportive leadership and bipartisan support makes this the most exciting year for medical marijuana in New York's recent history.

NY Patients First held a press conference in the Capital Building after the Health Committee’s vote of support where we invited patients to tell their stories. The support and press coverage we got proves how much of a mainstream issue this is. The patients were on nearly every nightly news station, including major outlets. It was hard for opposition to attack us with legitimate fact based arguments, and the news stories reflected that.

NY Patients First, a coalition directed by Rob Robinson, Jen Rog, Adam Scavone, and myself, formed after New Jersey's medical marijuana law passed. We are dedicated to making sure patients’ needs come before politics. We are a network of patients, advocates, and health professionals. During this crucial phase of the legislative process it is extremely important that we make sure New York legislators know how important it is to pass this compassionate bill, and to do this we need your help – there may not be another opportunity like this for years to come.

If any of you want to be part of this bill’s passage, or if any of you health professionals or patients want to tell your stories, please contact me ASAP at Evan@NYpatientsfirst.org. Every person that comes forward will have an enormous impact, especially if you live in the central New York area.

NY Patients First is working with Empire State NORML and MPP. To keep informed please check their sites as well as NYpatientsfirst.org. I will also continue to update HIGH TIMES readers on our progress in New York and New Jersey on this blog so keep an eye out!