BILL NUMBER: S5704
SPONSOR: SKOUFIS
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the cannabis law, in relation to certification by phar-
macists of patients using medical cannabis
PURPOSE:
To streamline patient certification for medical cannabis and alleviate
the administrative burden for medical cannabis providers.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Expands the criteria for when a practitioner may certify a
patient and reduces the administrative burden for practitioners. This
section also limits when a registry identification card expires and
provides a process for pharmacists employed by registered organizations
to become authorized practitioners.
Section 2: Sets Effective Date.
JUSTIFICATION:
Cannabis is an effective treatment for many medical conditions,
illnesses, and diseases ranging from epilepsy to insomnia and anxiety.
In 2018, the New York State Department of Health (DOH) recommended that
medical professionals should be given broader discretion to prescribe
medical cannabis so that patients can benefit from cannabis' unique
properties. Nevertheless, for many patients, access to medical cannabis
is curtailed by the administrative and patient certification hurdles
that remain for medical providers. The New York Medical Cannabis Indus-
try Association (MCIA) has emphasized that the medical program is
"losing patients, practitioners, and jobs, and the state is forgoing
millions in tax revenue" due to a lack of support and failure to grow
the program. Reducing the administrative burden for providers and
expanding the criteria for certifying patients will help expand access
to medical cannabis benefits for patients and provide additional support
for a critical industry that is strained due to burdensome regulations.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
Senate
2023: S6909, Referred to Health
2024: S6909, Referred to Health
Assembly
2023: A7795, Referred to Higher Education
2024: A7795, Referred to Higher Education
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
Statutes affected: S5704: 30 cannabis law