Cuomo Signs Medicinal Marijuana Bill for Critically Ill

It came down to the final deadline; but, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo acted to sign a bill into law on Wednesday that will allow people with critical illness emergency access to medical marijuana treatment before the official law takes effect in 2016.

The two bills signed instruct the NY Health Department to create a pathway to accelerated access to the treatment, 2-months before the 2014 law goes into effect.

Cuomo said he is "deeply sympathized with New Yorkers suffering from serious illness, and I appreciate that medical marijuana may alleviate their chronic pain and debilitating symptoms."

NYS Senator Joe Griffo (R-Rome) who co-sponsored one of the bills said he's pleased.

We thank the Governor today for signing this important bill, which I sponsored in the Senate along with Assemblyman Richard Gottfried, chairman of the Assembly Health Committee. We hope this legislation will now help critically ill patients and children, like young Mackenzie Kulawy of New York Mills who suffers from a severe form of epilepsy, get the immediate treatment they need so they no longer have to await relief from their pain and suffering. -Statement by Sen. Joseph A. Griffo.

The 2014 law called for five organizations to produce and distribute the drug through 20 statewide dispensaries.