Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Medical Marijuana Proposal Gets New Push In Albany
By
John Del Signore
Published Mar 27, 2013
Modified Mar 27, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
John Del Signore
Published Mar 27, 2013
Modified Mar 27, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Members of state legislature are trying once again to get a medical marijuana bill passed. This will probably ring a bell for those who remember this immortal Gothamist post from April 9th, 2012: "Medical marijuana is on the agenda in Albany once again, with a State Senator working hard to corral Republicans for a soon-to-be-introduced bill. Maybe we're burned out from all the non-medical marijuana, but haven't we seen this movie before? Dude, that's right: in 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and probably a bunch of other years we can't remember." Like a very stoned man trying to unlock the door to his neighbor's apartment, maybe the 7th time's a charm?
Senator Diane Savino has again teamed up with Assemblyman Richard Gottfried to introduce legislation that would "establish a so-called seed-to-sale system similar to one used in Colorado, where companies are licensed by the state to grow, distribute and sell marijuana," the Daily News reports. Previous attempts to legalize pot for medicinal purposes have died in the senate, and last year Governor Cuomo said he thinks the "tremendous risks outweigh the benefits at this point."
If passed, New York would join eighteen other states, including New Jersey and Connecticut, in allowing patients with cancer, multiple sclerosis, HIV/AIDS and other serious illnesses to access to medical marijuana. Julie Netherland, the Deputy Director of the Drug Policy Alliance's New York Policy Office, says, "Patients and their families in New York have suffered far too long because New York continues its retrograde approach to marijuana policies, even as other states move forward with more sensible approaches... There is simply no sensible reason for patients and their families to wait any longer for relief."
Earlier this month we enjoyed a pipe dream that the state budget would include legislation decriminalizing small quantities of marijuana that are not in public view. Cuomo has pushed for the change in connection to the NYPD's controversial stop-and-frisk policy, and the legislation would have made open-view possession a violation, answerable by a summons, instead of a misdemeanor. But the proposal was dropped and the debate postponed. Forget it Cheech, it's Albany.
Tagged
grass
marijuana
pot
reefer
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
22 NYC food pantries to start offering pet food
Pantries cite growing demand for pet food as owners struggle to feed themselves and their pets.
By
Karen Yi
Published Oct 13, 2026 at 2:01 p.m. ET
Woman whose body was found in Brooklyn garbage can was strangled, medical examiner says
Police hadn't previously ruled the woman's death a homicide, pending the medical examiner ruling.
By
Charles Lane
News
Woman whose body was found in Brooklyn garbage can was strangled, medical examiner says
Police hadn't previously ruled the woman's death a homicide, pending the medical examiner ruling.
By
Charles Lane
New York Public Radio CEO steps down after 8 months on job
By
Liam Quigley
Early Addition: Can't stop the sticker bombers
By
James Ramsay
Cyclist dies in wrong-way crash with an ambulance on Staten Island
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .