BUD AND BREAKFAST’S MARIJUANA JURISDICTION REGULATION STATE-BY-STATE OVERVIEW: New York.

Quick Facts:

Is medicinal cannabis legal? Yes

Is it recreational marijuana legal? No

Cannabis legalization in New York by Bill S7923 means that patients who have been certified by a registered healthcare provider can register with the New York State Department of Health. The Bill also allows for five registered organizations to be able to cultivate and distribute cannabis. Each of these five growers can have up to four dispensaries.

The qualifying conditions include cancer, epilepsy, HIV/AIDS, Huntington’s disease, inflammatory bowel disease, Lou Gehrig’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, MS, neuropathies and spinal cord damage.

Patients may only possess cannabis in the form of pills, oils and extracts. They may not possess whole plant versions of weed.

The Bill was signed on July 5, 2014 after several revisions. On that date, New York became the twenty-third state to pass a medical marijuana law. According to the Marijuana Policy Project, the law falls short in several areas especially since it omits a number of very serious health conditions. The law also does not allow patients to smoke cannabis, nor does it allow for home cultivation.