NY Senate Approves Emergency Medical Marijuana Bill

The New York Senate voted 50 to 12 in favor of a bill that would establish a program to expedite access to medical marijuana for severely ill patients.

The bill will now head to Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s desk, who is expected to sign it.

The bill would create a “special certification” for patients with a “progressive and degenerative” disease or whose life or health is at risk without the drug.

Parents of children with rare forms of epilepsy had urged lawmakers to support the legislation, traveling repeatedly to the state Capitol to push for its passage.