Pubdate: Fri, 22 Jul 2011
Source: Brooklyn Daily Eagle (NY)
Copyright: 2011 Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Contact:  http://www.brooklyneagle.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5273

SEN. SAVINO SEEKS MEDICAL MARIJUANA LAW IN NEW YORK

Points to New Jersey Decision

BAY RIDGE - State Senator Diane J. Savino, (D-Staten Island/ Bay 
Ridge), recently praised New Jersey Governor Chris Christie's 
decision to implement his state's medical marijuana program and urged 
New York to follow the lead of its cross-Hudson neighbor.

"Anyone who has watched a loved one struggle with a debilitating 
illness would do almost anything to help alleviate their pain," 
Savino said. "New Jersey showed real compassion for Garden State 
residents who are suffering from cancer, multiple sclerosis and other 
life-threatening diseases. We need to follow this example and pass 
legislation to allow doctors to prescribe medical marijuana when no 
other option is available."

She has written to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, asking for his support of this cause.

Studies have shown that marijuana can mitigate pain, nausea, and 
other symptoms in some patients who are unresponsive to other 
medication. Senator Savino said her late parents, who both were 
unable to be treated for chronic pain during their battles with 
cancer, were among those who would have been helped.

Savino is a co-sponsor of legislation, (S.2774 Duane/ A.7347 
Gottfried), that would legalize medical marijuana in New York. The 
measure would give seriously ill patients the ability to purchase the 
drug through a registered dispensing facility with a physician's 
approval. The program would be tightly controlled with patients 
having to register with the state Health Department, and be permitted 
to have no more than 2.5 ounces at a time.

The New Jersey law was signed by Christie's predecessor, Jon Corzine, 
shortly before leaving office in January 2010. It became the 16th 
state to legalize medical marijuana.