Pubdate: Tue, 04 Feb 2014
Source: Record, The (Troy, NY)
Copyright: 2014 The Associated Press
Contact:  http://www.troyrecord.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1724

HEALTH COMMISSIONER EXPECTS POT PROGRAM UP AND RUNNING WITH YEAR

ALBANY (AP) - New York's health commissioner says he expects the 
state trial of medical marijuana to be up and running within a year.

Dr. Nirav Shah told lawmakers at a hearing Monday that the research 
is intended to examine the drug's effectiveness in patient treatment, 
for example with pain in stages of cancer.

He says the goal is to provide evidence of value not only for New 
York but for the country.

The Cuomo administration has proposed a limited initiative to 
authorize medical marijuana use by patients at 20 hospitals.

Shah says many hospitals have shown interest, the Health Department 
plans to establish the trial within the limits of current law, and it 
will use marijuana provided by the federal government.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom