Pubdate: Thu, 31 Jul 2014
Source: Buffalo News (NY)
Copyright: 2014 The Buffalo News
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/GXIzebQL
Website: http://www.buffalonews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/61
Author: Mark Sommer
Page: B1
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?323 (GW Pharmaceuticals)

CUOMO SEEKS FAST TRACK FOR MEDICAL POT

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on Wednesday asked the state Health Department 
to expedite availability of medical marijuana for children suffering 
from epilepsy.

His action was met with approval by Wendy Conte, whose daughter, 
Anna, 9, of Orchard Park, died 12 days after the governor signed the 
Compassionate Care Act into law July 5. That made New York the 23rd 
state to legalize marijuana for medical purposes.

"Striking the right balance to ensure public safety and public health 
are protected is crucial," Cuomo wrote, while lamenting the deaths of 
Anna Conte and Olivia Marie Newton, 3, of Cheektowaga. "That said, I 
ask that you review the 18-month implementation timeline to determine 
if there is any way to accelerate the process for this specific dire 
population."

Conte said in a statement that she "applauded" the governor's efforts.

"We are looking to the governor now for his continued leadership to 
ensure that our children receive the medication that they need. We 
know that this medicine is readily available. There is simply no 
reason or excuse for why another child like Anna must die," she said.

Assemblyman Michael P. Kearns, D-Buffalo, said the expedited 
timetable is needed for all whose quality of life can be enhanced 
with medical marijuana.

"We need to expand the opportunity to help people who need this 
medication, and it must be done safely but soon," Kearns said. "I 
think what these families are saying is, when their children are 
hurting, they're hurting too. They know possibly what the end result 
is going to be, but they want their time with them to be as happy as 
possible, and if you're in pain, it's hard to be happy."

Kearns had urged Cuomo in a July 11 letter to try to expedite planned 
clinical trials, and made the same request in a letter to acting 
Health Commissioner Howard Zucker on Tuesday. In each case, Kearns 
asked whether Cuomo, through an executive order, could allow the 
issuance of emergency medical marijuana cards that New York residents 
could use in other states to receive medical marijuana. The nearest 
state that allows its use is Michigan.

New York has reportedly entered into a medical marijuana clinical 
trial for minors suffering from epilepsy with GW Pharmaceuticals, a 
British biopharmaceutical company. That trial still needs approval 
from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Kearns said federal-level changes are needed to remove marijuana from 
Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, the most restricted 
category reserved for drugs with "no currently accepted medical use."

That's necessary, he said, to speed up federal approval of medical marijuana.

State Sen. Tim Kennedy, D-Buffalo, said, "We passed the Compassionate 
Care Act specifically with children like Anna Conte and Olivia Marie 
Newton in mind, and it's critical that we implement this program as 
quickly as possible to alleviate the suffering of New Yorkers with 
such debilitating diseases."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom