A bill that would expedite patients' access to medical marijuana has been sent to Gov. Andrew Cuomo's desk.

Cuomo will have until Nov. 11 to either sign or veto the bill, which the state Legislature passed in late June.

The Medical Marijuana Expedited Access bill comes after a state medical-marijuana program was passed in 2014 and is set to be up and running by January. It allows for medical marijuana in non-smokeable forms for patients suffering from severe illnesses, particularly children is chronic epilepsy.

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ALBANY -- State regulators want to double the number of companies growing and selling medical marijuana in New York to keep pace with patient demand.

The state Department of Health issued a report this week with 12 recommendations to improve the state's medical marijuana program, which launched in January and has faced criticism from patient advocates who say there are too many barriers to getting the drug.

Among them were proposals to increase the number of marijuana companies who can operate in New York from five to 10, which would increase the number of allowed dispensaries in New York from 20 to 40.

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A Brooklyn Republican who has his sights set on a City Council seat slammed the lawmaking body Sunday for bankrolling a feasibility study on whether to open injection facilities for heroin addicts.

"It's basically a taxpayer-funded shooting gallery for heroin junkies to allow them to legally shoot up," Bob Capano told John Catsimatidis on his 970 AM talk show Sunday.

"Any funds spent on this issue should be focused on breaking the addicts' dependency on drugs, not taking a step that basically decriminalizes the use of heroin."

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The opioid epidemic ripping throughout the nation and our own backyard will not be stopped without the multi-pronged approach that is thankfully occurring on all levels of government.

Local, state and national leaders have stepped up to provide assistance. Police, fire departments, ambulance crews, hospital staffs and others are on the front lines of this fight.

Last month proved deadly in Erie County, with public officials reporting at least 42 suspected opioid overdose deaths, half of them since Dec. 19 and six alone on Dec. 27.

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