Compassionate Care Act advances in NY Senate! What's next?

Compassionate Care Act advances in NY Senate!

Editors note: This action alert is from 2014 and no longer active The Compassionate Care Act passed the Senate Health Committee this week by a 9-8 vote with Republican Senator William Larkin casting the deciding vote. Now Medical Marijuana passed through the Health Committee for the first time sense 2009 it is now on to the Senate Finance Committee.

The Senate Finance Committee is made up for 37 seats including 20 republicans and 17 democrats. We need at minimum 19 votes to pass this bill. The people of New York NEED to put more pressure on the Senate Finance Committee to make sure we have enough vote to pass it through.

The Senate Finance Committee Chair, Senator DeFrancisco, said is a statement on Friday that he is relinquishing himself from responsibility of having to call the bill to a vote, instead he is leaving it up to Senate Leadership "If the two leaders want it on the agenda, it will go on the agenda." One of the two, Senator Klein, is a co-sponsor of the Compassionate Care Act, so he would want it to come to a vote naturally. One can only assume because of that what Senator DeFrancisco really meant was if the Republican half of the Senate leadership, Senator Skelos, wants it to be on the agenda, it will be on the agenda. 

The Compassionate Care Act NEEDS to get on the agenda, NOW!  We have until June 19th to pass this through the Senate Finance Committee, The Senate Rules Committee, The Senate Floor and then the governor can sign it into law.

If you're asking yourself what you can do to help pass the Compassionate Care Act, ask no further and read below.

Step 1:

Call Senator Skelos' office  (518) 455-3171 and read off this simple script

--------Script---------

Hi, my name is (Your Name), My zip code is (Zip code) and I would like to ask Senator Skelos to support the Compassionate Care Act and ask Senator DeFrancisco to bring it to a vote in the Finance Committee. Thanks, Have a nice day!

Step 2:

Call the Senate Finance Committee members office's(see list below), asking each and every one of them to support the compassionate care act.

--------Script---------

Hi, my name is (Your Name), My zip code is (Zip code) and I want to urge the Senator to support medical marijuana and to vote for the Compassionate Care Act. Thank you and have a nice day!

Senator	Party	Phone	Email
Chair: John A. DeFrancisco	R	(518)-455-3511	jdefranc@nysenate.gov
Hugh T. Farley	R	(518)-885-1829	Farley@nysenate.gov
John J. Flanagan	R	(518)-455-2071	flanagan@nysenate.gov
Martin J. Golden	R	(518)-455-2730	golden@nysenate.gov
Joseph A. Griffo	R	(518)-455-3334	griffo@nysenate.gov
Kemp Hannon	R	(518)-455-2200	hannon@nysenate.gov
Andrew J Lanza	R	(518)-455-3215	lanza@senate.state.ny.us
Kenneth P. LaValle	R	(518)-455-3121	lavalle@nysenate.gov
Betty Little	R	(518)-455-2811	little@nysenate.gov
Carl L Marcellino	R	(518)-455-2390	marcelli@senate.state.ny.us
Jack M. Martins	R	(518)-455-3265	martins@nysenate.gov
Michael F. Nozzolio	R	(518)-455-2366	nozzolio@nysenate.gov
Thomas F. O'Mara	R	(518)-455-2091	omara@nysenate.gov
Michael H. Ranzenhofer	R	(518)-455-3161	ranz@senate.state.ny.us
James L. Seward	R	(518)-455-3131	seward@nysenate.gov
Catharine Young	R	(518)-455-3563	cyoung@senate.state.ny.us
Mark Grisanti	R	(518)-455-3240	grisanti@nysenate.gov
Ruben Diaz	D	(518)-455-2511	diaz@nysenate.gov
Daniel L. Squadron	D	(518)-455-2625	squadron@nysenate.gov
Toby Ann Stavisky	D	(518)-455-3461	stavisky@nysenate.gov
Neil D. Breslin	D	(518)-455-2225	breslin@senate.state.ny.us
Timothy M. Kennedy	D	(518)-455-2426	kennedy@nysenate.gov
David J. Valesky	D	(518)-455-2838	valesky@nysenate.gov
Adriano Espaillat	D	(518)-455-2041	espailla@nysenate.gov
Kevin S. Parker	D	(518)-455-2580	parker@senate.state.ny.us
Bill Perkins	D	(518)-455-2441	perkins@senate.state.ny.us
Martin Malavé Dilan	D	(518)-455-2177	dilan@nysenate.gov
Michael Gianaris	D	(518)-455-3486	gianaris@nysenate.gov
Ruth Hassell-Thompson	D	(518)-455-2061	hassellt@senate.state.ny.us
Velmanette Montgomery	D	(518)-455-3451	montgome@nysenate.gov
Gustavo Rivera	D	(518)-455-3395	grivera@nysenate.gov
Jose Peralta	D	(518)-455-2529	jperalta@nysenate.gov
John J. Bonacic	R	(518)-455-3181	bonacic@nysenate.gov
Liz Krueger	D	(518)-455-2297	lkrueger@senate.state.ny.us
William J. Larkin Jr.	R	(518)-455-2770	larkin@senate.state.ny.us
Joseph E. Robach	R	(518)-455-2909	robach@nysenate.gov
Diane J. Savino	D	(518)-455-2437	savino@senate.state.ny.us

If you're unable to or don't want to make phone call's you can goto our action alerts on www.norml.org/act and email your senator with a pre-written email!

Medical Marijuana - Tell the Senate Health Committee To Vote Yes on the Compassionate Care Act

New York's Medical Marijuana bill, The Compassionate Care Act, WILL come to a vote by the end of next week.

Editors note: This action alert is from 2014 and no longer active

Now we need to apply the pressure to the WHOLE Senate Health Committee. The sick and dying patients of New York need YOU ! Call ALL of the comm. members and ask them to support medical marijuana. It's easy. All you do is call the number and leave a message with the staff member who answers the phone. This is your chance to participate in Democracy.

Below you will find a list and a simple script you can read off while calling. Share this far and wide! The time for action is now or never! We've never been closer to passing medical marijuana! We need every single call we can get! It will only take 20 minutes to call each of the 17 senators on this list. Call them daily, they need to know this issue matters.

---------------------------- "Hello. My name is (Your name) and I live at (Your Address). I'm calling to urge the senator to support medical marijuana and vote yes on the Compassionate Care Act when it comes to a vote in committee and on the floor. Not another day should pass that a patient has to suffer because of this. Thank you. Hope you have a nice day!"

----------------------------

 Senate Health Comm. Members.

Senator	Party	Email	Phone	Region
Chair: Kemp Hannon	R	hannon@nysenate.gov	518-455-2200	Garden City
Greg Ball	R	gball@nysenate.gov	(518) 455-3111	Patterson
Hugh Farley	R	Farley@nysenate.gov	(518) 885-1829	Schenectady
Martin J. Golden	R	golden@nysenate.gov	(518) 455-2730	Brooklyn
William J. Larkin, Jr..	R	larkin@senate.state.ny.us	(518) 455-2770	Cornwall-on-Hudson
Jack Martins	R	martins@nysenate.gov	(518)-455-3265	Nassua County
James L. Seward	R	seward@nysenate.gov	(518) 455-3131	Oneonta
Cathy Young	R	cyoung@senate.state.ny.us	(518) 455-3563	Olena
Velmanette Montgomery	D	montgome@nysenate.gov	(518) 455-3451	Boerum Hill
Ted O'Brien	D	obrien@nysenate.gov	(585) 218-0034	Rochester
Jose R. Peralta	D	jperalta@nysenate.gov	(518) 455-2529	East Elmhurst
Gustavo Richa	D	grivera@nysenate.gov	(718)-933-2034	Bronx
Diane J. Savino	IDC	savino@senate.state.ny.us	(518) 455-2437	Brooklyn, Staten Island
Jose M. Serrano	D	serrano@senate.state.ny.us	(518) 455-2795	East Harlem
Simcha Felder	D	felder@nysenate.gov	(518) 455-2754	Brooklyn
Ruth Hassell-Thompson	D	hassellt@senate.state.ny.us	(518) 455-2061	Bronx
Brad Hoylman	D	hoylman@nysenate.gov	(518) 455-2451	Manhattan

For more information on how to get involved in supporting medical marijuana come to a NORML Meeting 

NEW YORKERS TAKE TO THE STREETS ON MAY 4 DEMANDING RATIONAL, COMPASSIONATE LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL POLICIES ON CANNABIS (MARIJUANA)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEW YORKERS TAKE TO THE STREETS ON MAY 4 DEMANDING RATIONAL, COMPASSIONATE LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL POLICIES ON CANNABIS (MARIJUANA)

New York, NY, April 29, 2013- THE NYC CANNABIS PARADE, one of the longest-running public demonstrations against cannabis (marijuana) prohibition, will take place this Saturday, May 4, 2013, beginning with assembly at 12 PM on 24th Street between Park and Madison, followed by a parade led by the “Ganja Granny,” Arlene Williams, down Broadway to Union Square for a mass celebration of cannabis culture, live musical performers and speakers addressing the state of legal reform around the US and in New York, the injustice of arresting and imprisoning cannabis users, the medical uses of cannabis and the critical need to legalize cannabis under local, state and federal law.

The event in Union Square features acts including East Village icon David Peel, African diaspora acoustic percussion ensemble Heritage OP, The Black Market Merchants, and others. Speakers will include NYC mayoral candidate Sal Albanese, Tony Newman from international advocacy group the Drug Policy Alliance, Joanne Naughton (Law Enforcement Against Prohibition), Harlem activist Joseph “Jazz” Hayden, Dr. Sunil Kumar Aggarwal MD, PhD, Arlene Williams “the Ganja Granny” (Green Ribbon World), addiction treatment and wellness activist Dimitri Mugianis (NYHRE), Alec Foster  (New York University Students for Sensible Drug Policy), Laura Notini (NORML Women’s Alliance), and radio host and journalist Paul DeRienzo (teacher, independent radio and TV producer and contributor to The VIllager).

“New York has a long tradition as a leader in progressive social policies but now lags far behind the rest of the country in terms of rational marijuana laws. As marijuana law reform spreads around the US and overseas, it is high time that New York City and New York State join the movement away from the futile and destructive policy of marijuana prohibition,” said Parade Coalition member and NORML Long Island Executive Director Troy Smit.

About the NYC Cannabis Parade and the Global Marijuana March

The NYC Cannabis Parade is an inclusive and peaceful celebration of the ”cannabis culture” that spans national, cultural and racial divisions. It is also a political event demanding an end to Prohibition, a proven disaster.

In 1999, after thirty years, this event turned into the Global Marijuana March and spread to approximately 300 cities around the world. The event occurs annually on the first Saturday in May to unify the community of cannabis reformers and promote a larger conversation about cannabis policy reform and the destruction that accompanies prohibition.

CONTACT: Troy Smit Info@CannabisParade.org. Event URL: www.CannabisParade.org

NY Senator Savino and Assemblymen Gottfried Introduce Medical Marijuana Legislation

Medical Marijuana same-as bills introduced in both the NY Senate (S.4406) and NY Assembly (A.6357) today. For the past 16 years Medical Marijuana , or MMJ, bills have came and gone in NY, but this year we have a stronger bill than any other in recent history. Bills of previous years were always vague when defining who and what is covered to use medical marijuana, usually saying "severe debilitating or life-threatening condition" this year however we have a much clearer look at what is covered

"...including, but not limited to, Cancer, Glaucoma, positive status for Human Immunodeficiency Virus or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, Parkinson's Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, damage to the nervous tissue of the spinal cord with objective neurological indication of  intractable spasiticity, Epilepsy, Cachexia, Wasting Syndrome, Chron's Disease, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Neuropathy, Fribromyalgia, Arthritis, Lupus, and Diabetes, or a condition associated with or a complication of such a condition or its treatment (including but not limited to inability to tolerate food, nausea, vomiting, dysphoria or pian) subject to limitation in regulation of the commissioner."

The biggest change might be that NY will be the second state to allow for-profit business entities in the medical marijuana industry. In the most of the medical states you must be a non-profit corporation or cooperative to own and operate a dispensary, Colorado and soon to be New York are the exceptions.

When passed, New york would be of of the first states to mandate testing on cannabis quality and potency. This is a huge step forward in helping prove the legitimacy of the plant as a medicine and will help secure the health and safety of patients with compromised immune systems especially.

Not entirely new, but these bills also have added protections for patients, caregivers and heath care professionals that few other state's have. A MMJ patient is not to be denied of any medical service or organ transplant due to the fact that they use MMJ. Patients and their caregivers are protected from discrimination by landlords, employers, schools, or in court i.e. custody proceedings.

Coming off the heels of success in Colorado and Washington, NY would add a lot of momentum to the movement if we pass a MMJ bill this session. We don't have much time though, the legislators go home for the session in June giving us just over 2 months to get this passed.  It's up to you, the people, to tell your senator to support the Medical Marijuana bill S. 4406.  You can Click Here to use NORML's Action Center and take 1 minute to email your senator to support MMJ in NY (Note: you don't need to use you 9 digit zip code).

I have the utmost confidence that we will legalize the medicinal use of cannabis this year, but we need your help. Check out how to get involved here.

Assemblyman Katz; Against medical pot, then caught with pot.

Early Thursday Morning, on the New York State Thruway, Republican Assemblyman Stephen M. Katz was arrested and Given a DAT(Desk Appearance Ticket). Issuance of a DAT involves a full custodial arrest, handcuffs and a trip to the police station in a squad car, van or wagon. He was brought up on charges for doing 80MPH in a 65MPH zone and...wait for it...Unlawful Possession of Marijuana(§221.05). Interesting...A Legislator being charged with Marijuana possession must've voted for pro-marijuana legislation in the past, right? Nope, Assemblyman Katz has actually voted against medical marijuana in the past.

This is the sort of hypocritical politics that has to be done with before we can pass meaningful Medical and Tax&Regulate legislation in NY. You would be hard pressed to find a individual that smokes Marijuana who doesn't think it should be, at the very least, removed as a schedule I or II drug or has that it has medicinal benefits, and Assemblyman Katz is no different sense he obviously partakes for his own reasons.

I'm not going to speculate his reasons for voting against Medicinal Marijuana  previously, but I hope they will change this time around. And who knows, maybe Assemblyman Katz will be a surprise crusader for strengthening NY's Decriminalization statutes. But until then this is just another story of a misguided politician thinking he was better then the sick patients that seek relief through marijuana because he smokes pot and didn't get caught, until now.

Don't forget,  call Assembly Katz's office, 845-628-3781, and leave a message reminding him the importance of supporting Gov Cuomo's Marijuana Decrim efforts in light of his (most)recent run in with the police.

Image Credit:

(Left)http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/Steve-Katz

(Right)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Katz_%28politician%29