Editorial: Cuomo should sign emergency medical marijuana bill

For severely ill patients in New York state who would benefit from medical marijuana, the high stakes and dramatic arc of their individual stories, as well as in the story of the drug's journey from legality to accessibility in the state, are nearly theatrical in scope.
Now that the state Assembly and Senate have passed legislation that creates "special certification" for certain patients who need immediate access to the drug, Gov. Andrew Cuomo must move quickly to sign the emergency medical marijuana bill. If he doesn't expedite that process as legislators intend, it would be a frustrating, tragic irony.
Many patients with cancer, glaucoma, seizure disorders and other severely debilitating health issues cannot — and should not have to — wait until the state's Compassionate Care program officially launches in January. If, in a bipartisan manner, state lawmakers can give the nod to patients with "progressive and degenerative" diseases or whose life or health is at risk without the drug, the governor should as well.
The bill would allow the state Department of Health to suspend certain requirements, permitting it to immediately award licenses to grow and distribute the drug. This would be particularly welcome news to parents of children with rare and sometimes lethal forms of epilepsy who have been urging lawmakers to support the legislation to push for its passage.
As is, current restrictions for the manufacturing and dispensing of medical cannabis are quite stringent in New York, which became the 23rd state to legalize medical marijuana last year. To wit, only five producers of the drug will be selected and each may only run four dispensaries; with only 20 places to get help somewhere between Buffalo and Manhattan, patients and their families will need to log some serious time and mileage to gain relief. And even when they get to their destination, that relief may be tempered by further restrictions — for example, although it has been demonstrated that for certain illnesses smoking or eating the medical cannabis can be the most effective method to ease pain, seizures or discomfort, only extracts such as oils, vapors and capsules of the drug are permitted.
Under Cuomo, the state has been incredibly cautious in embracing medical marijuana. Now that it has, the quicker relief can be given to those who need it the most, the better.