Politics & Government

Gov. Cuomo Signs Medical Marijuana Bill into Law

The bill was routinely passed in the New York State Assembly for years before Gov. Cuomo signed it into law.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo Monday ceremoniously signed New York's medical marijuana bill into law, making the Empire State the 23rd state to allow residents to use cannabis for medical reasons.

The governor actually signed the bill Saturday, but he held a ceremony in Manhattan because of its importance.

The bill will be in effect in 18 months, and five companies will be certified to grow and distribute it, according to Syracuse.com. However, the bill does not allow for the drug to be smoked.

Cuomo said the complexities of history of marijuana in the state and the country contributed to the length of time it took to get the legislation right. 

"The legislation, I feel confident, gets us the best of what medical marijuana can give us," Cuomo said Monday at the ceremony.

Click here to read the full press release from Gov. Cuomo.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here