A New York lawmaker has filed legislation that would allow medical marijuana patients who live outside New York to take part in the state’s medical marijuana program while visiting.
Assemblymember Crystal Peoples-Stokes filed Assembly Bill 7826 last month, and it was swiftly assigned to the Assembly Health Committee.
The proposed law establishes reciprocity for out-of-state patients, allowing qualified medical marijuana card holders from other states to participate in New York’s medical marijuana program. This means that in accordance with local laws, tourists to New York who are qualified patients will be allowed to purchase marijuana and marijuana products from licensed dispensaries.
The legislation would also lower the age requirement for being a certified patient or caregiver for a patient from 21 to 18.
Under current New York law the state does not recognize out-of-state medical marijuana authorizations, meaning that even if someone is a qualified patient in their home state, it gives them no legal defense for possessing marijuana in New York. The state’s recreational marijuana law does mean that marijuana is legal for everyone 21 and older, although rules and regulations for patients – particularly possession limits – are different than for recreational consumers.
You can find the full text of Assembly Bill 7826 by clicking here.
