Bill > S03294

This bill modifies New York's medical cannabis law to streamline and update various provisions related to patient certifications, caregiver designations, and medical cannabis use. Key changes include extending medical cannabis certification periods from one to two years, lowering the minimum age for home cultivation from 21 to 18, introducing medical cannabis reciprocity for patients from other states, and establishing more flexible procedures for patient and caregiver registration. The bill eliminates the need for physical registry identification cards, instead allowing registered organizations to validate patient certifications electronically using government-issued photo identification. It also introduces new provisions for home cultivation, explicitly prohibiting the sale of home-cultivated cannabis while allowing transfer between certified patients. Additionally, the bill adds protections for patient privacy, creates guidelines for practitioner training and certification, and repeals the previous Controlled Substances Therapeutic Research Act. The changes aim to make medical cannabis access more convenient and responsive to patient needs while maintaining regulatory oversight and safety standards.

Health and Social Services, Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S3294