Compassionate Care Act – New York
A06357 Summary:
BILL NO A06357E
SAME AS SAME AS S07923
SPONSOR Gottfried (MS)
COSPNSR Lupardo, Cahill, Clark, Cymbrowitz, Dinowitz, Hevesi, Lavine, Paulin, Peoples-Stokes, Rosenthal, Titone, Arroyo, Bronson, Brook-Krasny, Cook, Crespo, DenDekker, Fahy, Jaffee, Kavanagh, Lifton, Otis, Rivera, Roberts, Skartados, Steck, Weprin, Zebrowski, Sepulveda, Katz, Miller, O’Donnell
MLTSPNSR Abinanti, Aubry, Braunstein, Brennan, Buchwald, Farrell, Galef, Glick, Hikind, Jacobs, Kellner, Magee, Markey, McDonald, Millman, Mosley, Moya, Perry, Pretlow, Robinson, Rodriguez, Scarborough, Schimel, Sweeney, Walter, Weisenberg, Wright
Add Art 33 Title 5-A SS3360 – 3369-e, amd S3371, Pub Health L; add Art 20-B SS490 & 491, amd S171-a, Tax L; add S89-h, St Fin L; amd S853, Gen Bus L; amd S221.00, add Art 179 SS179.00 – 179.15, Pen L; amd SS216.00 & 410.91, CP L
Relates to the medical use of marihuana; legalizes the possession, manufacture, use, delivery, transport or administration of medical marihuana by a designated caregiver for a certified medical use; prescribes procedures for such possession, acquisition, etc. including certification of patients by their practitioner, and that, in the practitioner’s professional judgment, the patient would receive therapeutic or palliative benefit from use of medical marihuana.
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A06357 Actions:
BILL NO A06357E
03/26/2013 referred to health
04/16/2013 reported referred to codes
04/30/2013 reported referred to ways and means
05/29/2013 reported
05/31/2013 advanced to third reading cal.477
06/03/2013 passed assembly
06/03/2013 delivered to senate
06/03/2013 REFERRED TO HEALTH
06/17/2013 recalled from senate
06/17/2013 RETURNED TO ASSEMBLY
06/17/2013 vote reconsidered – restored to third reading
06/17/2013 amended on third reading 6357a
01/08/2014 referred to health
01/14/2014 reported referred to codes
05/20/2014 reported referred to ways and means
05/21/2014 amend and recommit to ways and means
05/21/2014 print number 6357b
05/27/2014 reported referred to rules
05/27/2014 reported
05/27/2014 rules report cal.41
05/27/2014 ordered to third reading rules cal.41
05/27/2014 passed assembly
05/27/2014 delivered to senate
05/27/2014 REFERRED TO CODES
06/09/2014 recalled from senate
06/09/2014 RETURNED TO ASSEMBLY
06/09/2014 vote reconsidered – restored to third reading
06/09/2014 amended on third reading 6357c
06/16/2014 recommitted to rules
06/16/2014 amend and recommit to rules 6357d
06/19/2014 amend (t) and recommit to rules
06/19/2014 print number 6357e
06/19/2014 reported
06/19/2014 rules report cal.598
06/19/2014 ordered to third reading rules cal.598
06/19/2014 message of necessity – 3 day message
06/19/2014 repassed assembly
06/19/2014 returned to senate
06/19/2014 REFERRED TO RULES
06/20/2014 SUBSTITUTED FOR S7923
06/20/2014 3RD READING CAL.1659
06/20/2014 MESSAGE OF NECESSITY – 3 DAY MESSAGE
06/20/2014 PASSED SENATE
06/20/2014 RETURNED TO ASSEMBLY
06/24/2014 delivered to governor
07/05/2014 signed chap.90
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A06357 Memo:
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY
MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION
submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A6357E
SPONSOR: Gottfried (MS)
TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the public health law, the tax law,
the state finance law, the general business law, the penal law and the
criminal procedure law, in relation to medical use of marihuana; and
providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
PURPOSE:
This bill would comprehensively regulate the manufacture, sale and use
of medical marihuana. It would strike the right balance between poten-
tially relieving the pain and suffering of those in desperate need of a
treatment and protecting the public against risks to its health and
safety. The balance would be maintained by granting discretion to physi-
cians to prescribe in accordance with regulatory requirements and
medical norms, empowering the Department of Health to oversee the regi-
men of medical marihuana usage and leaving to the Governor, the final
say in seeing that the public’s safety and health are protected by
authorizing him to discontinue the program, in whole or in part, should
risks to the public so warrant.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
The bill would create a new Title V-A in Article 33 of the Public Health
Law entitled “Medical Use of Marihuana,” a comprehensive regulatory
structure governing every aspect of the medical use of marihuana.
Certification: A patient would have to be certified by a practitioner in
order to obtain medical marihuana. A practitioner would be a physician,
trained by and registered with the Department of Health (DOH), licensed
by the State and qualified to treat the serious condition for which the
patient is seeking treatment. A certification could be issued only to a
patient with a serious condition, which is limited to a defined list of
conditions. The Commissioner of Health (Commissioner) may add additional
conditions or symptoms to the list. The patient would have to be under
the practitioner’s continuing care for the serious condition.
The bill would establish the form of the certification. In making the
certification, the practitioner must consider the appropriate form and
dosage of medical marihuana. Any form of medical marihuana not approved
by the Commissioner would be prohibited, and smoking would be prohibit-
ed. The dosage must be consistent with guidance issued by the Commis-
sioner, and the patient would not be allowed to possess an amount of
medical marihuana in excess of a 30 day supply of the dosage. Addi-
tionally, the patient would be required to keep the medical marihuana in
the original packaging in which it was dispensed.
Registry Identification Cards: Upon approval of the certification, DOH
would issue registration identification cards. Patients or designated
caregivers would have to apply to DOH for a card, on an application
determined by the Commissioner. If a patient wishes to change or termi-
nate a certified caregiver, the patient would be required to notify the
Department, which would notify the caregiver that the caregiver’s card
is invalid and must be returned to the Department.
The registry identification card would expire one year after the date
the certification is signed. The card would contain any recommendation
or limitation on form or dosage imposed by the practitioner as well as
other information. A patient or caregiver would have to notify the
Department of any change in name or address or if the patient ceases to
have the serious condition noted on the certification, at which point
the card would have to be returned to the Department. A patient would be
required to carry his or her registration card when in possession of the
medical marihuana.
The Department would maintain a confidential list of persons issued a
registry identification card, and individual identifying information
obtained by the Department would be exempt from disclosure under Article
Six of the Public Officers Law. The Department would be able to suspend
or revoke the card of a patient or caregiver who willfully violates any
provision of the new Title.
Registered Organizations: A registered organization would be a for-pro-
fit business entity or not-for-profit corporation that would acquire,
possess, manufacture, sell, deliver, transport, distribute, or dispense
medical marihuana. Registered organizations would be able to dispense
medical marihuana to individuals who present a registry identification
card and would provide the patient or caregiver with a receipt, which
would also be provided to the Department. A safety insert would also be
provided to the patient or caregiver. The organization would not be able
to dispense an amount greater than a thirty day supply to a patient. The
medical marihuana would be dispensed in a sealed and properly labeled
package. All manufacturing and dispensing of medical marihuana by regis-
tered organizations would take place in New York State. The Commissioner
is authorized to promulgate regulations restricting the advertising and
marketing of medical marihuana.
Registered organizations would register with the Department on a form
determined by the Commissioner. Registered organizations would also be
under a continuing obligation to report any changes in facts or circum-
stances reflected in the application either during the application proc-
ess or once registration has been granted. The Commissioner would grant
applications only when the Commissioner is satisfied that the applicant
would be able to conform to a delineated list of requirements. Registra-
tions would be valid for two years at a time and would be renewable. A
registration will be suspended or revoked if the organization fails to
comply with applicable state laws. The Commissioner would be able to
register up to five organizations that each operate four dispensaries,
and would be able to allow additional registered organizations and
dispensaries.
Registered organizations would be required to file reports with the
Department and would have to comply with security and record keeping
requirements determined through regulation by the Commissioner.
OTHER PROVISIONS:
*Health insurers would not be required to provide coverage for medical
marihuana.
*The Commissioner would have authority to issue any necessary regu-
lations to implement the Title’s provisions and would also set a price
for medical marihuana.
*Registration identifications and registrations for organizations would
be issued 18 months after the effective date of the bill, unless the
Commissioner certifies that the Title could not be implemented in
accordance with public health and safety interests. The Governor would
also be allowed to suspend or terminate any provisions of the Title
based on the recommendations of the Commissioner or Superintendent.
*The medical marihuana program would be integrated into the successful
existing I-STOP program.
*There would be a new article in the Tax Law, Article 20-B, which would
impose an excise tax on every sale of medical marihuana by a registered
organization to a certified patient or designated caregiver. The excise
tax, which would be charged against and paid by the organization, would
equal 7% of the gross receipts attributable to the sale of the medical
marihuana to the certified patient or designated caregiver. The
provisions in proposed new Article 20-B also include the procedural
rules necessary to administer and enforce the new excise tax.
*The bill would establish the Medical Marihuana Trust Fund – in Section
89-h of the State Finance Law that would consist of the proceeds of the
excise tax. The moneys of the medical marihuana trust fund, following
appropriation by the Legislature, would be allocated as follows: 22.5%
to the counties in New York in which the medical marihuana was manufac-
tured; 22.5% to the counties in New York in which the medical marihuana
was dispensed; 5% to the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse
Services to be used for additional drug abuse prevention, counseling and
treatment services; and 5% to the Division of Criminal Justice Services
to be used for a program of discretionary grants to state and local law
enforcement agencies that demonstrate a need relating to Title V-A of
Article 33 of the Public Health Law.
*The Penal Law would be amended to create a class E felony for a practi-
tioner to issue a certification when the practitioner knows or has
reason to know that the patient has no medical need for the certif-
ication, or that the certification was requested for a purpose other
than to treat a serious condition. It would be a class B misdemeanor for
a person to transfer medical marihuana to an individual who the person
knows or has reasonable grounds to know is not authorized to possess
medical marihuana. It would be a class A misdemeanor for patients or
caregivers to retain an amount of marihuana in excess of the amount they
are authorized to possess.
EXISTING LAW:
Article 221 of the Penal Law governs the possession and sale of marihua-
na.
JUSTIFICATION:
Medical marihuana has the potential to alleviate the pain and suffering
of New Yorkers afflicted with serious illnesses. Numerous other states
have recognized the therapeutic and palliative benefits of medical mari-
huana. Any system allowing medical marihuana, however, must be strictly
regulated to avoid any undue risks or negative consequences to the
public health and public safety. This bill would create a comprehensive,
regulated framework for providing medical marihuana to individuals who
stand to benefit most from its use.
The bill would regulate practitioners, patients and organizations that
participate in the medical marihuana system. It would also provide that
the program would not begin until the Commissioner and the Superinten-
dent of State Police certify that the system can be administered
consistent with public health and safety interests. It would also
provide the Commissioner substantial regulatory authority to ensure the
system is administered safely.
Notably, this bill prohibits smoking medical marihuana. The negative
health consequences of smoking of marihuana are well-established. As the
National Institute for Drug Abuse notes, “The smoke of marijuana, like
that of tobacco, consists of a toxic mixture of gases and particulates,
many of which are known to be harmful to the lungs.” In addition to its
direct negative effects on users’ health, the widespread smoking of
medical marihuana has the potential to undermine New York State’s
decades-long and successful effort to decrease smoking more broadly.
However well-intentioned, any effort that reduces the stigma associated
with smoking, and that has the potential to lead to an increase in smok-
ing rates among New Yorkers, especially young New Yorkers, presents an
unwarranted public health risk. This legislation would avoid that risk.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
This is a new bill.
BUDGET IMPLICATIONS:
Any State Fiscal Year 2014-2015 expenses associated with this bill would
be paid for by existing state resources, and ongoing expenses would be
funded through the excise tax revenues and application fees.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This bill would take effect immediately, subject to the necessary
certifications by the Commissioner and Superintendent. This bill would
sunset in 7 years.
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A06357 Text:
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
6357–E
2013-2014 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 26, 2013
___________
Introduced by M. of A. GOTTFRIED, LUPARDO, CAHILL, CLARK, CYMBROWITZ,
DINOWITZ, HEVESI, LAVINE, PAULIN, PEOPLES-STOKES, ROSENTHAL, TITONE,
ARROYO, BRONSON, BROOK-KRASNY, COOK, CRESPO, DenDEKKER, FAHY, JAFFEE,
KAVANAGH, LIFTON, OTIS, RIVERA, ROBERTS, SKARTADOS, STECK, WEPRIN,
ZEBROWSKI, SEPULVEDA, KATZ, MILLER, O’DONNELL — Multi-Sponsored by —
M. of A. ABINANTI, AUBRY, BRAUNSTEIN, BRENNAN, BUCHWALD, FARRELL,
GALEF, GLICK, HIKIND, JACOBS, KELLNER, MAGEE, MARKEY, McDONALD, MILL-
MAN, MOSLEY, MOYA, PERRY, PRETLOW, ROBINSON, RODRIGUEZ, SCARBOROUGH,
SCHIMEL, SWEENEY, WALTER, WEISENBERG, WRIGHT — (at request of the
Governor) — read once and referred to the Committee on Health —
reported and referred to the Committee on Codes — reported and
referred to the Committee on Ways and Means — passed by Assembly and
delivered to the Senate, recalled from the Senate, vote reconsidered,
bill amended, ordered reprinted, retaining its place on the order of
third reading — recommitted to the Committee on Health in accordance
with Assembly Rule 3, sec. 2 — reported and referred to the Committee
on Codes — reported and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means
— committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended
and recommitted to said committee — reported and referred to the
Committee on Rules — passed by Assembly and delivered to the Senate,
recalled from the Senate, vote reconsidered, bill amended, ordered
reprinted, retaining its place on the special order of third reading
— recommitted to the Committee on Rules — Rules Committee
discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
to the Committee on Rules — again reported from said committee with
amendments, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said
committee
AN ACT to amend the public health law, the tax law, the state finance
law, the general business law, the penal law and the criminal proce-
dure law, in relation to medical use of marihuana; and providing for
the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
EXPLANATION–Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01604-31-4
A. 6357–E 2
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Article 33 of the public health law is amended by adding a
2 new title 5-A to read as follows:
3 TITLE V-A
4 MEDICAL USE OF MARIHUANA
5 Section 3360. Definitions.
6 3361. Certification of patients.
7 3362. Lawful medical use.
8 3363. Registry identification cards.
9 3364. Registered organizations.
10 3365. Registering of registered organizations.
11 3366. Reports by registered organizations.
12 3367. Evaluation; research programs; report by department.
13 3368. Relation to other laws.
14 3369. Protections for the medical use of marihuana.
15 3369-a. Regulations.
16 3369-b. Effective date.
17 3369-c. Suspend; terminate.
18 3369-d. Pricing.
19 3369-e. Severability.
20 § 3360. Definitions. As used in this title, the following terms shall
21 have the following meanings, unless the context clearly requires other-
22 wise:
23 1. “Certified medical use” means the acquisition, possession, use, or,
24 transportation of medical marihuana by a certified patient, or the
25 acquisition, possession, delivery, transportation or administration of
26 medical marihuana by a designated caregiver, for use as part of the
27 treatment of the patient’s serious condition, as authorized in a certif-
28 ication under this title including enabling the patient to tolerate
29 treatment for the serious condition. A certified medical use does not
30 include smoking.
31 2. “Caring for” means treating a patient, in the course of which the
32 practitioner has completed a full assessment of the patient’s medical
33 history and current medical condition.
34 3. “Certified patient” means a patient who is a resident of New York
35 state or receiving care and treatment in New York state as determined by
36 the commissioner in regulation, and is certified under section thirty-
37 three hundred sixty-one of this title.
38 4. “Certification” means a certification, made under section thirty-
39 three hundred sixty-one of this title.
40 5. “Designated caregiver” means the individual designated by a certi-
41 fied patient in a registry application. A certified patient may desig-
42 nate up to two designated caregivers.
43 6. “Public place” means a public place as defined in regulation by the
44 commissioner.
45 7. (a) “Serious condition” means:
46 (i) having one of the following severe debilitating or life-threaten-
47 ing conditions: cancer, positive status for human immunodeficiency
48 virus or acquired immune deficiency syndrome, amyotrophic lateral scler-
49 osis, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, damage to the nervous
50 tissue of the spinal cord with objective neurological indication of
51 intractable spasticity, epilepsy, inflammatory bowel disease, neuropa-
52 thies, Huntington’s disease, or as added by the commissioner; and
A. 6357–E 3
1 (ii) any of the following conditions where it is clinically associated
2 with, or a complication of, a condition under this paragraph or its
3 treatment: cachexia or wasting syndrome; severe or chronic pain; severe
4 nausea; seizures; severe or persistent muscle spasms; or such conditions
5 as are added by the commissioner.
6 (b) No later than eighteen months from the effective date of this
7 section, the commissioner shall determine whether to add the following
8 serious conditions: Alzheimer’s, muscular dystrophy, dystonia, post-
9 traumatic stress disorder and rheumatoid arthritis.
10 8. “Medical marihuana” means marihuana as defined in subdivision twen-
11 ty-one of section thirty-three hundred two of this article, intended for
12 a certified medical use, as determined by the commissioner in his or her
13 sole discretion. Any form of medical marihuana not approved by the
14 commissioner is expressly prohibited.
15 9. “Registered organization” means a registered organization under
16 sections thirty-three hundred sixty-four and thirty-three hundred
17 sixty-five of this title.
18 10. “Registry application” means an application properly completed and
19 filed with the department by a certified patient under section thirty-
20 three hundred sixty-three of this title.
21 11. “Registry identification card” means a document that identifies a
22 certified patient or designated caregiver, as provided under section
23 thirty-three hundred sixty-three of this title.
24 12. “Practitioner” means a practitioner who (i) is a physician
25 licensed by New York state and practicing within the state, (ii) who by
26 training or experience is qualified to treat a serious condition as
27 defined in subdivision seven of this section; and (iii) has completed a
28 two to four hour course as determined by the commissioner in regulation
29 and registered with the department; provided however, a registration
30 shall not be denied without cause. Such course may count toward board
31 certification requirements. The commissioner shall consider the inclu-
32 sion of nurse practitioners under this title based upon considerations
33 including access and availability. After such consideration the commis-
34 sioner is authorized to deem nurse practitioners as practitioners under
35 this title.
36 13. “Terminally ill” means an individual has a medical prognosis that
37 the individual’s life expectancy is approximately one year or less if
38 the illness runs its normal course.
39 14. “Labor peace agreement” means an agreement between an entity and a
40 labor organization that, at a minimum, protects the state’s proprietary
41 interests by prohibiting labor organizations and members from engaging
42 in picketing, work stoppages, boycotts, and any other economic interfer-
43 ence with the registered organization’s business.
44 15. “Individual dose” means a single measure of raw medical marihuana
45 or non-infused concentrates to be determined and clearly identified by a
46 patient’s practitioner for the patient’s specific certified condition.
47 For ingestible or sub-lingual medical marihuana products, no individual
48 dose may contain more than ten milligrams of tetrahydrocannabinol.
49 16. “Form of medical marihuana” means characteristics of the medical
50 marihuana recommended or limited for a particular certified patient,
51 including the method of consumption and any particular strain, variety,
52 and quantity or percentage of marihuana or particular active ingredient.
53 17. “Applicant” means a for-profit entity or not-for-profit corpo-
54 ration and includes: board members, officers, managers, owners, part-
55 ners, principal stakeholders and members who submit an application to
56 become a registered organization.
A. 6357–E 4
1 § 3361. Certification of patients. 1. A patient certification may only
2 be issued if: (a) a practitioner has been registered with the department
3 to issue a certification as determined by the commissioner; (b) the
4 patient has a serious condition, which shall be specified in the
5 patient’s health care record; (c) the practitioner by training or expe-
6 rience is qualified to treat the serious condition; (d) the patient is
7 under the practitioner’s continuing care for the serious condition; and
8 (e) in the practitioner’s professional opinion and review of past treat-
9 ments, the patient is likely to receive therapeutic or palliative bene-
10 fit from the primary or adjunctive treatment with medical use of mari-
11 huana for the serious condition.
12 2. The certification shall include (a) the name, date of birth and
13 address of the patient; (b) a statement that the patient has a serious
14 condition and the patient is under the practitioner’s care for the seri-
15 ous condition; (c) a statement attesting that all requirements of subdi-
16 vision one of this section have been satisfied; (d) the date; and (e)
17 the name, address, federal registration number, telephone number, and
18 the handwritten signature of the certifying practitioner. The commis-
19 sioner may require by regulation that the certification shall be on a
20 form provided by the department. The practitioner may state in the
21 certification that, in the practitioner’s professional opinion, the
22 patient would benefit from medical marihuana only until a specified
23 date. The practitioner may state in the certification that, in the prac-
24 titioner’s professional opinion, the patient is terminally ill and that
25 the certification shall not expire until the patient dies.
26 3. In making a certification, the practitioner shall consider the form
27 of medical marihuana the patient should consume, including the method of
28 consumption and any particular strain, variety, and quantity or percent-
29 age of marihuana or particular active ingredient, and appropriate
30 dosage. The practitioner shall state in the certification any recommen-
31 dation or limitation the practitioner makes, in his or her professional
32 opinion, concerning the appropriate form or forms of medical marihuana
33 and dosage.
34 4. Every practitioner shall consult the prescription monitoring drug
35 program registry prior to making or issuing a certification, for the
36 purpose of reviewing a patient’s controlled substance history. For
37 purposes of this section, a practitioner may authorize a designee to
38 consult the prescription monitoring program registry on his or her
39 behalf, provided that such designation is in accordance with section
40 thirty-three hundred forty-three-a of this article.
41 5. The practitioner shall give the certification to the certified
42 patient, and place a copy in the patient’s health care record.
43 6. No practitioner shall issue a certification under this section for
44 himself or herself.
45 7. A registry identification card based on a certification shall
46 expire one year after the date the certification is signed by the prac-
47 titioner.
48 8. (a) If the practitioner states in the certification that, in the
49 practitioner’s professional opinion, the patient would benefit from
50 medical marihuana only until a specified earlier date, then the registry
51 identification card shall expire on that date;
52 (b) If the practitioner states in the certification that in the prac-
53 titioner’s professional opinion the patient is terminally ill and that
54 the certification shall not expire until the patient dies, then the
55 registry identification card shall state that the patient is terminally
A. 6357–E 5
1 ill and that the registration card shall not expire until the patient
2 dies;
3 (c) If the practitioner re-issues the certification to terminate the
4 certification on an earlier date, then the registry identification card
5 shall expire on that date and shall be promptly returned by the certi-
6 fied patient to the department;
7 (d) If the certification so provides, the registry identification card
8 shall state any recommendation or limitation by the practitioner as to
9 the form or forms of medical marihuana or dosage for the certified
10 patient; and
11 (e) The commissioner shall make regulations to implement this subdivi-
12 sion.
13 § 3362. Lawful medical use. 1. The possession, acquisition, use,
14 delivery, transfer, transportation, or administration of medical mari-
15 huana by a certified patient or designated caregiver possessing a valid
16 registry identification card, for certified medical use, shall be lawful
17 under this title; provided that:
18 (a) the marihuana that may be possessed by a certified patient shall
19 not exceed a thirty day supply of the dosage as determined by the prac-
20 titioner, consistent with any guidance and regulations issued by the
21 commissioner, provided that during the last seven days of any thirty day
22 period, the certified patient may also possess up to such amount for the
23 next thirty day period;
24 (b) the marihuana that may be possessed by designated caregivers does
25 not exceed the quantities referred to in paragraph (a) of this subdivi-
26 sion for each certified patient for whom the caregiver possesses a valid
27 registry identification card, up to five certified patients;
28 (c) the form or forms of medical marihuana that may be possessed by
29 the certified patient or designated caregiver pursuant to a certif-
30 ication shall be in compliance with any recommendation or limitation by
31 the practitioner as to the form or forms of medical marihuana or dosage
32 for the certified patient in the certification; and
33 (d) the medical marihuana shall be kept in the original package in
34 which it was dispensed under subdivision twelve of section thirty-three
35 hundred sixty-four of this title, except for the portion removed for
36 immediate consumption for certified medical use by the certified
37 patient.
38 2. Notwithstanding subdivision one of this section:
39 (a) possession of medical marihuana shall not be lawful under this
40 title if it is smoked, consumed, vaporized, or grown in a public place,
41 regardless of the form of medical marihuana stated in the patient’s
42 certification.
43 (b) a person possessing medical marihuana under this title shall
44 possess his or her registry identification card at all times when in
45 immediate possession of medical marihuana.
46 § 3363. Registry identification cards. 1. Upon approval of the certif-
47 ication, the department shall issue registry identification cards for
48 certified patients and designated caregivers. A registry identification
49 card shall expire as provided in section thirty-three hundred sixty-one
50 of this title or as otherwise provided in this section. The department
51 shall begin issuing registry identification cards as soon as practicable
52 after the certifications required by section thirty-three hundred
53 sixty-nine-b are granted. The department may specify a form for a regis-
54 try application, in which case the department shall provide the form on
55 request, reproductions of the form may be used, and the form shall be
56 available for downloading from the department’s website.
A. 6357–E 6
1 2. To obtain, amend or renew a registry identification card, a certi-
2 fied patient or designated caregiver shall file a registry application
3 with the department. The registry application or renewal application
4 shall include:
5 (a) in the case of a certified patient:
6 (i) the patient’s certification (a new written certification shall be
7 provided with a renewal application);
8 (ii) the name, address, and date of birth of the patient;
9 (iii) the date of the certification;
10 (iv) if the patient has a registry identification card based on a
11 current valid certification, the registry identification number and
12 expiration date of that registry identification card;
13 (v) the specified date until which the patient would benefit from
14 medical marihuana, if the certification states such a date;
15 (vi) the name, address, federal registration number, and telephone
16 number of the certifying practitioner;
17 (vii) any recommendation or limitation by the practitioner as to the
18 form or forms of medical marihuana or dosage for the certified patient;
19 and
20 (viii) other individual identifying information required by the
21 department;
22 (b) in the case of a certified patient, if the patient designates a
23 designated caregiver, the name, address, and date of birth of the desig-
24 nated caregiver, and other individual identifying information required
25 by the department;
26 (c) in the case of a designated caregiver:
27 (i) the name, address, and date of birth of the designated caregiver;
28 (ii) if the designated caregiver has a registry identification card,
29 the registry identification number and expiration date of that registry
30 identification card; and
31 (iii) other individual identifying information required by the depart-
32 ment;
33 (d) a statement that a false statement made in the application is
34 punishable under section 210.45 of the penal law;
35 (e) the date of the application and the signature of the certified
36 patient or designated caregiver, as the case may be;
37 (f) a fifty dollar application fee, provided, that the department may
38 waive or reduce the fee in cases of financial hardship; and
39 (g) any other requirements determined by the commissioner.
40 3. Where a certified patient is under the age of eighteen:
41 (a) The application for a registry identification card shall be made
42 by an appropriate person over twenty-one years of age. The application
43 shall state facts demonstrating that the person is appropriate.
44 (b) The designated caregiver shall be (i) a parent or legal guardian
45 of the certified patient, (ii) a person designated by a parent or legal
46 guardian, or (iii) an appropriate person approved by the department upon
47 a sufficient showing that no parent or legal guardian is appropriate or
48 available.
49 4. No person may be a designated caregiver if the person is under
50 twenty-one years of age unless a sufficient showing is made to the
51 department that the person should be permitted to serve as a designated
52 caregiver. The requirements for such a showing shall be determined by
53 the commissioner.
54 5. No person may be a designated caregiver for more than five certi-
55 fied patients at one time.
A. 6357–E 7
1 6. If a certified patient wishes to change or terminate his or her
2 designated caregiver, for whatever reason, the certified patient shall
3 notify the department as soon as practicable. The department shall issue
4 a notification to the designated caregiver that their registration card
5 is invalid and must be promptly returned to the department. The newly
6 designated caregiver must comply with all requirements set forth in this
7 section.
8 7. If the certification so provides, the registry identification card
9 shall contain any recommendation or limitation by the practitioner as to
10 the form or forms of medical marihuana or dosage for the certified
11 patient.
12 8. The department shall issue separate registry identification cards
13 for certified patients and designated caregivers as soon as reasonably
14 practicable after receiving a complete application under this section,
15 unless it determines that the application is incomplete or factually
16 inaccurate, in which case it shall promptly notify the applicant.
17 9. If the application of a certified patient designates an individual
18 as a designated caregiver who is not authorized to be a designated care-
19 giver, that portion of the application shall be denied by the department
20 but that shall not affect the approval of the balance of the applica-
21 tion.
22 10. A registry identification card shall:
23 (a) contain the name of the certified patient or the designated care-
24 giver as the case may be;
25 (b) contain the date of issuance and expiration date of the registry
26 identification card;
27 (c) contain a registry identification number for the certified patient
28 or designated caregiver, as the case may be and a registry identifica-
29 tion number;
30 (d) contain a photograph of the individual to whom the registry iden-
31 tification card is being issued, which shall be obtained by the depart-
32 ment in a manner specified by the commissioner in regulations; provided,
33 however, that if the department requires certified patients to submit
34 photographs for this purpose, there shall be a reasonable accommodation
35 of certified patients who are confined to their homes due to their
36 medical conditions and may therefore have difficulty procuring photo-
37 graphs;
38 (e) be a secure document as determined by the department;
39 (f) plainly state any recommendation or limitation by the practitioner
40 as to the form or forms of medical marihuana or dosage for the certified
41 patient; and
42 (g) any other requirements determined by the commissioner.
43 11. A certified patient or designated caregiver who has been issued a
44 registry identification card shall notify the department of any change
45 in his or her name or address or, with respect to the patient, if he or
46 she ceases to have the serious condition noted on the certification
47 within ten days of such change. The certified patient’s or designated
48 caregiver’s registry identification card shall be deemed invalid and
49 shall be returned promptly to the department.
50 12. If a certified patient or designated caregiver loses his or her
51 registry identification card, he or she shall notify the department and
52 submit a twenty-five dollar fee within ten days of losing the card to
53 maintain the registration. The department may establish higher fees for
54 issuing a new registry identification card for second and subsequent
55 replacements for a lost card, provided, that the department may waive or
56 reduce the fee in cases of financial hardship. The department shall
A. 6357–E 8
1 issue a new registry identification card as soon as practicable, which
2 may contain a new registry identification number, to the certified
3 patient or designated caregiver, as the case may be. The certified
4 patient or designated caregiver shall not be able to obtain medical
5 marihuana until the certified patient receives a new card.
6 13. The department shall maintain a confidential list of the persons
7 to whom it has issued registry identification cards. Individual identi-
8 fying information obtained by the department under this title shall be
9 confidential and exempt from disclosure under article six of the public
10 officers law. Notwithstanding this subdivision, the department may
11 notify any appropriate law enforcement agency of information relating to
12 any violation or suspected violation of this title.
13 14. The department shall verify to law enforcement personnel in an
14 appropriate case whether a registry identification card is valid.
15 15. If a certified patient or designated caregiver willfully violates
16 any provision of this title as determined by the department, his or her
17 registry identification card may be suspended or revoked. This is in
18 addition to any other penalty that may apply.
19 § 3364. Registered organizations. 1. A registered organization shall
20 be a for-profit business entity or not-for-profit corporation organized
21 for the purpose of acquiring, possessing, manufacturing, selling, deliv-
22 ering, transporting, distributing or dispensing marihuana for certified
23 medical use.
24 2. The acquiring, possession, manufacture, sale, delivery, transport-
25 ing, distributing or dispensing of marihuana by a registered organiza-
26 tion under this title in accordance with its registration under section
27 thirty-three hundred sixty-five of this title or a renewal thereof shall
28 be lawful under this title.
29 3. Each registered organization shall contract with an independent
30 laboratory to test the medical marihuana produced by the registered
31 organization. The commissioner shall approve the laboratory and require
32 that the laboratory report testing results in a manner determined by the
33 commissioner. The commissioner is authorized to issue regulation requir-
34 ing the laboratory to perform certain tests and services.
35 4. (a) A registered organization may lawfully, in good faith, sell,
36 deliver, distribute or dispense medical marihuana to a certified patient
37 or designated caregiver upon presentation to the registered organization
38 of a valid registry identification card for that certified patient or
39 designated caregiver. When presented with the registry identification
40 card, the registered organization shall provide to the certified patient
41 or designated caregiver a receipt, which shall state: the name, address,
42 and registry identification number of the registered organization; the
43 name and registry identification number of the certified patient and the
44 designated caregiver (if any); the date the marihuana was sold; any
45 recommendation or limitation by the practitioner as to the form or forms
46 of medical marihuana or dosage for the certified patient; and the form
47 and the quantity of medical marihuana sold. The registered organization
48 shall retain a copy of the registry identification card and the receipt
49 for six years.
50 (b) The proprietor of a registered organization shall file or cause to
51 be filed any receipt and certification information with the department
52 by electronic means on a real time basis as the commissioner shall
53 require by regulation. When filing receipt and certification information
54 electronically pursuant to this paragraph, the proprietor of the regis-
55 tered organization shall dispose of any electronically recorded
A. 6357–E 9
1 prescription information in such manner as the commissioner shall by
2 regulation require.
3 5. (a) No registered organization may sell, deliver, distribute or
4 dispense to any certified patient or designated caregiver a quantity of
5 medical marihuana larger than that individual would be allowed to
6 possess under this title.
7 (b) When dispensing medical marihuana to a certified patient or desig-
8 nated caregiver, the registered organization (i) shall not dispense an
9 amount greater than a thirty day supply to a certified patient until the
10 certified patient has exhausted all but a seven day supply provided
11 pursuant to a previously issued certification, and (ii) shall verify the
12 information in subparagraph (i) of this paragraph by consulting the
13 prescription monitoring program registry under section thirty-three
14 hundred forty-three-a of this article.
15 (c) Medical marihuana dispensed to a certified patient or designated
16 caregiver by a registered organization shall conform to any recommenda-
17 tion or limitation by the practitioner as to the form or forms of
18 medical marihuana or dosage for the certified patient.
19 6. When a registered organization sells, delivers, distributes or
20 dispenses medical marihuana to a certified patient or designated care-
21 giver, it shall provide to that individual a safety insert, which will
22 be developed and approved by the commissioner and include, but not be
23 limited to, information on:
24 (a) methods for administering medical marihuana in individual doses,
25 (b) any potential dangers stemming from the use of medical marihuana,
26 (c) how to recognize what may be problematic usage of medical marihua-
27 na and obtain appropriate services or treatment for problematic usage,
28 and
29 (d) other information as determined by the commissioner.
30 7. Registered organizations shall not be managed by or employ anyone
31 who has been convicted of any felony of sale or possession of drugs,
32 narcotics, or controlled substances provided that this subdivision only
33 applies to (a) managers or employees who come into contact with or
34 handle medical marihuana, and (b) a conviction less than ten years (not
35 counting time spent in incarceration) prior to being employed, for which
36 the person has not received a certificate of relief from disabilities or
37 a certificate of good conduct under article twenty-three of the
38 correction law.
39 8. Manufacturing of medical marihuana by a registered organization
40 shall only be done in an indoor, enclosed, secure facility located in
41 New York state, which may include a greenhouse. The commissioner shall
42 promulgate regulations establishing requirements for such facilities.
43 9. Dispensing of medical marihuana by a registered organization shall
44 only be done in an indoor, enclosed, secure facility located in New York
45 state, which may include a greenhouse. The commissioner shall promul-
46 gate regulations establishing requirements for such facilities.
47 10. A registered organization shall determine the quality, safety, and
48 clinical strength of medical marihuana manufactured or dispensed by the
49 registered organization, and shall provide documentation of that quali-
50 ty, safety and clinical strength to the department and to any person or
51 entity to which the medical marihuana is sold or dispensed.
52 11. A registered organization shall be deemed to be a “health care
53 provider” for the purposes of title two-D of article two of this chap-
54 ter.
55 12. Medical marihuana shall be dispensed to a certified patient or
56 designated caregiver in a sealed and properly labeled package. The
A. 6357–E 10
1 labeling shall contain: (a) the information required to be included in
2 the receipt provided to the certified patient or designated caregiver by
3 the registered organization; (b) the packaging date; (c) any applicable
4 date by which the medical marihuana should be used; (d) a warning stat-
5 ing, “This product is for medicinal use only. Women should not consume
6 during pregnancy or while breastfeeding except on the advice of the
7 certifying health care practitioner, and in the case of breastfeeding
8 mothers, including the infant’s pediatrician. This product might impair
9 the ability to drive. Keep out of reach of children.”; (e) the amount of
10 individual doses contained within; and (f) a warning that the medical
11 marihuana must be kept in the original container in which it was
12 dispensed.
13 13. The commissioner is authorized to make rules and regulations
14 restricting the advertising and marketing of medical marihuana, which
15 shall be consistent with the federal regulations governing prescription
16 drug advertising and marketing.
17 § 3365. Registering of registered organizations. 1. Application for
18 initial registration. (a) An applicant for registration as a registered
19 organization under section thirty-three hundred sixty-four of this title
20 shall include such information prepared in such manner and detail as the
21 commissioner may require, including but not limited to:
22 (i) a description of the activities in which it intends to engage as a
23 registered organization;
24 (ii) that the applicant:
25 (A) is of good moral character;
26 (B) possesses or has the right to use sufficient land, buildings, and
27 other premises (which shall be specified in the application) and equip-
28 ment to properly carry on the activity described in the application, or
29 in the alternative posts a bond of not less than two million dollars;
30 (C) is able to maintain effective security and control to prevent
31 diversion, abuse, and other illegal conduct relating to the marihuana;
32 (D) is able to comply with all applicable state laws and regulations
33 relating to the activities in which it intends to engage under the
34 registration;
35 (iii) that the applicant has entered into a labor peace agreement with
36 a bona-fide labor organization that is actively engaged in representing
37 or attempting to represent the applicant’s employees. The maintenance of
38 such a labor peace agreement shall be an ongoing material condition of
39 certification.
40 (iv) the applicant’s status under subdivision one of section thirty-
41 three hundred sixty-four of this title; and
42 (v) the application shall include the name, residence address and
43 title of each of the officers and directors and the name and residence
44 address of any person or entity that is a member of the applicant. Each
45 such person, if an individual, or lawful representative if a legal enti-
46 ty, shall submit an affidavit with the application setting forth:
47 (A) any position of management or ownership during the preceding ten
48 years of a ten per centum or greater interest in any other business,
49 located in or outside this state, manufacturing or distributing drugs;
50 (B) whether such person or any such business has been convicted of a
51 felony or had a registration or license suspended or revoked in any
52 administrative or judicial proceeding; and
53 (C) such other information as the commissioner may reasonably require.
54 2. Duty to report. The applicant shall be under a continuing duty to
55 report to the department any change in facts or circumstances reflected
A. 6357–E 11
1 in the application or any newly discovered or occurring fact or circum-
2 stance which is required to be included in the application.
3 3. Granting of registration. (a) The commissioner shall grant a regis-
4 tration or amendment to a registration under this section if he or she
5 is satisfied that:
6 (i) the applicant will be able to maintain effective control against
7 diversion of marihuana;
8 (ii) the applicant will be able to comply with all applicable state
9 laws;
10 (iii) the applicant and its officers are ready, willing and able to
11 properly carry on the manufacturing or distributing activity for which a
12 registration is sought;
13 (iv) the applicant possesses or has the right to use sufficient land,
14 buildings and equipment to properly carry on the activity described in
15 the application;
16 (v) it is in the public interest that such registration be granted;
17 the commissioner may consider whether the number of registered organiza-
18 tions in an area will be adequate or excessive to reasonably serve the
19 area;
20 (vi) the applicant and its managing officers are of good moral charac-
21 ter;
22 (vii) the applicant has entered into a labor peace agreement with a
23 bona-fide labor organization that is actively engaged in representing or
24 attempting to represent the applicant’s employees; and
25 (viii) the applicant satisfies any other conditions as determined by
26 the commissioner.
27 (b) If the commissioner is not satisfied that the applicant should be
28 issued a registration, he or she shall notify the applicant in writing
29 of those factors upon which further evidence is required. Within thirty
30 days of the receipt of such notification, the applicant may submit addi-
31 tional material to the commissioner or demand a hearing, or both.
32 (c) The fee for a registration under this section shall be a reason-
33 able amount determined by the department in regulations; provided,
34 however, if the registration is issued for a period greater than two
35 years the fee shall be increased, pro rata, for each additional month of
36 validity.
37 (d) Registrations issued under this section shall be effective only
38 for the registered organization and shall specify:
39 (i) the name and address of the registered organization;
40 (ii) which activities of a registered organization are permitted by
41 the registration;
42 (iii) the land, buildings and facilities that may be used for the
43 permitted activities of the registered organization; and
44 (iv) such other information as the commissioner shall reasonably
45 provide to assure compliance with this title.
46 (e) Upon application of a registered organization, a registration may
47 be amended to allow the registered organization to relocate within the
48 state or to add or delete permitted registered organization activities
49 or facilities. The fee for such amendment shall be two hundred fifty
50 dollars.
51 4. A registration issued under this section shall be valid for two
52 years from the date of issue, except that in order to facilitate the
53 renewals of such registrations, the commissioner may upon the initial
54 application for a registration, issue some registrations which may
55 remain valid for a period of time greater than two years but not exceed-
56 ing an additional eleven months.
A. 6357–E 12
1 5. Applications for renewal of registrations. (a) An application for
2 the renewal of any registration issued under this section shall be filed
3 with the department not more than six months nor less than four months
4 prior to the expiration thereof. A late-filed application for the
5 renewal of a registration may, in the discretion of the commissioner, be
6 treated as an application for an initial license.
7 (b) The application for renewal shall include such information
8 prepared in the manner and detail as the commissioner may require,
9 including but not limited to:
10 (i) any material change in the circumstances or factors listed in
11 subdivision one of this section; and
12 (ii) every known charge or investigation, pending or concluded during
13 the period of the registration, by any governmental or administrative
14 agency with respect to:
15 (A) each incident or alleged incident involving the theft, loss, or
16 possible diversion of marihuana manufactured or distributed by the
17 applicant; and
18 (B) compliance by the applicant with the laws of the state with
19 respect to any substance listed in section thirty-three hundred six of
20 this article.
21 (c) An applicant for renewal shall be under a continuing duty to
22 report to the department any change in facts or circumstances reflected
23 in the application or any newly discovered or occurring fact or circum-
24 stance which is required to be included in the application.
25 (d) If the commissioner is not satisfied that the applicant is enti-
26 tled to a renewal of the registration, he or she shall within a reason-
27 ably practicable time as determined by the commissioner, serve upon the
28 applicant or his or her attorney of record in person or by registered or
29 certified mail an order directing the applicant to show cause why his or
30 her application for renewal should not be denied. The order shall speci-
31 fy in detail the respects in which the applicant has not satisfied the
32 commissioner that the registration should be renewed.
33 (e) Within a reasonably practicable time as determined by the commis-
34 sioner of such order, the applicant may submit additional material to
35 the commissioner or demand a hearing or both. If a hearing is demanded
36 the commissioner shall fix a date as soon as reasonably practicable.
37 6. Granting of renewal of registrations. (a) The commissioner shall
38 renew a registration unless he or she determines and finds that:
39 (i) the applicant is unlikely to maintain or be able to maintain
40 effective control against diversion; or
41 (ii) the applicant is unlikely to comply with all state laws applica-
42 ble to the activities in which it may engage under the registration; or
43 (iii) it is not in the public interest to renew the registration
44 because the number of registered organizations in an area is excessive
45 to reasonably serve the area; or
46 (iv) the applicant has either violated or terminated its labor peace
47 agreement.
48 (b) For purposes of this section, proof that a registered organiza-
49 tion, during the period of its registration, has failed to maintain
50 effective control against diversion, violates any provision of this
51 article, or has knowingly or negligently failed to comply with applica-
52 ble state laws relating to the activities in which it engages under the
53 registration, shall constitute grounds for suspension or termination of
54 the registered organization’s registration as determined by the commis-
55 sioner. The registered organization shall also be under a continuing
56 duty to report to the department any material change or fact or circum-
A. 6357–E 13
1 stance to the information provided in the registered organization’s
2 application.
3 7. The department may suspend or terminate the registration of a
4 registered organization, on grounds and using procedures under this
5 article relating to a license, to the extent consistent with this title.
6 The department shall suspend or terminate the registration in the event
7 that a registered organization violates or terminates the applicable
8 labor peace agreement. Conduct in compliance with this title which may
9 violate conflicting federal law, shall not be grounds to suspend or
10 terminate a registration.
11 8. The department shall begin issuing registrations for registered
12 organizations as soon as practicable after the certifications required
13 by section thirty-three hundred sixty-nine-b of this title are given.
14 9. The commissioner shall register no more than five registered organ-
15 izations that manufacture medical marihuana with no more than four
16 dispensing sites wholly owned and operated by such registered organiza-
17 tion. The commissioner shall ensure that such registered organizations
18 and dispensing sites are geographically distributed across the state.
19 The commission may register additional registered organizations.
20 § 3366. Reports by registered organizations. 1. The commissioner
21 shall, by regulation, require each registered organization to file
22 reports by the registered organization during a particular period. The
23 commissioner shall determine the information to be reported and the
24 forms, time, and manner of the reporting.
25 2. The commissioner shall, by regulation, require each registered
26 organization to adopt and maintain security, tracking, record keeping,
27 record retention and surveillance systems, relating to all medical mari-
28 huana at every stage of acquiring, possession, manufacture, sale, deliv-
29 ery, transporting, distributing, or dispensing by the registered organ-
30 ization, subject to regulations of the commissioner.
31 § 3367. Evaluation; research programs; report by department. 1. The
32 commissioner may provide for the analysis and evaluation of the opera-
33 tion of this title. The commissioner may enter into agreements with one
34 or more persons, not-for-profit corporations or other organizations, for
35 the performance of an evaluation of the implementation and effectiveness
36 of this title.
37 2. The department may develop, seek any necessary federal approval
38 for, and carry out research programs relating to medical use of marihua-
39 na. Participation in any such research program shall be voluntary on the
40 part of practitioners, patients, and designated caregivers.
41 3. The department shall report every two years, beginning two years
42 after the effective date of this title, to the governor and the legisla-
43 ture on the medical use of marihuana under this title and make appropri-
44 ate recommendations.
45 § 3368. Relation to other laws. 1. (a) The provisions of this article
46 shall apply to this title, except that where a provision of this title
47 conflicts with another provision of this article, this title shall
48 apply.
49 (b) Medical marihuana shall not be deemed to be a “drug” for purposes
50 of article one hundred thirty-seven of the education law.
51 2. Nothing in this title shall be construed to require an insurer or
52 health plan under this chapter or the insurance law to provide coverage
53 for medical marihuana. Nothing in this title shall be construed to
54 require coverage for medical marihuana under article twenty-five of this
55 chapter or article five of the social services law.
A. 6357–E 14
1 § 3369. Protections for the medical use of marihuana. 1. Certified
2 patients, designated caregivers, practitioners, registered organizations
3 and the employees of registered organizations shall not be subject to
4 arrest, prosecution, or penalty in any manner, or denied any right or
5 privilege, including but not limited to civil penalty or disciplinary
6 action by a business or occupational or professional licensing board or
7 bureau, solely for the certified medical use or manufacture of marihua-
8 na, or for any other action or conduct in accordance with this title.
9 2. Non-discrimination. Being a certified patient shall be deemed to be
10 having a “disability” under article fifteen of the executive law (human
11 rights law), section forty-c of the civil rights law, sections 240.00,
12 485.00, and 485.05 of the penal law, and section 200.50 of the criminal
13 procedure law. This subdivision shall not bar the enforcement of a poli-
14 cy prohibiting an employee from performing his or her employment duties
15 while impaired by a controlled substance. This subdivision shall not
16 require any person or entity to do any act that would put the person or
17 entity in violation of federal law or cause it to lose a federal
18 contract or funding.
19 3. The fact that a person is a certified patient and/or acting in
20 accordance with this title, shall not be a consideration in a proceeding
21 pursuant to applicable sections of the domestic relations law, the
22 social services law and the family court act.
23 4. Certification applications, certification forms, any certified
24 patient information contained within a database, and copies of registry
25 identification cards shall be deemed exempt from public disclosure under
26 sections eighty-seven and eighty-nine of the public officers law.
27 § 3369-a. Regulations. The commissioner shall make regulations to
28 implement this title.
29 § 3369-b. Effective date. Registry identification cards or registered
30 organization registrations shall be issued or become effective no later
31 than eighteen months from signing or until such time as the commissioner
32 and the superintendent of state police certify that this title can be
33 implemented in accordance with public health and safety interests,
34 whichever event comes later.
35 § 3369-c. Suspend; terminate. Based upon the recommendation of the
36 commissioner and/or the superintendent of state police that there is a
37 risk to the public health or safety, the governor may immediately termi-
38 nate all licenses issued to registered organizations.
39 § 3369-d. Pricing. 1. Every sale of medical marihuana shall be at the
40 price determined by the commissioner. Every charge made or demanded for
41 medical marihuana not in accordance with the price determined by the
42 commissioner, is prohibited.
43 2. The commissioner is hereby authorized to set the per dose price of
44 each form of medical marihuana sold by any registered organization. In
45 setting the per dose price of each form of medical marihuana, the
46 commissioner shall consider the fixed and variable costs of producing
47 the form of marihuana and any other factor the commissioner, in his or
48 her discretion, deems relevant to determining the per dose price of each
49 form of medical marihuana.
50 § 3369-e. Severability. If any clause, sentence, paragraph, section or
51 part of this act shall be adjudged by any court of competent jurisdic-
52 tion to be invalid, the judgment shall not affect, impair, or invalidate
53 the remainder thereof, but shall be confined in its operation to the
54 clause, sentence, paragraph, section or part thereof directly involved
55 in the controversy in which the judgment shall have been rendered.
A. 6357–E 15
1 § 3. Subdivision 2 of section 3371 of the public health law, as added
2 by section 5 of part A of chapter 447 of the laws of 2012, is amended to
3 read as follows:
4 2. The prescription monitoring program registry may be accessed, under
5 such terms and conditions as are established by the department for
6 purposes of maintaining the security and confidentiality of the informa-
7 tion contained in the registry, by:
8 (a) a practitioner, or a designee authorized by such practitioner
9 pursuant to paragraph (b) of subdivision two of section thirty-three
10 hundred forty-three-a or section thirty-three hundred sixty-one of this
11 article, for the purposes of: (i) informing the practitioner that a
12 patient may be under treatment with a controlled substance by another
13 practitioner; (ii) providing the practitioner with notifications of
14 controlled substance activity as deemed relevant by the department,
15 including but not limited to a notification made available on a monthly
16 or other periodic basis through the registry of controlled substances
17 activity pertaining to his or her patient; (iii) allowing the practi-
18 tioner, through consultation of the prescription monitoring program
19 registry, to review his or her patient’s controlled substances history
20 as required by section thirty-three hundred forty-three-a or section
21 thirty-three hundred sixty-one of this article; and (iv) providing to
22 his or her patient, or person authorized pursuant to paragraph (j) of
23 subdivision one of this section, upon request, a copy of such patient’s
24 controlled substance history as is available to the practitioner through
25 the prescription monitoring program registry; or
26 (b) a pharmacist, pharmacy intern or other designee authorized by the
27 pharmacist pursuant to paragraph (b) of subdivision three of section
28 thirty-three hundred forty-three-a of this article, for the purposes of:
29 (i) consulting the prescription monitoring program registry to review
30 the controlled substances history of an individual for whom one or more
31 prescriptions for controlled substances or certifications for marihuana
32 is presented to the pharmacist, pursuant to section thirty-three hundred
33 forty-three-a of this article; and (ii) receiving from the department
34 such notifications of controlled substance activity as are made avail-
35 able by the department[.]; or
36 (c) an individual employed by a registered organization for the
37 purpose of consulting the prescription monitoring program registry to
38 review the controlled substances history of an individual for whom one
39 or more certifications for marihuana is presented to that registered
40 organization, pursuant to section thirty-three hundred sixty-four of
41 this article. Unless otherwise authorized by this article, an individual
42 employed by a registered organization will be provided access to the
43 prescription monitoring program in the sole discretion of the commis-
44 sioner.
45 § 4. The tax law is amended by adding a new article 20-B to read as
46 follows:
47 ARTICLE 20-B
48 EXCISE TAX ON MEDICAL MARIHUANA
49 Section 490. Definitions.
50 491. Returns to be secret.
51 § 490. Definitions. 1. (a) All definitions of terms applicable to
52 title five-A of article thirty-three of the public health law shall
53 apply to this article.
54 (b) As used in this section, where not otherwise specifically defined
55 and unless a different meaning is clearly required “gross receipt” means
56 the amount received in or by reason of any sale, conditional or other-
A. 6357–E 16
1 wise, of medical marihuana or in or by reason of the furnishing of
2 medical marihuana from the sale of medical marihuana provided by a
3 registered organization to a certified patient or designated caregiver.
4 Gross receipt is expressed in money, whether paid in cash, credit or
5 property of any kind or nature, and shall be determined without any
6 deduction therefrom on account of the cost of the service sold or the
7 cost of materials, labor or services used or other costs, interest or
8 discount paid, or any other expenses whatsoever. “Amount received” for
9 the purpose of the definition of gross receipt, as the term gross
10 receipt is used throughout this article, means the amount charged for
11 the provision of medical marihuana.
12 2. There is hereby imposed an excise tax on the gross receipts from
13 the sale of medical marihuana by a registered organization to a certi-
14 fied patient or designated caregiver, to be paid by the registered
15 organization, at the rate of seven percent. The tax imposed by this
16 article shall be charged against and be paid by the registered organiza-
17 tion and shall not be added as a separate charge or line item on any
18 sales slip, invoice, receipt or other statement or memorandum of the
19 price given to the retail customer.
20 3. The commissioner may make, adopt and amend rules, regulations,
21 procedures and forms necessary for the proper administration of this
22 article.
23 4. Every registered organization that makes sales of medical marihuana
24 subject to the tax imposed by this article shall, on or before the twen-
25 tieth date of each month, file with the commissioner a return on forms
26 to be prescribed by the commissioner, showing its receipts from the
27 retail sale of medical marihuana during the preceding calendar month and
28 the amount of tax due thereon. Such returns shall contain such further
29 information as the commissioner may require. Every registered organiza-
30 tion required to file a return under this section shall, at the time of
31 filing such return, pay to the commissioner the total amount of tax due
32 on its retail sales of medical marihuana for the period covered by such
33 return. If a return is not filed when due, the tax shall be due on the
34 day on which the return is required to be filed.
35 5. Whenever the commissioner shall determine that any moneys received
36 under the provisions of this article were paid in error, he may cause
37 the same to be refunded, with interest, in accordance with such rules
38 and regulations as he may prescribe, except that no interest shall be
39 allowed or paid if the amount thereof would be less than one dollar.
40 Such interest shall be at the overpayment rate set by the commissioner
41 pursuant to subdivision twenty-sixth of section one hundred seventy-one
42 of this chapter, or if no rate is set, at the rate of six percent per
43 annum, from the date when the tax, penalty or interest to be refunded
44 was paid to a date preceding the date of the refund check by not more
45 than thirty days. Provided, however, that for the purposes of this
46 subdivision, any tax paid before the last day prescribed for its payment
47 shall be deemed to have been paid on such last day. Such moneys received
48 under the provisions of this article which the commissioner shall deter-
49 mine were paid in error, may be refunded out of funds in the custody of
50 the comptroller to the credit of such taxes provided an application
51 therefor is filed with the commissioner within two years from the time
52 the erroneous payment was made.
53 6. The provisions of article twenty-seven of this chapter shall apply
54 to the tax imposed by this article in the same manner and with the same
55 force and effect as if the language of such article had been incorpo-
56 rated in full into this section and had expressly referred to the tax
A. 6357–E 17
1 imposed by this article, except to the extent that any provision of such
2 article is either inconsistent with a provision of this article or is
3 not relevant to this article.
4 7. All taxes, interest and penalties collected or received by the
5 commissioner under this article shall be deposited and disposed of
6 pursuant to the provisions of section one hundred seventy-one-a of this
7 chapter, provided that an amount equal to one hundred percent collected
8 under this article less any amount determined by the commissioner to be
9 reserved by the comptroller for refunds or reimbursements shall be paid
10 by the comptroller to the credit of the medical marihuana trust fund
11 established by section eighty-nine-h of the state finance law.
12 8. A registered organization that dispenses medical marihuana shall
13 provide to the department information on where the medical marihuana was
14 dispensed and where the medical marihuana was manufactured. A registered
15 organization that obtains marihuana from another registered organization
16 shall obtain from such registered organization information on where the
17 medical marihuana was manufactured.
18 § 491. Returns to be secret. 1. Except in accordance with proper judi-
19 cial order or as in this section or otherwise provided by law, it shall
20 be unlawful for the commissioner, any officer or employee of the depart-
21 ment, or any officer or person who, pursuant to this section, is permit-
22 ted to inspect any return or report or to whom a copy, an abstract or a
23 portion of any return or report is furnished, or to whom any information
24 contained in any return or report is furnished, or any person engaged or
25 retained by such department on an independent contract basis or any
26 person who in any manner may acquire knowledge of the contents of a
27 return or report filed pursuant to this article to divulge or make known
28 in any manner the contents or any other information relating to the
29 business of a distributor, owner or other person contained in any return
30 or report required under this article. The officers charged with the
31 custody of such returns or reports shall not be required to produce any
32 of them or evidence of anything contained in them in any action or
33 proceeding in any court, except on behalf of the state, the state
34 department of health, or the commissioner in an action or proceeding
35 under the provisions of this chapter or on behalf of the state or the
36 commissioner in any other action or proceeding involving the collection
37 of a tax due under this chapter to which the state or the commissioner
38 is a party or a claimant or on behalf of any party to any action or
39 proceeding under the provisions of this article, when the returns or the
40 reports or the facts shown thereby are directly involved in such action
41 or proceeding, or in an action or proceeding relating to the regulation
42 or taxation of medical marihuana on behalf of officers to whom informa-
43 tion shall have been supplied as provided in subdivision two of this
44 section, in any of which events the court may require the production of,
45 and may admit in evidence so much of said returns or reports or of the
46 facts shown thereby as are pertinent to the action or proceeding and no
47 more. Nothing herein shall be construed to prohibit the commissioner, in
48 his or her discretion, from allowing the inspection or delivery of a
49 certified copy of any return or report filed under this article or of
50 any information contained in any such return or report by or to a duly
51 authorized officer or employee of the state department of health; or by
52 or to the attorney general or other legal representatives of the state
53 when an action shall have been recommended or commenced pursuant to this
54 chapter in which such returns or reports or the facts shown thereby are
55 directly involved; or the inspection of the returns or reports required
56 under this article by the comptroller or duly designated officer or
A. 6357–E 18
1 employee of the state department of audit and control, for purposes of
2 the audit of a refund of any tax paid by a registered organization or
3 other person under this article; nor to prohibit the delivery to a
4 registered organization, or a duly authorized representative of such
5 registered organization, a certified copy of any return or report filed
6 by such registered organization pursuant to this article, nor to prohib-
7 it the publication of statistics so classified as to prevent the iden-
8 tification of particular returns or reports and the items thereof.
9 2. The commissioner, in his or her discretion and pursuant to such
10 rules and regulations as he or she may adopt, may permit the commission-
11 er of internal revenue of the United States, or the appropriate officers
12 of any other state which regulates or taxes medical marihuana, or the
13 duly authorized representatives of such commissioner or of any such
14 officers, to inspect returns or reports made pursuant to this article,
15 or may furnish to such commissioner or other officers, or duly author-
16 ized representatives, a copy of any such return or report or an abstract
17 of the information therein contained, or any portion thereof, or may
18 supply such commissioner or any such officers or such representatives
19 with information relating to the business of a registered organization
20 making returns or reports hereunder. The commissioner may refuse to
21 supply information pursuant to this subdivision to the commissioner of
22 internal revenue of the United States or to the officers of any other
23 state if the statutes of the United States, or of the state represented
24 by such officers, do not grant substantially similar privileges to the
25 commissioner, but such refusal shall not be mandatory. Information shall
26 not be supplied to the commissioner of internal revenue of the United
27 States or the appropriate officers of any other state which regulates or
28 taxes medical marihuana, or the duly authorized representatives of such
29 commissioner or of any of such officers, unless such commissioner, offi-
30 cer or other representatives shall agree not to divulge or make known in
31 any manner the information so supplied, but such officers may transmit
32 such information to their employees or legal representatives when neces-
33 sary, who in turn shall be subject to the same restrictions as those
34 hereby imposed upon such commissioner, officer or other representatives.
35 3. (a) Any officer or employee of the state who willfully violates the
36 provisions of subdivision one or two of this section shall be dismissed
37 from office and be incapable of holding any public office in this state
38 for a period of five years thereafter.
39 (b) Cross-reference: For criminal penalties, see article thirty-seven
40 of this chapter.
41 § 5. The state finance law is amended by adding a new section 89-h to
42 read as follows:
43 § 89-h. Medical marihuana trust fund. 1. There is hereby established
44 in the joint custody of the state comptroller and the commissioner of
45 taxation and finance a special fund to be known as the “medical marihua-
46 na trust fund.”
47 2. The medical marihuana trust fund shall consist of all moneys
48 required to be deposited in the medical marihuana trust fund pursuant to
49 the provisions of section four hundred ninety of the tax law.
50 3. The moneys in the medical marihuana trust fund shall be kept sepa-
51 rate and shall not be commingled with any other moneys in the custody of
52 the commissioner of taxation and finance and the state comptroller.
53 4. The moneys of the medical marihuana trust fund, following appropri-
54 ation by the legislature, shall be allocated upon a certificate of
55 approval of availability by the director of the budget as follows: (a)
56 Twenty-two and five-tenths percent of the monies shall be transferred to
A. 6357–E 19
1 the counties in New York state in which the medical marihuana was manu-
2 factured and allocated in proportion to the gross sales originating from
3 medical marihuana manufactured in each such county; (b) twenty-two and
4 five-tenths percent of the moneys shall be transferred to the counties
5 in New York state in which the medical marihuana was dispensed and allo-
6 cated in proportion to the gross sales occurring in each such county;
7 (c) five percent of the monies shall be transferred to the office of
8 alcoholism and substance abuse services, which shall use that revenue
9 for additional drug abuse prevention, counseling and treatment services;
10 and (d) five percent of the revenue received by the department shall be
11 transferred to the division of criminal justice services, which shall
12 use that revenue for a program of discretionary grants to state and
13 local law enforcement agencies that demonstrate a need relating to title
14 five-A of article thirty-three of the public health law; said grants
15 could be used for personnel costs of state and local law enforcement
16 agencies. For purposes of this subdivision, the city of New York shall
17 be deemed to be a county.
18 § 6. Subdivision 1 of section 171-a of the tax law, as amended by
19 section 1 of part R of chapter 60 of the laws of 2004, is amended to
20 read as follows:
21 1. All taxes, interest, penalties and fees collected or received by
22 the commissioner or the commissioner’s duly authorized agent under arti-
23 cles nine (except section one hundred eighty-two-a thereof and except as
24 otherwise provided in section two hundred five thereof), nine-A,
25 twelve-A (except as otherwise provided in section two hundred eighty-
26 four-d thereof), thirteen, thirteen-A (except as otherwise provided in
27 section three hundred twelve thereof), eighteen, nineteen, twenty
28 (except as otherwise provided in section four hundred eighty-two there-
29 of), twenty-B twenty-one, twenty-two, twenty-six, twenty-six-B, twenty-
30 eight (except as otherwise provided in section eleven hundred two or
31 eleven hundred three thereof), twenty-eight-A, thirty-one (except as
32 otherwise provided in section fourteen hundred twenty-one thereof),
33 thirty-two, thirty-three and thirty-three-A of this chapter shall be
34 deposited daily in one account with such responsible banks, banking
35 houses or trust companies as may be designated by the comptroller, to
36 the credit of the comptroller. Such an account may be established in one
37 or more of such depositories. Such deposits shall be kept separate and
38 apart from all other money in the possession of the comptroller. The
39 comptroller shall require adequate security from all such depositories.
40 Of the total revenue collected or received under such articles of this
41 chapter, the comptroller shall retain in the comptroller’s hands such
42 amount as the commissioner may determine to be necessary for refunds or
43 reimbursements under such articles of this chapter and article ten ther-
44 eof out of which amount the comptroller shall pay any refunds or
45 reimbursements to which taxpayers shall be entitled under the provisions
46 of such articles of this chapter and article ten thereof. The commis-
47 sioner and the comptroller shall maintain a system of accounts showing
48 the amount of revenue collected or received from each of the taxes
49 imposed by such articles. The comptroller, after reserving the amount to
50 pay such refunds or reimbursements, shall, on or before the tenth day of
51 each month, pay into the state treasury to the credit of the general
52 fund all revenue deposited under this section during the preceding
53 calendar month and remaining to the comptroller’s credit on the last day
54 of such preceding month, (i) except that the comptroller shall pay to
55 the state department of social services that amount of overpayments of
56 tax imposed by article twenty-two of this chapter and the interest on
A. 6357–E 20
1 such amount which is certified to the comptroller by the commissioner as
2 the amount to be credited against past-due support pursuant to subdivi-
3 sion six of section one hundred seventy-one-c of this chapter, (ii) and
4 except that the comptroller shall pay to the New York state higher
5 education services corporation and the state university of New York or
6 the city university of New York respectively that amount of overpayments
7 of tax imposed by article twenty-two of this chapter and the interest on
8 such amount which is certified to the comptroller by the commissioner as
9 the amount to be credited against the amount of defaults in repayment of
10 guaranteed student loans and state university loans or city university
11 loans pursuant to subdivision five of section one hundred seventy-one-d
12 and subdivision six of section one hundred seventy-one-e of this chap-
13 ter, (iii) and except further that, notwithstanding any law, the comp-
14 troller shall credit to the revenue arrearage account, pursuant to
15 section ninety-one-a of the state finance law, that amount of overpay-
16 ment of tax imposed by article nine, nine-A, twenty-two, thirty, thir-
17 ty-A, thirty-B, thirty-two or thirty-three of this chapter, and any
18 interest thereon, which is certified to the comptroller by the commis-
19 sioner as the amount to be credited against a past-due legally enforcea-
20 ble debt owed to a state agency pursuant to paragraph (a) of subdivision
21 six of section one hundred seventy-one-f of this article, provided,
22 however, he shall credit to the special offset fiduciary account, pursu-
23 ant to section ninety-one-c of the state finance law, any such amount
24 creditable as a liability as set forth in paragraph (b) of subdivision
25 six of section one hundred seventy-one-f of this article, (iv) and
26 except further that the comptroller shall pay to the city of New York
27 that amount of overpayment of tax imposed by article nine, nine-A, twen-
28 ty-two, thirty, thirty-A, thirty-B, thirty-two, or thirty-three of this
29 chapter and any interest thereon that is certified to the comptroller by
30 the commissioner as the amount to be credited against city of New York
31 tax warrant judgment debt pursuant to section one hundred seventy-one-l
32 of this article, (v) and except further that the comptroller shall pay
33 to a non-obligated spouse that amount of overpayment of tax imposed by
34 article twenty-two of this chapter and the interest on such amount which
35 has been credited pursuant to section one hundred seventy-one-c, one
36 hundred seventy-one-d, one hundred seventy-one-e, one hundred seventy-
37 one-f or one hundred seventy-one-l of this article and which is certi-
38 fied to the comptroller by the commissioner as the amount due such non-
39 obligated spouse pursuant to paragraph six of subsection (b) of section
40 six hundred fifty-one of this chapter; and (vi) the comptroller shall
41 deduct a like amount which the comptroller shall pay into the treasury
42 to the credit of the general fund from amounts subsequently payable to
43 the department of social services, the state university of New York, the
44 city university of New York, or the higher education services corpo-
45 ration, or the revenue arrearage account or special offset fiduciary
46 account pursuant to section ninety-one-a or ninety-one-c of the state
47 finance law, as the case may be, whichever had been credited the amount
48 originally withheld from such overpayment, and (vii) with respect to
49 amounts originally withheld from such overpayment pursuant to section
50 one hundred seventy-one-l of this article and paid to the city of New
51 York, the comptroller shall collect a like amount from the city of New
52 York.
53 § 7. Subdivision 1 of section 171-a of the tax law, as amended by
54 section 54 of part A of chapter 59 of the laws of 2014, is amended to
55 read as follows:
A. 6357–E 21
1 1. All taxes, interest, penalties and fees collected or received by
2 the commissioner or the commissioner’s duly authorized agent under arti-
3 cles nine (except section one hundred eighty-two-a thereof and except as
4 otherwise provided in section two hundred five thereof), nine-A,
5 twelve-A (except as otherwise provided in section two hundred eighty-
6 four-d thereof), thirteen, thirteen-A (except as otherwise provided in
7 section three hundred twelve thereof), eighteen, nineteen, twenty
8 (except as otherwise provided in section four hundred eighty-two there-
9 of), twenty-B, twenty-one, twenty-two, twenty-six, twenty-six-B, twen-
10 ty-eight (except as otherwise provided in section eleven hundred two or
11 eleven hundred three thereof), twenty-eight-A, thirty-one (except as
12 otherwise provided in section fourteen hundred twenty-one thereof),
13 thirty-three and thirty-three-A of this chapter shall be deposited daily
14 in one account with such responsible banks, banking houses or trust
15 companies as may be designated by the comptroller, to the credit of the
16 comptroller. Such an account may be established in one or more of such
17 depositories. Such deposits shall be kept separate and apart from all
18 other money in the possession of the comptroller. The comptroller shall
19 require adequate security from all such depositories. Of the total
20 revenue collected or received under such articles of this chapter, the
21 comptroller shall retain in the comptroller’s hands such amount as the
22 commissioner may determine to be necessary for refunds or reimbursements
23 under such articles of this chapter out of which amount the comptroller
24 shall pay any refunds or reimbursements to which taxpayers shall be
25 entitled under the provisions of such articles of this chapter. The
26 commissioner and the comptroller shall maintain a system of accounts
27 showing the amount of revenue collected or received from each of the
28 taxes imposed by such articles. The comptroller, after reserving the
29 amount to pay such refunds or reimbursements, shall, on or before the
30 tenth day of each month, pay into the state treasury to the credit of
31 the general fund all revenue deposited under this section during the
32 preceding calendar month and remaining to the comptroller’s credit on
33 the last day of such preceding month, (i) except that the comptroller
34 shall pay to the state department of social services that amount of
35 overpayments of tax imposed by article twenty-two of this chapter and
36 the interest on such amount which is certified to the comptroller by the
37 commissioner as the amount to be credited against past-due support
38 pursuant to subdivision six of section one hundred seventy-one-c of this
39 article, (ii) and except that the comptroller shall pay to the New York
40 state higher education services corporation and the state university of
41 New York or the city university of New York respectively that amount of
42 overpayments of tax imposed by article twenty-two of this chapter and
43 the interest on such amount which is certified to the comptroller by the
44 commissioner as the amount to be credited against the amount of defaults
45 in repayment of guaranteed student loans and state university loans or
46 city university loans pursuant to subdivision five of section one
47 hundred seventy-one-d and subdivision six of section one hundred seven-
48 ty-one-e of this article, (iii) and except further that, notwithstanding
49 any law, the comptroller shall credit to the revenue arrearage account,
50 pursuant to section ninety-one-a of the state finance law, that amount
51 of overpayment of tax imposed by article nine, nine-A, twenty-two, thir-
52 ty, thirty-A, thirty-B or thirty-three of this chapter, and any interest
53 thereon, which is certified to the comptroller by the commissioner as
54 the amount to be credited against a past-due legally enforceable debt
55 owed to a state agency pursuant to paragraph (a) of subdivision six of
56 section one hundred seventy-one-f of this article, provided, however, he
A. 6357–E 22
1 shall credit to the special offset fiduciary account, pursuant to
2 section ninety-one-c of the state finance law, any such amount credita-
3 ble as a liability as set forth in paragraph (b) of subdivision six of
4 section one hundred seventy-one-f of this article, (iv) and except
5 further that the comptroller shall pay to the city of New York that
6 amount of overpayment of tax imposed by article nine, nine-A, twenty-
7 two, thirty, thirty-A, thirty-B or thirty-three of this chapter and any
8 interest thereon that is certified to the comptroller by the commission-
9 er as the amount to be credited against city of New York tax warrant
10 judgment debt pursuant to section one hundred seventy-one-l of this
11 article, (v) and except further that the comptroller shall pay to a
12 non-obligated spouse that amount of overpayment of tax imposed by arti-
13 cle twenty-two of this chapter and the interest on such amount which has
14 been credited pursuant to section one hundred seventy-one-c, one hundred
15 seventy-one-d, one hundred seventy-one-e, one hundred seventy-one-f or
16 one hundred seventy-one-l of this article and which is certified to the
17 comptroller by the commissioner as the amount due such non-obligated
18 spouse pursuant to paragraph six of subsection (b) of section six
19 hundred fifty-one of this chapter; and (vi) the comptroller shall deduct
20 a like amount which the comptroller shall pay into the treasury to the
21 credit of the general fund from amounts subsequently payable to the
22 department of social services, the state university of New York, the
23 city university of New York, or the higher education services corpo-
24 ration, or the revenue arrearage account or special offset fiduciary
25 account pursuant to section ninety-one-a or ninety-one-c of the state
26 finance law, as the case may be, whichever had been credited the amount
27 originally withheld from such overpayment, and (vii) with respect to
28 amounts originally withheld from such overpayment pursuant to section
29 one hundred seventy-one-l of this article and paid to the city of New
30 York, the comptroller shall collect a like amount from the city of New
31 York.
32 § 7-a. Section 853 of the general business law is amended by adding a
33 new subdivision 3 to read as follows:
34 3. This article shall not apply to any sale, furnishing or possession
35 which is for a lawful purpose under title five-A of article thirty-three
36 of the public health law.
37 § 8. Section 221.00 of the penal law, as added by chapter 360 of the
38 laws of 1977, is amended to read as follows:
39 § 221.00 Marihuana; definitions.
40 Unless the context in which they are used clearly otherwise requires,
41 the terms occurring in this article shall have the same meaning ascribed
42 to them in article two hundred twenty of this chapter. Any act that is
43 lawful under title five-A of article thirty-three of the public health
44 law is not a violation of this article.
45 § 9. The penal law is amended by adding a new article 179 to read as
46 follows:
47 ARTICLE 179
48 CRIMINAL DIVERSION OF MEDICAL MARIHUANA
49 Section 179.00 Criminal diversion of medical marihuana; definitions.
50 179.05 Criminal diversion of medical marihuana; limitations.
51 179.10 Criminal diversion of medical marihuana in the first
52 degree.
53 179.11 Criminal diversion of medical marihuana in the second
54 degree.
55 179.15 Criminal retention of medical marihuana.
A. 6357–E 23
1 § 179.00 Criminal diversion of medical marihuana; definitions.
2 The following definitions are applicable to this article:
3 1. “Medical marihuana” means medical marihuana as defined in subdivi-
4 sion eight of section thirty-three hundred sixty of the public health
5 law.
6 2. “Certification” means a certification, made under section thirty-
7 three hundred sixty-one of the public health law.
8 § 179.05 Criminal diversion of medical marihuana; limitations.
9 The provisions of this article shall not apply to:
10 1. a practitioner authorized to issue a certification who acted in
11 good faith in the lawful course of his or her profession; or
12 2. a registered organization as that term is defined in subdivision
13 nine of section thirty-three hundred sixty of the public health law who
14 acted in good faith in the lawful course of the practice of pharmacy; or
15 3. a person who acted in good faith seeking treatment for medical
16 condition or assisting another person to obtain treatment for a medical
17 condition.
18 § 179.10 Criminal diversion of medical marihuana in the first degree.
19 A person is guilty of criminal diversion of medical marihuana in the
20 first degree when he or she is a practitioner, as that term is defined
21 in subdivision twelve of section thirty-three hundred sixty of the
22 public health law, who issues a certification with knowledge of reason-
23 able grounds to know that (i) the recipient has no medical need for it,
24 or (ii) it is for a purpose other than to treat a serious condition as
25 defined in subdivision seven of section thirty-three hundred sixty of
26 the public health law.
27 Criminal diversion of medical marihuana in the first degree is a class
28 E felony.
29 § 179.11 Criminal diversion of medical marihuana in the second degree.
30 A person is guilty of criminal diversion of medical marihuana in the
31 second degree when he or she sells, trades, delivers, or otherwise
32 provides medical marihuana to another with knowledge or reasonable
33 grounds to know that the recipient is not registered under title five-A
34 of article thirty-three of the public health law.
35 Criminal diversion of medical marihuana in the second degree is a
36 class B misdemeanor.
37 § 179.15 Criminal retention of medical marihuana.
38 A person is guilty of criminal retention of medical marihuana when,
39 being a certified patient or designated caregiver, as those terms are
40 defined in subdivisions three and five of section thirty-three hundred
41 sixty of the public health law, respectively, he or she knowingly
42 obtains, possesses, stores or maintains an amount of marihuana in excess
43 of the amount he or she is authorized to possess under the provisions of
44 title five-A of article thirty-three of the public health law.
45 Criminal retention of medical marihuana is a class A misdemeanor.
46 § 10. The opening paragraph of subdivision 1 of section 216.00 of the
47 criminal procedure law, as added by section 4 of part AAA of chapter 56
48 of the laws of 2009, is amended to read as follows:
49 “Eligible defendant” means any person who stands charged in an indict-
50 ment or a superior court information with a class B, C, D or E felony
51 offense defined in article one hundred seventy-nine, two hundred twenty
52 or two hundred twenty-one of the penal law or any other specified
53 offense as defined in subdivision four of section 410.91 of this chap-
54 ter, provided, however, a defendant is not an “eligible defendant” if he
55 or she:
A. 6357–E 24
1 § 11. Subdivision 5 of section 410.91 of the criminal procedure law,
2 as amended by section 8 of part AAA of chapter 56 of the laws of 2009,
3 is amended to read as follows:
4 5. For the purposes of this section, a “specified offense” is an
5 offense defined by any of the following provisions of the penal law:
6 burglary in the third degree as defined in section 140.20, criminal
7 mischief in the third degree as defined in section 145.05, criminal
8 mischief in the second degree as defined in section 145.10, grand larce-
9 ny in the fourth degree as defined in subdivision one, two, three, four,
10 five, six, eight, nine or ten of section 155.30, grand larceny in the
11 third degree as defined in section 155.35 (except where the property
12 consists of one or more firearms, rifles or shotguns), unauthorized use
13 of a vehicle in the second degree as defined in section 165.06, criminal
14 possession of stolen property in the fourth degree as defined in subdi-
15 vision one, two, three, five or six of section 165.45, criminal
16 possession of stolen property in the third degree as defined in section
17 165.50 (except where the property consists of one or more firearms,
18 rifles or shotguns), forgery in the second degree as defined in section
19 170.10, criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree
20 as defined in section 170.25, unlawfully using slugs in the first degree
21 as defined in section 170.60, criminal diversion of medical marihuana in
22 the first degree as defined in section 179.10 or an attempt to commit
23 any of the aforementioned offenses if such attempt constitutes a felony
24 offense; or a class B felony offense defined in article two hundred
25 twenty where a sentence is imposed pursuant to paragraph (a) of subdivi-
26 sion two of section 70.70 of the penal law; or any class C, class D or
27 class E controlled substance or marihuana felony offense as defined in
28 article two hundred twenty or two hundred twenty-one.
29 § 12. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be
30 deemed repealed seven years after such date; provided that the amend-
31 ments to section 171-a of the tax law made by section seven of this act
32 shall take effect on the same date and in the same manner as section 54
33 of part A of chapter 59 of the laws of 2014 takes effect; and provided,
34 further, that the amendments to subdivision 5 of section 410.91 of the
35 criminal procedure law made by section eleven of this act shall not
36 affect the expiration and repeal of such section and shall expire and be
37 deemed repealed therewith.
