New York Medical Cannabis Expansions Allow Out-of-State Patient Access, Home Grows

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) has signed into law Senate Bill S3294A, which contains significant expansions to the state’s medical cannabis program, including provisions to give cannabis patients registered in other U.S. states access to the program.

The New York State Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) called it a “modernization” of the program, and OCM Acting Executive Director Felecia A.B. Reid said in a press release the new law “reflects New York’s ongoing commitment to compassion, science, access, and equity.”

In addition to reciprocity for out-of-state patients, the bill also aims to simplify the certification process and reduce barriers to participation for medical cannabis patients. The new law also doubles the length of patient certifications from one year to two years, adjusts the possession limits for patients and caregivers, and allows adult patients aged 18 and older to home grow cannabis for medical use.

“The goal of this legislation is to ensure that we were easing access barriers to medical cannabis across the state. By grounding policy in data and patient experience, we’ve built a stronger, more accessible program for all New Yorkers.” — Dr. Nakesha Abel, OCM Deputy Director of Scientific Programs and Research, in a statement

The changes will begin to take effect after 90 days, although OCM officials noted that some provisions may require regulatory setup before implementation.