“When it’s your child who can’t help himself, and is literally withering away in pain, you’d do anything to take that pain away. When people are suffering, we can at least give them their dignity.”
-Geri Barish, Long Island cancer survivor, whose son used medical marijuana before succumbing to cancer
“I tried everything to deal with my pain. Medical marijuana made it possible for me to get on with living my life and being there for my three boys. I shouldn’t have to face criminal charges for using a medicine that helps me.”
-Susan Rusinko, Auburn, diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2000
“When I ran out of my prescription opioids while doing Hurricane Katrina relief work, I tried medical marijuana and found it worked better than many of my prescription medications.”
-Joel Peacock, active Conservative Party member from Buffalo, who had three discs removed from his back following a severe car accident
“I’m tired of feeling like a criminal just because I’ve found something that helps me control the symptoms of the severe illness that I’m dealing with.”
-Wanda Hernandez, lifelong New Yorker diagnosed with HIV almost 20 years ago
“The New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) supports this legislation because we believe that it creates a carefully controlled system allowing seriously ill New Yorkers to take advantage of the therapeutic and palliative benefits of medical marijuana under the supervision of their healthcare provider”
-Judy Sheridan-Gonzalez, First Vice President, NYSNA Board of Directors
“I am convinced by studies showing the benefit of medical cannabis for chronic and neuropathic pain, appetite stimulation, and nausea. More and more doctors are using medical marijuana in states where it is legal. It doesn’t make sense that doctors in New York cannot use medical marijuana in their practice.”
-Craig D. Blinderman, MD, MA, Director, Adult Palliative Care Services, Co-Director, Center for Supportive Care and Clinical Ethics, Department of Medicine, Columbia University
“I’ve seen firsthand how medical marijuana has helped many of our members. We support this sensible legislation because we believe that people living with multiple sclerosis and other serious illnesses should have the option of using medical marijuana if they and their doctors think it would help alleviate their symptoms. People shouldn’t have to break the law to get the help they need.”
-Annette Simiele, Associate Director, MS Resources of Central New York
“Local 338 RWDSU/UFCW believes that the medical and pain relief properties of marijuana have been clearly documented and proven. We also believe that a vertically-integrated and tightly-controlled system of distribution will ensure that the marijuana produced in our state will be distributed only to patients who need it. We are also committed to developing this industry in a way that provides good middle-class jobs with living wages and proper benefits for a well-trained and qualified workforce.”
-John R. Durso, President, Local 338, RWDSU/UFCW
