What is the status of medical marijuana in New York? How can one get a medical card or a dispensary license? How can we end racially biased marijuana arrests in New York? Will NY tax and regulate marijuana like Colorado and Washington? Come get the answers to these questions and more. Join the Drug Policy Alliance, along with leaders in the marijuana industry, policymakers, experts, and patients to get an insider perspective on the state of marijuana policy reform in New York. Learn about New York’s new medical marijuana program and plans to legalize marijuana for adult use and to rebuild our communities devastated by marijuana prohibition.

What: Fundraiser — VIP reception and program to discuss New York’s marijuana policies and emerging industry

Amherst, N.Y. -  

Dent Neurologic Institute in Amherst is partnering with a Lewiston business to become a clinical research center for the use of medical marijuana.

Dent and Herbal Agriculture will be working together to develop treatment and protocol for treating neurological disorders with marijuana.

Competition is heating up among companies jockeying for one of the state's five medical-marijuana licenses. But for some, being an early adopter in New York, with its restrictive medical-marijuana law, isn't worth the financial risk.

A majority of doctors would approve the use of medical marijuana, according to a new survey.

"We were surprised by the outcome of polling and comments, with 76 percent of all votes in favor of the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes -- even though marijuana use is illegal in most countries," the survey's authors wrote.

The results appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine on May 30. It included responses from 1,446 doctors from 72 different countries and 56 different states and provinces in North America. In addition, 118 doctors posted comments about their decision on the survey.

With summer just around the corner, many legislative sessions are nearing an end, but that doesn't mean the end for cannabis progress! This week brings surprising and heartwarming news from down on the bayou in Louisiana, while California’s discussing legalization, New York is gearing up to select growers for their medical program, and India just held their first ever medical cannabis conference.

U.S. Updates

CALIFORNIA

Don Crawford on his family's farm in Wallkill, N.Y., which is adjacent to property where a company wants to produce medical marijuana. Mr. Crawford supports the proposal.

By Anemona Hartocollis

WALLKILL, N.Y. — Don Crawford comes from a long line of Orange County farmers. Though he no longer tends dairy cows, he still cuts hay for the thriving equestrian industry, and cringes at the creep of the suburbs.

So when a stranger came to town and announced plans to grow marijuana on the fallow land next to his, Mr. Crawford was thrilled.

“It’s better than a bunch of houses,” he said.

A Seneca County company vying for one of five state licenses to grow and sell medical marijuana has gotten a boost for its application from the University of Rochester Medical Center and the Supervisor of the Town of Gates.

Citiva Medical, LLC already has support from officials in Romulus, Seneca County to build a medical marijuana growing facility at the former Seneca Army Depot. Late last month, Gates Town Supervisor Mark Assini urged the the state Health Department to grant the company a license to sell its products “in a properly zoned retail location” in the town. He did not provide specifics.

Companies have until June 5 to file applications with the state’s health department for one of five licenses to dispense medical marijuana

Erik Holling spent more than 10 years helping turn a family business into a global information-technology company with a staff of 3,500 people in more than 190 countries.

Now he is aiming to be at the forefront of a new industry for New York state: medical marijuana.

Mr. Holling, who earlier in his career worked in medical research and health care, is now president of Valley Agriceuticals, a Purchase-based health-care company vying for one of five licenses to grow and distribute medical marijuana in New York.

The Town of Romulus Board meeting provided a letter of support to a medical company looking to grow marijuana on 20 acres of the old Seneca Army Depot. Mike Palombo, Director of Research and Development for Civita Medical, a research and development company with property in the former Army Depot, gave the introduction. The property is located near Seneca Bio-energy; it would be all fenced in and secure with employee parking as part of Phase I.

Civita bought property in the Depot in 2014. Palombo reminded the public that the Governor Cuomo’s office has approved legislation for medical marijuana, and said the company was seeking one of five New York State licenses to grow medical marijuana.

Ross Ulbricht, creator of the underground website Silk Road, which let users anonymously buy and sell anything from drugs to hacking tutorials, was sentenced Friday to life in prison after he made a tearfulplea for leniency.

Ulbricht, who is 31, was convicted in February on seven counts ranging from money laundering to drug trafficking. He could have been sentenced to only 20 years.

U.S. District Judge Katherine B. Forrest was clear that she was making an example of Ulbricht in part to deter others from committing similar crimes.

"There must be no doubt that no one is above the law," Forrest said. "You, as the defendant, have to pay the price."