Health & Fitness
Marijuana Can Now Be Used To Treat PTSD In New York
A new law lists the ailment as one that can legally be treated with medical marijuana.
NEW YORK, NY — Marijuana can now legally be used to treat post-traumatic stress disorder in New York. Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed legislation Saturday it to the list of ailments that can legally be treated with the drug.
The PTSD bill was part of a package of legislation that Cuomo signed to mark Veterans Day.
"Our veterans risked their lives in order to defend the ideals and principles that this nation was founded upon and it is our duty to do everything we can to support them when they return home," Cuomo said.
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The Democratic governor said 19,000 New Yorkers with PTSD could be helped by medical marijuana.
He said the potential beneficiaries include veterans as well as police officers and survivors of domestic violence, crime and accidents.
New York's medical marijuana law allows patients with illnesses including cancer, AIDS and Parkinson's disease to use non-smokable forms of the drug.
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Other measures Cuomo signed Saturday include a bill to provide more days off for combat veterans employed by the state and a bill waiving the civil service examination fee for veterans who were honorably discharged.
Cuomo also announced a new program that will allow veterans to order service branch-specific license plates showing they served in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard or Marines.
Patch file photo
