| Photo: The Daily Voice |
| Montel Williams uses medical marijuana to ease the symptoms of MS, and he advocates for safe access for other patients |
Former talk show host, U.S. veteran and New York resident Montel Williams on Tuesday will urge Governor David Paterson and members of the state Legislature to act quickly in order to finally pass New York’s medical marijuana bill.
The bill would create one of the best regulated systems in the country for providing seriously ill patients with safe and effective access to medical marijuana when doctors recommend it, according to patient advocates.
Under New York’s bill, the state department of health would play an active role in regulating dispensaries that would be licensed to provide medical marijuana to qualified patients.
Williams suffers from multiple sclerosis, and uses medical marijuana to help ease the effects of his condition.
Montel recently made headlines when he fired up a joint in front of a crowd to get some relief while giving a speech on the benefits of medical marijuana.
WHAT: Press conference with Montel Williams
WHEN: Tuesday, June 29, 11 a.m.
WHERE: Common area outside Senate Lobby, near the stairs, 3rd floor of the Capitol Building
Since 1996, 14 states and the District of Columbia have passed medical marijuana laws.
More than a dozen state legislatures considered the issue this year, and in November, the citizens of Arizona and South Dakota will vote on medical marijuana ballot initiatives.