The Governor of New York signed on July 7 New York’s Compassionate Care Act, which will permit limited use of medical marijuana by individuals suffering from covered medical conditions, making New York the 23rd state to legalize the use of medical marijuana.
Under the law, no more than five private organizations in the state will be licensed for the production and distribution of medical marijuana through up to four regulated dispensaries per organization. The dispensaries must be wholly owned and operated by such licensed organization. Additionally, in order to obtain and maintain its certification, each organization must enter into a labor peace agreement with a bona fide labor organization representing its employees.
The law does not prohibit employers from creating or enforcing existing policies that prohibit employees from performing their employment duties while impaired by medical marijuana, and it is not intended to result in violation of federal law or cause an employer’s federal contracts or funding to be jeopardized.
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