New York‘s Compassionate Care Act, the state’s medical marijuana law, was signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo in July 2014 after Sen. Diane Savino and Assemblyman Richard Gottfried pushed it through the Legislature, and the first dispensaries opened on January 7, 2016. The bill Savino filed in 2012, which Cuomo then said he did not support, became one of the most restrictive medical programs in the country: no smoking, a short list of conditions and just five licensed companies.
What Happened
In May 2012 Savino introduced S7283, a medical marijuana bill that stalled in the Senate Health Committee. Gottfried’s companion measure, A6357, had a longer track record: the Assembly passed it on June 3, 2013 and again on May 27, 2014, but the Republican-led Senate coalition would not bring it to a vote.
The deal came in the last days of the 2014 session. After weeks of negotiation with Cuomo, who insisted on tighter limits, the Assembly passed the final version (A6357E) on June 19, 2014, and the Senate approved it the next day, 49 to 10. It was delivered to the governor on June 24 and is recorded as signed on July 5, 2014, as Chapter 90 of the Laws of 2014; Cuomo held a public signing ceremony that week. The state health department’s later report gives the signing date as July 7.
What the Law Allowed
- Conditions: cancer, HIV/AIDS, ALS, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord damage with intractable spasticity, epilepsy, inflammatory bowel disease, neuropathies and Huntington’s disease, per the Department of Health.
- No smoking: patients could buy oils, capsules and vaporizable products but not smokable flower.
- Five producers: the state picked five “registered organizations” on July 31, 2015. Each could run one manufacturing site and four dispensaries, 20 statewide.
- Certification: doctors had to register with the state and complete a course before certifying patients.
Background
When our original April 2012 report ran, Cuomo had said he needed more time to weigh the risks and benefits, and medical marijuana bills had died in Albany for years. Neighboring New Jersey had passed its law in 2010, and the federal government was raiding dispensaries in California. The Marijuana Policy Project, which lobbied for the bill, later credited Gottfried as its longtime champion and said the final law was far narrower than the version first introduced, largely because of amendments Cuomo demanded.
What Happened Next
The law gave the state 18 months to start sales. In November 2015 Cuomo agreed to speed up access for critically ill patients, and on January 7, 2016, the first dispensaries opened, including Columbia Care’s Union Square store in Manhattan; eight opened that day and the rest followed through the month. About 150 doctors had registered by launch. Early enrollment was slow, and the program was loosened in later years, including adding chronic pain as a qualifying condition.
Where It Stands in 2026
New York legalized adult-use cannabis in 2021 with the Marihuana Regulation and Taxation Act, which also folded the medical program into the Office of Cannabis Management and widened it, allowing practitioners to certify patients for any condition they judge appropriate. Current possession limits, store rules and medical card details are in our New York marijuana laws guide, and the federal picture is in federal marijuana laws. For an earlier chapter of New York’s cannabis history, see the 1944 La Guardia Committee report.
New York Compassionate Care Act FAQ
When was the Compassionate Care Act signed?
Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed it in early July 2014. The legislative record lists July 5, 2014 (Chapter 90 of 2014); the health department has cited July 7.
Who sponsored New York’s medical marijuana law?
Assemblyman Richard Gottfried sponsored the Assembly bill (A6357) and Sen. Diane Savino sponsored the Senate version (S7923).
When did medical marijuana sales start in New York?
January 7, 2016, when the first dispensaries opened, 18 months after the law was signed.
Could patients smoke medical marijuana under the 2014 law?
No. The original program allowed only non-smokable forms such as oils, capsules and vaporized extracts.
Originally reported by The Weed Street Journal; rewritten and updated in October 2026 with what happened next.