New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has signed Senate Bill S3294A as law. This strengthens the rights of patients and expands medical cannabis access throughout the state.
These include:
- New York will allow medical cannabis patients in other states to shop at New York dispensaries.
- Simplify the patient certification and ease provider requirements
- Extend patient certification from 1 to 2 years.
- Possession limits can be relaxed for qualified patients and designated caregivers.
- Cannabis can be grown at home by certified patients over the age of 18 for personal medical use.
The Chief Medical Officer of the New York State Office of Cannabis Management, Dr. June Chin commented on these changes. said:
The updates are a step in the right direction. Patients deserve to have a medical marijuana program that is truly supportive of their health care. Expanding access and modernizing our system will ensure that all treatment decisions are made based on evidence, clinical experience, and lived experiences.
According to the Agency, these changes represent one of the largest advancements in medical marijuana frameworks in California since the inception of its program in 2016.
Senate Bill S3294A It was an act amending the Cannabis Law in relation to Medical Use of Cannabis; and repealing article 33-A relating to controlled substances therapeutics research act. It was filed in January of this year and sponsored by Senator Jeremy Cooney, D, WF.
According to The New York State Office of Cannabis Management Annual Report covering the last year states that by 2024 there will be more than 100,000 registered residents of New York State with the NYS medical marijuana program, as well as nearly 8,500 registered caregivers. In New York there were 4454 providers who could certify, as well as 21 dispensaries for medical use and 11 co-located medical and adult dispensaries.
The number of patients appears to be down significantly. According to the Office’s web site, there were 81,500 registered patients as at November 1, 2025, while caregiver numbers were up — 4,647.
When adult cannabis use becomes legal, it’s common for medical programs suffer. It happened on March 31, 2020 in New York. But licensed sales of recreational cannabis didn’t begin until December 29,2022.
New York medical marijuana program: more information can be found here.