S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
6709
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
March 10, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. KELLES, BICHOTTE HERMELYN -- read once and
referred to the Committee on Health
AN ACT to amend the cannabis law and the public health law, in relation
to the course required to be taken by practitioners certifying
patients as eligible for medical cannabis and establishing the endo-
cannabinoid system awareness program
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Subdivision 10 of section 30 of the cannabis law is amended
and a new subdivision 11 is added to read as follows:
10. (A) Prior to issuing a certification a practitioner must complete,
at a minimum, a two-hour course as determined by the board in
regulation; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT SUCH COURSE SHALL, AT A MINIMUM,
MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF PARAGRAPH (C) OF THIS SUBDIVISION. For the
purposes of this article a person's status as a practitioner is deemed
to be a "license" for the purposes of section thirty-three hundred nine-
ty of the public health law and shall be subject to the same revocation
process.
(B) THE OFFICE SHALL APPROVE AT LEAST ONE, IF NOT MORE, COURSE FOR
PRACTITIONERS SEEKING TO CERTIFY PATIENTS FOR MEDICAL CANNABIS, WHICH
SHALL BE A MINIMUM OF TWO HOURS IN DURATION.
(C) THE EDUCATIONAL CONTENT OF SUCH COURSE OR COURSES SHALL INCLUDE:
THE PHARMACOLOGY OF CANNABIS; CONTRAINDICATIONS; SIDE EFFECTS; ADVERSE
REACTIONS; OVERDOSE PREVENTION; DRUG INTERACTIONS; DOSING; ROUTES OF
ADMINISTRATION; RISKS AND BENEFITS; WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS; ABUSE AND
DEPENDENCE; AND SUCH OTHER COMPONENTS AS DETERMINED BY THE OFFICE.
11. THE OFFICE SHALL PROVIDE INFORMATION ON THE OFFICE'S WEBSITE ON
THE ENDOCANNABINOID SYSTEM AWARENESS PROGRAM ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO
SECTION THIRTY-THREE SIXTY-A OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW, INCLUDING THE
INFORMATION AND GUIDANCE ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION TWO OF SUCH
SECTION.
§ 2. Subdivision 12 of section 3360 of the public health law, as added
by chapter 90 of the laws of 2014, is amended to read as follows:
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08994-02-5
A. 6709 2
12. "Practitioner" means a practitioner who (i) is a physician
licensed by New York state and practicing within the state, (ii) who by
training or experience is qualified to treat a serious condition as
defined in subdivision seven of this section; and (iii) has completed a
two to four hour course as [determined by the commissioner in regu-
lation] REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION THIRTY-THREE HUNDRED SIXTY-ONE OF
THIS TITLE AND SECTION THIRTY OF THE CANNABIS LAW and registered with
the department; provided however, a registration shall not be denied
without cause. Such course may count toward board certification require-
ments. The commissioner shall consider the inclusion of nurse practi-
tioners under this title based upon considerations including access and
availability. After such consideration the commissioner is authorized to
deem nurse practitioners as practitioners under this title.
§ 3. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 1 of section 3361 of the public
health law, as added by chapter 90 of the laws of 2014, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) a practitioner has been registered with the department to issue a
certification as determined by the commissioner AND HAS COMPLETED THE
TWO-HOUR COURSE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION TEN OF SECTION THIRTY
OF THE CANNABIS LAW;
§ 4. The public health law is amended by adding a new section 3360-a
to read as follows:
§ 3360-A. ENDOCANNABINOID SYSTEM AWARENESS PROGRAM. 1. THERE IS HEREBY
ESTABLISHED WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT THE ENDOCANNABINOID SYSTEM AWARENESS
PROGRAM WHICH SHALL EDUCATE HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS REGARDING THE
ENDOCANNABINOID SYSTEM AND HOW IT INTERACTS WITH OTHER BODILY SYSTEMS.
2. THE COMMISSIONER, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE OFFICE OF CANNABIS
MANAGEMENT, SHALL ESTABLISH AND DISTRIBUTE TO HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS
COMPREHENSIVE INFORMATION AND GUIDANCE REGARDING THE ENDOCANNABINOID
SYSTEM AND HOW IT INTERACTS WITH OTHER BODILY FUNCTIONS. SUCH INFORMA-
TION AND GUIDANCE SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, THE FOLLOWING
TOPICS:
(A) THE ENDOCANNABINOID SYSTEM;
(B) CANNABINOIDS, CHRONIC PAIN AND OPIOIDS;
(C) PHARMACOGENETICS AND CANNABIS;
(D) FEDERAL FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION (FDA) APPROVED CANNABINOID
MEDICATIONS;
(E) RISKS, BENEFITS, AND IMPACTS OF CANNABIS CONSUMPTION ON PATHWAYS;
AND
(F) INTERACTIONS OF CANNABIS WITH OTHER MEDICATIONS.
3. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL:
(A) INFORM HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS OF THE NEED TO BE AWARE OF THE
ENDOCANNABINOID SYSTEM AND HOW IT INTERACTS WITH OTHER BODILY FUNCTIONS;
AND
(B) PROVIDE INFORMATION ON THE DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE ON THE ENDOCANNA-
BINOID SYSTEM AWARENESS PROGRAM, INCLUDING THE INFORMATION AND GUIDANCE
ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION.
§ 5. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
it shall have become a law; provided, however, that the amendments to
title 5-A of article 33 of the public health law made by section four of
this act, shall not affect the repeal of such title and shall be deemed
repealed therewith. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment
and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation
of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and
completed on or before such effective date.