Critically ill patients in St. Lawrence County will have emergency access to marijuana after the governor signed Sen. Joseph Griffo’s bill into law on Veteran’s Day.

The bill will help certain critically ill patients obtain emergency access to medical marijuana.

“We thank the governor for signing this important bill, which I sponsored in the Senate along with Assemblyman Richard Gottfried, chairman of the Assembly Health Committee,” said Griffo, R-Rome. 

“We hope this legislation will now help critically ill patients and children, like young Mackenzie Kulawy of New York Mills who suffers from a severe form of epilepsy, get the immediate treatment they need so they no longer have to await relief from their pain and suffering.”

Gov. Cuomo’s signature came just hours before a midnight deadline Wednesday and followed months of pressure from patients, families and supporters pushing for the governor to sign the emergency access bill.

Griffo's 47th Senate District covers a north-south swath that cuts through the center of St. Lawrence County, from Massena to Fine, including Potsdam.