NY bill proposes medical pot for pets

New York State Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, a Democrat from Westchester, proposed a new bill that would allow vets to prescribe pot for pets.

State Bill A10104, introduced on March 15th, 2018, would be the first of its kind and would give pets access to New York’s medical marijuana program.

Why give CBD to your pet?

Dogs have the same type of cannabinoid receptors in their bodies as humans and as a result, can benefit from the use of marijuana.

Unlike humans, pets are extremely sensitive to THC and can have serious side effects if given too much.

Since the legalization of marijuana has started to spread across the country, reports of pets being poisoned by their owners feeding them THC infused products has skyrocketed.

In most cases, hemp derived CBD will contain less than 1% THC, which makes it the ideal product for pets.

Currently, there has only been one major study into the efficacy of marijuana for pets.

One of the biggest obstacles to this type of research is its status as a Schedule I drug. Without the blessing of the federal government, many people are too afraid to enter the murky territory of marijuana research.

Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital has approved clinical trials for the first research project of its kind.

The study will focus on treating seizures in dogs diagnosed with epilepsy. Seizures are notoriously hard to treat in dogs and frequently result in euthanasia because of how poor the quality of life is associated with such a disorder.

As of June 1st, the bill is still pending and needs to be approved by both the State Assembly Health Committee and Senate.