David Lombardo is reporting for Capitol Confidential Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a bill September 24, allowing doctors to prescribe medical marijuana in place of opioids for acute pain management. In June, state Department of Health Commissioner Howard Zucker announced the expansion of New York’s medical marijuana program to include patients on prescription opioids. A person is eligible to receive medical marijuana for pain management if a doctor determines their pain degrades their health and functional capability. The bill will “also allow for substance use disorder treatment providers to recommend medical marijuana to help patients manage underlying pain that contributes to the abuse of substances such as opioids, ” according to a press release from the governor's office. Sen. George Amedore, Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse said the law addresses a “big gap” that was highlighted over and over at hearings held by the Senate Task Force on Heroin and Opioid Addiction. Read the full story at Capitol Confidential, a Times Union blog.