WESTCHESTER, N.Y. – Since humans in New York can now take advantage of health benefits of medical marijuana, downstate Assemblywoman Amy Paulin's take is, why not extend this to our furry friends, too?
That’s why Paulin intends to introduce a bill in Albany that would allow veterinarians to prescribe pets medical marijuana.
"You know the pain that they're suffering from because you know human pain. Pets don't talk,” Paulin (D-Westchester) said in FaceTime interview with 2 on Your Side.
Paulin's bill was modeled from a similar bill in California. Veterinarians there can't prescribe pets medical marijuana, but pet parents can purchase a pet-tailored marijuana oil at medical dispensaries.
"People love their pets, as I do mine, and you just want to afford them the same civility, treatment that we have for ourselves,” Paulin said.
Dr. Susan Wylegala of the Cheektowaga Veterinary Hospital knows there's interest.
"Most companion animal owners are requesting information and are certainly looking for options for alternative treatments for their pets,” Dr. Wylegala said.
However, she says it's still unknown if medical marijuana effects pets the same way it affects humans, and that an important thing to get right would be dosage amounts.
She hopes the attention expedites research. If deemed safe, it could improve an animal's quality of life.
"Long-term pain management in a lot of these pets,” said Wylegala, citing chronic pain diseases like arthritis and cancer.
So how is pain in pets treated now? Dr. Wylegala says there are anti-inflammatory treatments, laser treatments, injections, and pain killers. However, the opioid crisis has made it harder for vets to prescribe them animals, limiting the options that vets can offer patients.
"People don't think of veterinarians as being ones that are affected, but we are very affected,” Wylegala said.
Wylegala is cautiously optimistic; She wants to see more studies get underway.
Assemblywoman Paulin – who is still seeking a senate co-sponsor on the bill – says if medical marijuana for people can pass here in New York, it can pass for pets, too.