Politics

6 LI Republican Assembly members change stance on medical marijuana

A marijuana plant in Uruguay on Monday, April 25, 2014.

A marijuana plant in Uruguay on Monday, April 25, 2014. Credit: Getty Images / Pablo Porciuncula

By Yancey Roy

Just before 3 a.m. Friday, the state Assembly voted, 117-13, to approve a bill to legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes with tight restrictions. Back on May 27, 36 Assembly members opposed a broader medical marijuana program.

Six of those who switched their vote were Long Island Republicans: Brian Curran (R-Lynbrook), Andrew Garbarino (R-Sayville), Al Graf (R-Holbrook), David McDonough (R-Merrick), Anthony Palumbo (R-New Suffolk) and Joseph Saladino (R-Massapequa).

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Just before 3 a.m. Friday, the state Assembly voted, 117-13, to approve a bill to legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes with tight restrictions. Back on May 27, 36 Assembly members opposed a broader medical marijuana program.

Six of those who switched their vote were Long Island Republicans: Brian Curran (R-Lynbrook), Andrew Garbarino (R-Sayville), Al Graf (R-Holbrook), David McDonough (R-Merrick), Anthony Palumbo (R-New Suffolk) and Joseph Saladino (R-Massapequa).

Here is how Long Island’s Assembly delegation voted on the bill Friday:

Nassau
Brian Curran (R-Lynbrook)…Y.
Earlene Hooper (D-Hempstead)…Y.
Charles Lavine (D-Glen Cove)…Y.
David McDonough (R-Merrick)…Y.
Thomas McKevitt (R-East Meadow)…N.
Michael Montesano (R-Glen Head)…N.
Edward Ra (R-Franklin Square)…N.
Joseph Saladino (R-Massapequa)…Y.
Michelle Schimel (D-Great Neck)…Y.
Michaelle Solages (D-Elmont)…Y.
Harvey Weisenberg (D-Long Beach)... Absent.

Suffolk
Steven Englebright (D-Setauket)…Y
Michael Fitzpatrick (R-St. James)…N.
Andrew Garbarino (R-Sayville)…Y.
Alfred Graf (R-Holbrook)…Y.
Edward Hennessey (D-Medford)…Y.
Chad Lupinacci (R-Huntington Station)…Y.

Anthony Palumbo (R-New Suffolk)…Y.
Andrew Raia (R-Huntington)…Y.
Philip Ramos (D-Brentwood)…Y.
Robert Sweeney (D-Lindenhurst)…Y.
Fred Thiele Jr. (I-Sag Harbor)…Y.

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