The state thinks so and their medical marijuana program launches this week! Read the details of the launch courtesy of The NY Daily News.
State officials will formally launch New York’s medical marijuana program on Thursday and at least one city pot dispensary expects to be ready.
“New York State’s Medical Marijuana Program is scheduled to launch on January 7, 2016, just 18 months after Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the Compassionate Care Act,” Health Department spokesman James Plastiras said in an email to reporters late Monday afternoon.
“More information and details on the program will be released shortly,” Plastiras added.
Columbia Care, one of five companies licensed to grow marijuana in New York, announced Monday that its Union Square dispensary plans to open Thursday.
Other dispensaries planned for Murray Hill, the Bronx and Queens are expected to open sometime later in the month.
While state officials had previously indicated the medical marijuana program would launch in January, they had not provided an exact date or released any information on the number of doctors certified to proscribe the drug.
The law requires that patients seeking medical marijuana first be certified by a state-approved physician and then register with the Health Department and obtain a registry identification card before being allowed to purchase the product.
The lack of information has raised alarm among medical marijuana advocates who feel the system may be too restrictive and difficult for patients to navigate.
“We are looking forward to seeing the additional information and details about the program,” said Julie Netherland of the Drug Policy Alliance. “Patients in New York have been waiting a long time for the day when they can legally purchase medical marijuana. We hope the program roll out goes smoothly and that patients will finally have some relief from their suffering.”Follow Me On Twitter & Instagram: @effiongeton
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