MMJ Dispensaries to Open in New York State

1 August 2015

After the passing of Assembly Bill 6357 in 2014, New Yorkers have been waiting patiently for the first legal medical marijuana dispensaries and grows to open.

New York State is finally set to allow medical marijuana to be grown and sold legally within the state. After 18 months of passing the law the dispensaries and grows are set to open - which is faster than many other states have been able to achieve.

Over 40 companies applied for licenses to grow and sell marijuana, and on Friday 31 August 2015 just 5 companies were selected Bloomfield Industries, Columbia Care New York, Empire State Health Solutions, Etain and PharmaCann. Each company may open 1 growing facility and 4 dispensaries.

Under New York state law medical marijuana may not be smoked, so companies will have to create other products, like pills or oils. The chief operating officer of Bloomfield, Collette Bellefleur said they will be "...providing a spray, and one or two variations on a pill form...and a vaporized oil as well...". who the company which will grow its marijuana in Queens

In New York city, four dispensaries are planned:

1. Manhattan, 14th Street near Union Square.
2. Bronx, Oak Point Avenue in Hunts Point.
3. Queens, Center Mall.
4. A 2nd dispensary will also open in Manhattan

A growing facility is also set to open in Queens. All grows and dispensaries should be up and running with 6 months.

State Senator Diane Savino described it as "...a tremendous milestone...". Savino was a primary sponsor and leading advocate of the medical marijuana bill in New York.

 

Link : www.health.ny.gov/regulations/medical_marijuana/application/docs/q_and_a.pdf