From the numbers provided by the New York Department of Health, the day after their Medical Marijuana Program started, there was a quite noticeable low patient count. Only 71 patients have been signed up by the state’s program.
To obtain medicinal marijuana, patients must submit certification from registered physicians of the state’s program. Only then may patients apply for a medical marijuana card to be presented to registered and legal dispensaries.
Out of the 20 authorized dispensaries scattered across the state, only 8 are currently operating. Other dispensaries are expected to open by end of January 2016. The dispensaries are only allowed to provide non-smokable forms of medical marijuana to patients as regulated by the state.
Around 174 physicians have been reported to have registered with the program. Since it is required to receive a registered physician’s certification to become a registered patient of the New York Medical Marijuana Program, the state is planning to share the list of the said doctors to other health care providers for patient referral.
At present, there are already more than 20 states who have legalized and adapted their own medical marijuana program.