Trouble at Bay as New York Officially Opened Dispensaries

On January 7, 2016, 8 dispensaries officially opened in New York catering to only 51, at present, approved patients with medical marijuana cards. Other dispensaries will be added to the 8 currently operational dispensaries wherein, as reported, there will be a total of 20 dispensaries scattered throughout the state. Many are in doubt if the 20 dispensaries will be enough to provide for the whole state.

Another argument that supporters are presenting is the limited conditions included in the list of qualifying conditions for the New York Medical Marijuana Program.

The present list of qualifying conditions in New York are reported to be as follows:

• Lou Gehrig’s Disease
• Cancer
• HIV/AIDS
• Parkinson’s Disease
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Huntington’s Disease
• Neuropathy
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Intractable spasticity

To be an approved patient in New York, much like in other states, a patient must get certification from an approved physician of the state participating in the program.

Supporters express concern on the prohibition signed by Governor Andrew Cuomo that says the program can be terminated at once. Though this prohibition will only be implemented if the program presents public health and safety risk. It did not include in the prohibition if the cannabis industry is not going well.

Governor Cuomo signed into law a marijuana program with strict rules for compliance. It includes only allowing non-smokable forms of marijuana to be legal in the state of New York. Medical marijuana businesses are also subjected to only produce an alternative form of marijuana such as tinctures, vaporizers, oil and edible products to be sold to medical marijuana cardholders.