Second New York medical cannabis firm launches home delivery

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Vireo Health, one of the five licensed medical marijuana companies in New York, rolled out home delivery for its patients late last week, reportedly the second in the state to do so.


MJBizConVireo, which first obtained permission from the state in January to deliver medical cannabis instead of requiring patients to pick up purchases at storefront dispensaries, has launched its service by offering deliveries in the boroughs of Queens and Brooklyn, as well as in Nassau and Suffolk counties on Long…

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Week in Review: New York’s MMJ changes, RI committee finally meets & advocacy group forms

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By John Schroyer and Omar Sacirbey

New York tweaks its medical marijuana program, a Rhode Island MMJ committee meets eight years after its formation, and a new cannabis advocacy group is born.

Here’s a closer look at some notable developments in the marijuana industry over the past week.

Not enough change?

New York’s medical marijuana program implemented two major reforms in recent weeks: Chronic pain is now a qualifying condition, and physician assistants are permitted to certify patients for…

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New York: New Regulatory Changes To Expand Medical Marijuana Access

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NORML | March 23, 2017

ALBANY, NY — Newly enacted regulatory changes to the state’s medical cannabis program are expected to result in increased patient access.

As of this week, patients suffering from chronic pain conditions are now eligible to qualify for cannabis therapy.

In January, a National Academies review of over 10,000 scientific abstracts acknowledged that “conclusive” evidence exists to support the use of cannabis in pain treatment.

Another change in the program allows physician…

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New York’s medical marijuana reforms could expand patient pool

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Two changes to New York’s medical marijuana program – one this week and the other coming next week – could bolster the state’s lagging MMJ patient pool.

A new rule allowing physician assistants to certify patients for MMJ took effect Wednesday, the Albany Times Union reported, following an earlier regulation that permitted nurse practitioners to do the same.

And on March 22, chronic pain will formally be added to the list of qualifying conditions that allows patients to register to…

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Ex-officers of MMJ company charged in illegal transport

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Two former employees of a multistate medical cannabis company have been formally charged with illegally transporting MMJ products across state lines, from Minnesota to New York.

Both defendants, once officers of Minnesota Medical Solutions, were charged Friday with unlawfully taking cannabis oil from Minnesota to an MMJ facility in upstate New York, the Albany Times Union reported.

The newspaper said the two were the former chief medical officer and the former chief security officer. It didn’t quote either individual.


Spring 2017 MJBizConVireo Health, the…

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New York lets MMJ firms wholesale products, sell more brands

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New York regulators unveiled more steps to pump new life into the state’s struggling medical marijuana industry, including new rules allowing MMJ growers to sell their products at one another’s dispensaries to alleviate potential supply shortfalls and boost sales.

The New York State Department of Health’s changes also include an expansion in the number of products MMJ companies can manufacture and sell, the New York Business Journal reported. The wider product line should give companies more flexibility to respond to patients’ needs…

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New York Adds Chronic Pain as Qualifying Condition for Medical Marijuana Program

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New York state flag

Drug Policy Alliance | December 2, 2016

NEW YORK—The New York State Department of Health announced Thursday that they will expand New York’s beleaguered medical marijuana program by adding chronic pain as a qualifying condition under New York’s Compassionate Care Law.

This decision by the Department of Health is a victory for patient advocates and for all New Yorkers who suffer from debilitating pain,  which medical marijuana has been proven to help treat.

“Medical marijuana is a scientifically proven…

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New York: Medical Marijuana Too Expensive; Access Difficult for Most Patients

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Seventy-seven Percent of Patients & Caregivers Surveyed Who Accessed the Program Say They Cannot Afford the Medicine They Need

On January 7th 2016, New York became the 23rd state to rollout its medical marijuana program. The law, which was passed in June of 2014, took eighteen months to implement and has been criticized as being one of the most restrictive and burdensome programs in the country. Since the program was launched, patients and advocates have been frustrated by numerous barriers to accessing the program, including difficulty…

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New York Tribe to Grow, Dispense MMJ

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It looks like New York’s five medical cannabis companies will have some more competition by the end of the year. At least, they will on Long Island.

The Shinnecock Indian Nation, which has a reservation on the eastern part of Long Island, has decided to get into the MMJ business, according to the Southampton Press. The tribe plans on growing and selling MMJ by the end of the year.

But the Shinnecocks won’t necessarily have a competitive advantage, since the ordinance the tribal council…

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7 Ways New York’s Medical Marijuana Program Falls Short

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7 Ways New York’s Medical Marijuana Program Falls Short

What looks to be the country’s tightest medical marijuana program has an extremely limited number of producers and retailers, a tiny number of eligible patients, a dearth of doctors, and forbids both smoking marijuana and using edibles.

New York’s long-delayed medical marijuana program finally rolled out this month, not with a bang, but with a whimper. What looks to be the country’s tightest medical marijuana program has an extremely limited number of producers and retailers, a tiny number of eligible patients, a dearth of doctors, and…

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New York’s Medical Marijuana Program is Already a Failure

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NEW YORK, NY — New York’s medical marijuana program officially launched this week, but has gotten off to a very slow start by all accounts.

Here’s a look at New York state’s medical marijuana program by the numbers:

  • 19.75 million – New York State’s population according to the 2014 census.
  • 174 doctors have registered with the state department of health to recommend medical marijuana to patients.
  • 71 patients have enrolled in the state’s medical marijuana program.
  • 30 day supply of medical marijuana products may be purchased by…

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Despite Tight Timeline, New York’s Medical Cannabis Industry Launches on Schedule

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By Omar Sacirbey

New York’s medical marijuana industry officially launches today, less than six months after the state awarded MMJ business licenses.

Eight of the 20 dispensaries allowed in the state will begin serving patients, while the remainder will open on a rolling basis over the rest of the month, according to the New York Health Department.

Despite the symbolic significance of a large state like New York rolling out a medical marijuana program, the market opportunity is tempered by…

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New York to Launch Medical Marijuana Program Tomorrow

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Significant Concerns About the Program – Including Low Physician Enrollment – Remain

NEW YORK, NY — The New York State Department of Health (DOH) announced Tuesday that New York’s medical marijuana program will officially open on Thursday, January 7th.

While the state has authorized 20 dispensaries to open statewide, only eight will open on Thursday, with the rest slated to open later in January, leaving huge areas of the state without access to a dispensary.

This marks the first time that patients in New York can legally purchase…

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New York’s First Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Opening Thursday

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ALBANY, NY — Medical marijuana is finally coming to the Empire State.

The New York State Department of Health announced Tuesday that the state’s medical marijuana program will officially launch on Thursday, with several dispensaries opening throughout the state.

Once launched, the program will make approved forms of medical marijuana, which has been shown to help alleviate pain and enhance the quality of life for individuals suffering from certain diseases, available with a physician’s certification at designated dispensaries across New…

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New York Cannabis Company Gets Kosher Certification

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Vireo Health of New York, one of five medical marijuana companies licensed in the Empire State, announced Wednesday that all of the company’s products produced there have been certified as kosher by the Orthodox Union.

Vireo officials hope the kosher certification will help attract Jewish medical cannabis patients and reduce the stigma associated with marijuana use.

New York’s medical cannabis laws allow only non-smokable marijuana products.

The certification process included visits by…

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Early MMJ Sales in NY Could Mean Extra Business for CT Grower

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Under an “emergency” bill signed last month by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, qualified medical cannabis patients are supposed to receive expedited access to MMJ. But that hasn’t come to pass, since it’s unclear where legal products would come from. Now, however, there may be an answer: a Connecticut MMJ cultivator.

Curaleaf, a licensed Connecticut MMJ producer, told Crain’s New York Business that it could ship inventory to New York patients “tomorrow” if legal hurdles were worked…

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New York Governor Signs Medical Marijuana Emergency Access Bill

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Patients and Families Applaud Gov. Cuomo and Call on Health Department to Implement Law Quickly and Get Medicine to Critically Ill Patients

NEW YORK, NY — After months of pressure from patients and advocates, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a bill Wednesday that will expedite access to medical marijuana for critically ill patients in the Empire State.

In June, with overwhelming bipartisan support, both houses of the legislature passed A.7060 (Gottfried) / S.5086 (Griffo), directing the state to establish a program to help…

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Patients to Rally at New York Governor’s Office for Emergency Access to Medical Marijuana

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Bill That Would Provide Faster Relief to Suffering Patients Passed NYS Legislature with Overwhelming Bipartisan Support But Needs Cuomo’s Signature to Become Law

NEW YORK, NY — One day before the deadline for Governor Cuomo to sign or veto a bill that would create emergency access to medical marijuana, patients and advocates will rally outside his office to demand action.

  • When: Tuesday, November 10th, 10:00 AM
  • Where: Outside Governor Cuomo’s NYC Offices; 633 Third Avenue, New York, NY

Since the medical marijuana law passed a year ago, not…

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Seneca Nation to Explore Entering MMJ Industry

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Seneca Nation voters in western New York gave their leaders approval to explore entering the medical marijuana industry.

In a referendum that coincided with the tribe’s judicial elections, the measure passed this week 448-364, according to The Buffalo News.

The vote permits the Seneca Nation Council to draft laws and regulations to allow for the manufacture, use and distribution of medical cannabis. The measure requires further approval from the tribe’s members if the council wants to…

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New York: Medical Marijuana Emergency Access Bill Delivered to Governor’s Desk

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Advocates: Not One Patient Has Yet Received Medical Marijuana and Four Children Have Died Waiting in the Past 15 Months; Cuomo Must Sign or Take Other Action to Provide Relief to Suffering Patients

ALBANY, NY — Friday, the New York State Assembly delivered to Governor Andrew Cuomo a bill to expedite access to medical marijuana for critically ill patients.  Cuomo now has ten days to sign or veto the bill.

In June, with overwhelming bipartisan support, both houses of the legislature passed A.7060 (Gottfried) / S.5086 (Griffo), directing the…

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One Year Later, Patients & Families Demand Emergency Access to Medical Marijuana in New York

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Not One Patient Has Yet Received Medical Marijuana; Gov. Cuomo Must Sign a Emergency Access Bill or Take Other Action to Provide Relief to Suffering Patients

NEW YORK, NY — On the one year anniversary of the signing of New York’s medical marijuana law, patients and families gathered in front of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s New York City Office to urge him to sign a new bill to expedite access to medical marijuana for critically ill patients.

Since the medical marijuana law passed a year ago, not one patient in New York has been able to access medical marijuana, and at least four children, who could have likely benefited from it, have died while waiting to obtain this much-needed medicine.

“It’s a year and a half since Governor Cuomo announced in the State of the State message that he…

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New York Passes Medical Marijuana Emergency Access Bill

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Patients and Families Demand Governor Sign the Bill into Law Immediately

ALBANY, NY — Monday night, in an unusual show of bipartisan support, the New York Senate voted 50 to 12 in favor of a bill, sponsored by Senator Joe Griffo, that directs the state to establish a program to help critically ill patients obtain emergency access to medical marijuana as soon as possible.

The Assembly version, sponsored by Assemblyman Dick Gottfried, passed last week by an overwhelming majority (130-18). The bill now goes to Governor Cuomo for his signature or veto.

The passage of this bill comes almost exactly one year after the legislature passed New York’s medical marijuana law and almost ten months after the Governor urged the Health Commissioner to do everything in his power to get medical…

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Action Alert: New York Needs Medical Marijuana Emergency Access Bill

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ALBANY, NY — Nearly a year ago, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a medical cannabis bill into law after insisting on significant revisions. As a result, patients with several serious medical conditions were excluded and protections for patients waiting for the wheels of bureaucracy to turn were removed.

At least four children who could have benefited from medical cannabis have died since the bill became law, and no patients have received access to cannabis.

The Assembly has already passed this important bill  in a 130-18 vote. But if the Senate does not act this week, patients will be left in the lurch for many more months.

The Department of Health is moving forward slowly with…

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Source: The Daily Chronic

New York Assembly Passes Medical Marijuana Emergency Access Bill

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ALBANY, NY — Lawmakers in the New York Assembly have voted to approve a bill that would create a program providing emergency access to medical marijuana for patients with the most urgent needs, including children suffering from severe epilepsy.

Assembly Bill 7060, and its identical companion legislation in the Senate (Senate Bill 5086), would direct the state to establish a program to help critically ill patients obtain emergency access to medical marijuana as soon as possible.  The bill was introduced by Assembly Health Committee…

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Source: The Daily Chronic