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’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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Week in Review: Seniors + MMJ, Oregon faces changes & Cannabis Caucus debuts

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By Omar Sacirbey, Bart Schaneman and John Schroyer

A medical marijuana company in New York lands a nursing home deal, Oregon may align the state’s MMJ and recreational programs under one regulator, and the Cannabis Caucus officially launches.

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

Cannabis in nursing homes

Etain Health of New York made waves when it announced it landed an agreement to supply MMJ products to a Bronx nursing home.

Under the deal, Etain will help health personnel become…

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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 MMJ dispensary offers repeat-customer discount

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Hoping to increase its medical marijuana patient numbers, MMJ business operator Etain Health in New York will introduce a repeat customer discount plan for purchases of its medicine.

It’s the latest incentive offered by one of the state’s five licensed MMJ operators, which have struggled with low patient counts and high prices for their medication.


Trump ReportStarting Tuesday, patients at Etain’s four dispensaries will receive a $5 discount for every $100 spent on medication, the Albany Times-Union reported. The discount increases in $5…

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States with the best chance to legalize cannabis in 2017?

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Marijuana legalization

By John Schroyer

After a landmark year in cannabis legalization, marijuana advocates have plenty of work left. And they’re not resting on their laurels.

The Marijuana Policy Project calculates a whopping 38 legalization bills for medical or recreational marijuana are likely to be introduced in 33 states and the District of Columbia in 2017.

“There’s more support for marijuana policy reform than ever before among the public, and that appears to be reflected in state lawmakers’ views as well,” said Mason Tvert, the advocacy group’s…

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High-end cannabis pipe maker sues to defend trademark

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Roor, one of the best-known names in cannabis smoking utensils, has filed almost 200 lawsuits since 2013 to protect its trademark against smoke shop and convenience store owners in California, Florida and New York for allegedly selling counterfeit products bearing the company’s name.

The German company and its American licensee, Sream of Corona, California, hold U.S. Trademark No. 3675839 to protect its fashionable pipes and bongs sold with the Roor mark – the company’s name with the second “r” capitalized and facing backward,…

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Week in Review: Sessions’ sleight of hand, scofflaws in CA & risky business in NY

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By John Schroyer, Bart Schaneman and Omar Sacirbey

Attorney general nominee Jeff Sessions plays his cannabis-enforcement views close to the vest, dispensaries sidestep California’s adult-use law, and an L.A. marijuana company attempts a risky rescue in New York.

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

Sessions hints at future enforcement

The likely next attorney general of the United States hinted at what may be to come for cannabis businesses during his first day of confirmation…

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High Times leaving longtime NYC base for Los Angeles

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High Times magazine announced plans to leave New York City – where it has been headquartered for 43 years – for Los Angeles by the end of April.

The reason for the move?

“The center of the cannabis universe has moved to California,” said Matt Stang, High Times’ chief revenue officer, according to Crain’s New York Business.


Precision Extraction SolutionsHigh Times employs about 30 people at its Manhattan office, but it’s unclear how many of them will move to Los Angeles, where the magazine also plans to hire local staff.

The magazine has been buoyed by the…

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Vireo gets nod to operate NY’s first medical cannabis delivery service

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Regulators have given Vireo Health of New York the go-ahead to deliver medical marijuana to its patients, making it the first cannabis business in the state to get such approval.

Verio’s delivery service comes in response to a new state regulation intended to boost New York’s struggling MMJ program by making the medicine more accessible to patients.

The company said in a press release it would be able to start deliveries within 90 days, though delivery pricing and other details will be announced later.


Precision Extraction SolutionsVireo, one of five companies…

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MedMen acquires troubled New York medical cannabis licensee

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MedMen, a California-based marijuana management and consulting firm, has acquired Bloomfield Industries, a financially troubled New York cannabis business license holder that in recent months has been unable to pay vendors and has been casting for new investors.


Precision Extraction SolutionsA New York Health Department spokeswoman emphasized to Politico that Bloomfield would not be transferring its license to MedMen, a move that is prohibited under state cannabis business laws. Rather, she described the transaction as a change in ownership, which is permitted if…

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Possibility of new competition concerns New York’s existing medical cannabis companies

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NewYorkMedicalMarijuana

By Omar Sacirbey

Medical marijuana businesses in New York are hopeful that recent and proposed changes to the state’s MMJ program will increase patient numbers and boost sales.

But the five existing companies, currently operating below their capacities, worry those gains could be negated by plans to allow newcomers to enter the market.

“Adding new registered organizations will divide up the patients even more. They need to fix the demand side first and then adjust supply,” said Jeremy Unruh, general counsel at PharmaCann, one of 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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Week in Review: Lift for New York market, anti-MJ Trump choice & Canada rec development

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By Omar Sacirbey, John Schroyer and Bart Schaneman

New York’s lagging medical cannabis trade receives some good news, Donald Trump picks another marijuana critic for his cabinet, and Canada considers giving MMJ companies a leg up in the recreational market.

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

Conditional love

Medical marijuana businesses in New York, one of the most restrictive MMJ markets in the country, likely will receive a much-needed boost now that regulators have added…

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New York adds chronic pain to medical cannabis conditions list

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New York health regulators took a major step Thursday toward boosting the state’s fledgling medical marijuana industry by adding chronic pain to the list of treatable conditions for MMJ.

The state’s health department said it is drafting rules to allow doctors to recommend chronic pain, although it didn’t spell out the symptoms that will qualify, the Journal News reported. The state currently has 10 qualifying conditions for MMJ, including cancer, Lou Gehrig’s disease and epilepsy.


Marijuana Business License DirectoryThe addition of chronic pain could provide a major…

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Chart: New York Medical Marijuana Patient Count Rising, But Still Has Long Way to Go

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COTW Draft 2

By Eli McVey

After an abysmal start, New York’s fledgling medical marijuana program is finally building momentum.

Since late January – shortly after the first dispensaries opened – the number of registered patients has grown by an average of 32% a month.

There are now around 7,600 medical cannabis patients in the state, up 1,500% from 481 nearly eight months ago.

But the overall total remains small relative to New York’s market potential, and the state’s licensed medical cannabis companies are still struggling.

New York’s MMJ…

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New York Medical Marijuana Company Claims First Labor Pact

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Medical marijuana producer Vireo Health has signed what it claims is the first agreement with organized labor in New York State.

According to the Daily Gazette, Vireo, which holds cannabis business licenses in New York, Maryland and Minnesota, has entered into an agreement with Local 338 of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union. The union will represent all of Vireo’s current New York workers, and covers all future employees as well.

Vireo has dispensaries in Albany, Johnson City, Queens and White Plains, and claims to be the…

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Week in Review: Dueling Ballot Measures, MT Dispensaries Close, New York Aims for Reform

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By John Schroyer

Arkansas makes what could be an offbeat piece of medical marijuana history, Montana’s MMJ industry comes to at least a temporary end, and New York officials look to bolster the state’s medical cannabis industry.

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

Two for the Price of One?

Arkansas will be an interesting state to watch on Election Day.

It’s apparently the first state to have a pair of competing medical marijuana legalization measures on the ballot vying for…

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New York Takes Steps to Expand State’s Medical Cannabis Program

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New York’s health department said Tuesday it will expand the state’s medical marijuana program by creating a home delivery system and allowing nurse practitioners to certify patients for MMJ.

The department also is expected ultimately to increase the number of licensed MMJ businesses in a bid to pump new life into New York’s medical cannabis industry, which has been slow to ramp up.

In addition, Newsday reported that the health department said it will review the inclusion of chronic pain as a qualifying condition.

MJBizCrashCourseSuch a move could open…

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Marley Natural Expanding Across State Lines

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A cannabis company sporting a legendary name is expanding into multiple states, joining a limited number of marijuana businesses that have crossed state lines.

Marley Natural, which is backed by Seattle-based Privateer Holdings, first launched in California in February and is now available in Oregon, in dispensaries in Portland and Eugene. Further expansion across the state is on the way.

A Marley Natural spokesman said in an email the company plans to have cannabis products on shelves in Washington State this fall. It also has “team…

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Week in Review: Growth Potential in New York, Oregon Rec Market Red Hot & MI Stumbles

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By John Schroyer

New York’s health department recommends doubling the size of the state’s medical marijuana industry, Oregon recreational applications flood in as adult-use sales skyrocket, and Michigan’s MJ legal limbo may persist a few more years.

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

Doubling Down

In a rare move for a state agency, the New York State Department of Health this week issued a report recommending – among other things – that the number of MMJ business licenses

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New York Growing Hemp for First Time in 80 Years

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Madison County, just east of Syracuse, New York, is home to the first legal industrial hemp crop in the state in 80 years.

And thanks to a bill signed into law on Friday by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, the cultivators will be allowed to sell it under an existing pilot program, according to the Journal News.

The bill was necessary because the 2014 law that launched the current hemp crop only allowed farmers and universities to grow the plant for research purposes.

JD Farms, which is working hand in hand with Morrisville State College on the project, is…

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