Robert Celt
New Member
Only 16 of the 20 medical marijuana dispensaries in New York state are scheduled to be open by the end of January.
The state's top health official, Dr. Howard Zucker, told lawmakers Monday that he is pleased with the progress of the medical marijuana program, which began operating Jan. 7.
Zucker said the program had been implemented faster than any other medical marijuana program in the country.
The pace of the program's rollout has frustrated some patient advocates. Only 300 physicians have registered for the program and 350 patients have enrolled, Zucker told lawmakers at a budget briefing.
"We've reached out to all physicians in the state about this," he said.
While 20 locations for patients to purchase medical marijuana are planned, only eight opened on the first day of the program. Ten are now open, according to the Department of Health's website.
Three dispensaries are located in Albany and two operated by Etain LLC and PharmaCann are now operational, according to the state's site.
The limited availability of the marijuana and the small number of patients has led to some questions about the revenue expected from the program. The state's budget projects about $4 million in revenue from the medical marijuana program for the next fiscal year and $1 million for the current fiscal year.
Zucker said there is revenue from the medical marijuana program included in the budget but he did not have specifics.
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Won't All Be Open By End Of January
Author: Marie J. French
Contact: Albany Business Review
Photo Credit: Donna Abbott
Website: Albany Business Review
The state's top health official, Dr. Howard Zucker, told lawmakers Monday that he is pleased with the progress of the medical marijuana program, which began operating Jan. 7.
Zucker said the program had been implemented faster than any other medical marijuana program in the country.
The pace of the program's rollout has frustrated some patient advocates. Only 300 physicians have registered for the program and 350 patients have enrolled, Zucker told lawmakers at a budget briefing.
"We've reached out to all physicians in the state about this," he said.
While 20 locations for patients to purchase medical marijuana are planned, only eight opened on the first day of the program. Ten are now open, according to the Department of Health's website.
Three dispensaries are located in Albany and two operated by Etain LLC and PharmaCann are now operational, according to the state's site.
The limited availability of the marijuana and the small number of patients has led to some questions about the revenue expected from the program. The state's budget projects about $4 million in revenue from the medical marijuana program for the next fiscal year and $1 million for the current fiscal year.
Zucker said there is revenue from the medical marijuana program included in the budget but he did not have specifics.
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Won't All Be Open By End Of January
Author: Marie J. French
Contact: Albany Business Review
Photo Credit: Donna Abbott
Website: Albany Business Review
