Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
Oneida County will be getting a new Dutch-style greenhouse for growing medical marijuana.
MedMen, the medical marijuana company that started manufacturing products in Utica in January, now has an indoor growing operation at the site of the Brightwaters Farm greenhouses in North Utica, said Daniel Yi, director of communications. But it plans to transfer its operations to the new greenhouse and manufacturing facility at the same site once they're finished, he said. Yi did not know the timetable for the change.
Dutch greenhouses, which allow better manipulation of light, are often used to grow marijuana, Yi said.
The company, which took over the operations of Bloomfield Industries earlier this year, also is introducing a new product line, including five different ratios of THC and CBD, the active ingredients in marijuana, in its products. Its tinctures should be in its three dispensaries now and vaporizer pens in the coming weeks, Yi said.
"We believe that this is going to give the patients more options," he said.
And the company plans to take advantage of changing state regulations, Yi said. The New York State Department of Health announced new regulations earlier this month that would allow more types of medical marijuana products. A 30-day comment period is required before they can be adopted, however.
Earlier regulations only allowed for the sale of medical marijuana as liquids, oils or capsules. The new regulations will allow more products, such as lotions, ointments, patches, chewable and effervescent tables and lozenges. Some forms of ground plant material also will be permitted, but only in nonsmokable forms.
The new regulations make other changes, too, such as creating a shorter training course for doctors, letting manufacturers do more advertising, streamlining manufacturing requirements and changing security requirements.
That's just the latest in a series of regulatory changes to expand the program and get more doctors and patients participating. The changes help, but one big barrier remains, said Kate Hintz, state organizer for Compassionate Care NY.
"Unfortunately, most products are unaffordable for the average New Yorker," she said. "I have heard reports of 'warehouses full of products' because there is not enough patient demand. Well, I hear from hundreds of patients asking if there is financial assistance available or how they can get insurance to help cover the costs of the products."
One patient told her he was paying $4 a month for medications to treat his chronic pain, but was told that medical marijuana would cost $350 a month at the starting dose, probably rising eventually to $1,000 a month, she said.
The state Legislature also has passed a bill that would add PTSD to the list of conditions that qualify patients for the medical marijuana program. The governor has yet to sign the bill, though.
The state did add chronic pain to the program in late March, a change that significantly increased patient usage of the program.
In another recent change, the state added five more licensed operators who may grow marijuana, produce medical marijuana products and run dispensaries in early August. One of those operators, Valley Agriceuticals, plans to open the first dispensary in Oneida County. When the news was announced, the company said it was still finalizing its lease in Oneida County and there's been no news on the exact location since.
"From our global partners at Seach, one of the oldest, largest and best medical cannabis firms in Israel, to our best-in-class security team, to our medical and patient care professionals, we at Valley Agriceuticals look forward to helping ensure the Empire State has the absolute best, most patient-centered and most effective medical marijuana program in the nation," said Presidnet Erik Holling in a statement earlier this month.
The program's expansion was good news for patient advocates. Some patients face long commutes and arrive at dispensaries to find only two or three product choices on the shelf, Hintz said. And the problem is the worst in areas, such as Central and Western New York, that don't have home delivery service, she said.
"So the new dispensary locations will be most welcome, especially as you move north of the Metro area," Hintz said. "Also, additional companies will bring new and diverse product offerings for patients, which the program desperately needs."
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: New local greenhouse planned for medical marijuana - News - Uticaod - Utica, NY
Author: Amy Neff Roth
Contact: Contact - Utica, NY - Uticaod
Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Website: Uticaod: Local & World News, Sports & Entertainment in Utica, NY
MedMen, the medical marijuana company that started manufacturing products in Utica in January, now has an indoor growing operation at the site of the Brightwaters Farm greenhouses in North Utica, said Daniel Yi, director of communications. But it plans to transfer its operations to the new greenhouse and manufacturing facility at the same site once they're finished, he said. Yi did not know the timetable for the change.
Dutch greenhouses, which allow better manipulation of light, are often used to grow marijuana, Yi said.
The company, which took over the operations of Bloomfield Industries earlier this year, also is introducing a new product line, including five different ratios of THC and CBD, the active ingredients in marijuana, in its products. Its tinctures should be in its three dispensaries now and vaporizer pens in the coming weeks, Yi said.
"We believe that this is going to give the patients more options," he said.
And the company plans to take advantage of changing state regulations, Yi said. The New York State Department of Health announced new regulations earlier this month that would allow more types of medical marijuana products. A 30-day comment period is required before they can be adopted, however.
Earlier regulations only allowed for the sale of medical marijuana as liquids, oils or capsules. The new regulations will allow more products, such as lotions, ointments, patches, chewable and effervescent tables and lozenges. Some forms of ground plant material also will be permitted, but only in nonsmokable forms.
The new regulations make other changes, too, such as creating a shorter training course for doctors, letting manufacturers do more advertising, streamlining manufacturing requirements and changing security requirements.
That's just the latest in a series of regulatory changes to expand the program and get more doctors and patients participating. The changes help, but one big barrier remains, said Kate Hintz, state organizer for Compassionate Care NY.
"Unfortunately, most products are unaffordable for the average New Yorker," she said. "I have heard reports of 'warehouses full of products' because there is not enough patient demand. Well, I hear from hundreds of patients asking if there is financial assistance available or how they can get insurance to help cover the costs of the products."
One patient told her he was paying $4 a month for medications to treat his chronic pain, but was told that medical marijuana would cost $350 a month at the starting dose, probably rising eventually to $1,000 a month, she said.
The state Legislature also has passed a bill that would add PTSD to the list of conditions that qualify patients for the medical marijuana program. The governor has yet to sign the bill, though.
The state did add chronic pain to the program in late March, a change that significantly increased patient usage of the program.
In another recent change, the state added five more licensed operators who may grow marijuana, produce medical marijuana products and run dispensaries in early August. One of those operators, Valley Agriceuticals, plans to open the first dispensary in Oneida County. When the news was announced, the company said it was still finalizing its lease in Oneida County and there's been no news on the exact location since.
"From our global partners at Seach, one of the oldest, largest and best medical cannabis firms in Israel, to our best-in-class security team, to our medical and patient care professionals, we at Valley Agriceuticals look forward to helping ensure the Empire State has the absolute best, most patient-centered and most effective medical marijuana program in the nation," said Presidnet Erik Holling in a statement earlier this month.
The program's expansion was good news for patient advocates. Some patients face long commutes and arrive at dispensaries to find only two or three product choices on the shelf, Hintz said. And the problem is the worst in areas, such as Central and Western New York, that don't have home delivery service, she said.
"So the new dispensary locations will be most welcome, especially as you move north of the Metro area," Hintz said. "Also, additional companies will bring new and diverse product offerings for patients, which the program desperately needs."
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: New local greenhouse planned for medical marijuana - News - Uticaod - Utica, NY
Author: Amy Neff Roth
Contact: Contact - Utica, NY - Uticaod
Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Website: Uticaod: Local & World News, Sports & Entertainment in Utica, NY
