New York has doubled the number of available medical cannabis licenses from five to 10, despite objections from current operators claiming that the demand doesn’t call for an expansion. However, according to a New York Post report, the number of registered patients has increased 70 percent since March – from 10,744 to 25,736 – following the addition of chronic pain to the qualifying condition list in December. Patients with the condition were allowed to access the program on March 21.
State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker said adding the additional licenses “will make it easier for patients across the state to obtain medical marijuana.”
“The New York State Department of Health is committed to growing the state’s Medical Marijuana Program responsibly,” he said in the report, adding that the increased competition will reduce the cost of medical cannabis products in the state and increase variety of available products.
The new producers include Fiorello Pharmaceuticals, Citiva, Terradiol, PalliaTech NY, and Valley Agriceuticals.
Fiorello plans to dispense in Midtown Manhattan, Long Island, and upstate New York; Citiva is eyeing locations in Brooklyn, Staten Island, and upstate New York; Terradiol and PalliaTech plan to dispense in Queens; and Valley Agriceuticals is planning on setting up shop in Brooklyn.
If all 10 licensed operators in the state open their four allowed dispensaries, there would be 40 retail locations total statewide.