From today until August 31, Vireo Health of New York is offering free medical cannabis delivery to some patients in parts of New York City’s five boroughs, Suffolk, Nassau, and Westchester. The company was approved by the state Department of Health to deliver medical cannabis products in January and began making deliveries in April.
The “From our Greenhouse to Your Front Door” delivery program is aimed to serve individuals suffering from life-threatening or debilitating diseases which have left them homebound. Patients will be able to use the service for free up to three times during the summer promotion; typically, the standard delivery fee is $20.
Ari Hoffnung, Vireo Health of New York CEO, said the campaign is “designed to help keep costs down for patients” while introducing them to the service.
“Medical marijuana patients in New York struggle with serious diseases and will appreciate taking the ‘schlep to a dispensary in 100-degree weather’ item off their summer to-do lists,” he said in a press release.
Dr. Stephen Dahmer, Vireo chief medical officer, explained that many of the company’s patients are 65-and-older, leaving them “vulnerable to heat-related health complications.”
“We have always been staunch advocates of expanded access for patients,” he said. “Improving access to home delivery for these patients is especially important during the summer.”
Vireo Health is one of just five licensed medical cannabis producers in the state and was the first company to receive Health Department approval to deliver products to patients.