New York state picks 5 to grow, dispense medical marijuana

Among the winners, Bloomfield Industries was selected to manufacture medical marijuana in Queens and run four dispensaries, including one in Nassau.

Rochester, NY (WROC)- The New York State Department of Health today announced its selection of five organizations to be issued licenses to manufacture and dispense medical marijuana. The company plans dispensaries in Monroe County, as well as Manhattan and Suffolk and Clinton counties.

Each of those companies will be able to open up to four dispensaries. CBS6 News has been contacting applicants to see where they would place production and dispensary facilities if they are granted a license.

Queens will get a dispenary, operated by Empire State Health Solutions, headquarted in Fulton County, just west of Albany. Dispensing in Erie, Onondaga, Albany, and Bronx.

Forty-three applications were submitted to the state on June 5, out of which five were chosen.

The state Health Department disclosed only the applicants’ corporate names, and offered no opportunity for public input during the decision-making process, before selecting the five licensees. Herbal Agriculture is owned by some owners of Modern Disposal and has a greenhouse in Lewiston.

Medical marijuana will be available for sale in January 2016.

Patients will be given a registration card after getting approval from a qualified physician. Patients with qualifying conditions like cancer, AIDS or epilepsy will be authorized to obtain only non-smokeable versions of the drug.