Hundreds flock to medical marijuana store
Got pot? Curaleaf in Newburgh does.
Curaleaf had over 100 new customers come to their grand opening last week. The company owns multiple dispensaries in different states across the Northeast. This is the second medical cannabis store opened in the Mid-Hudson Valley region, the other being Etain Health in Kingston. Legislative action began when patients suffering from cancer, athritis, seizures, glaucoma and chronic pain looked desperately for a legal remedy to alleviate their ailments.
New York State Senator Bill Larkin was an advocate for the passing of the marijuana bill back in 2014. Larkin has gone on the record saying, “It’s critical to give access to those who are ill and the opening of dispensaries is a community effort.”
Access has begun for New York residents, as 49,780 medical marijuana patients received their medical cards as of April 1, according to the latest info from the New York State Department of Health. The opening of Curaleaf in mid-March provides extended availability for patients in need. The store has a staff of 13, one being a pharmacist.
Director of operations Mike Conway has made it a point that Curaleaf is a place that is safe and comfortable. “We have a state-of-the-art security system and we made it very intentional to have floor-to-ceiling windows with a lot of glass so people can see in. This is specifically to show that we’re not doing anything that anyone should be ashamed of in here,” he said.
The dispensary offers a number of options for patients based on preference, including capsules, oils, tablets and under-the-tongue strips. “We run this just like a community pharmacy. We want customers to feel that when they’re coming in from the outside, there’s nothing to be scared of,” Conway added.
Michelle Bodner, the president of Curaleaf, says the location is what makes it so great. “It’s located off of Exit 10 on I-84, so it has high visibility and is very easy for many people to get to.”
If you’re thinking about getting your hands on some medical marijuana, hold your horses.
In order to qualify, you must be at least 21-years-old, possess a New York State ID and medical marijuana card, along with a certification from a doctor. Also, Curaleaf products are not yet covered under Medicaid, so the price will be out of pocket if a medical card is not provided.
Curaleaf is a chain of cannabis dispensaries that also has stores located in Connecticut, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, Maine, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The company hopes to expand into Upstate New York soon, as a “cultivation center” based in Albany has plans to open in the summer, presumably to grow more products.
