Now that you have an NYS MMJ card, you are probably wondering how to find a suitable medical marijuanas dispensary in New York State. Or, it could be that you are still planning to get a medical marijuana card. But hey, it won’t hurt to know where to go to find your perfect cannabis product, right?
There are about 40 dispensaries in New York, all ran by ten state-licensed marijuana companies across the state. Though the use of recreational marijuana has not gained full traction in New York, these dispensaries offer various state-mandated cannabis products. Thus, we believe it would be quite handy to know where to find them.
The New NYS Medical Marijuana Laws
Following Governor Cuomo’s approval of the Marijuana Regulation & Taxation Act (MRTA) on March 31, 2021, New York became the 15th state to legalize adult-use cannabis. This act establishes the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM), which will oversee all concerns related to cannabis – medical marijuana, recreational marijuana, hemp, and other cannabis products. For folks that love to use cannabis leisurely, this means that as long as you are older than 21, you can hold up to 24g of cannabis concentrate and 3 ounces (85g) of cannabis at any given time.
For certified patients with an MMJ card, you can possess up to a 60-day supply of any state-mandated cannabis product at any given time. Additionally, certified patients –
- have access to whole cannabis flowers
- can cultivate cannabis for personal medical use
- may assign up to five (5) individuals to serve as their designated caregiver
- with cancer, HIV/AIDS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, etc., are now qualified for medical marijuana use.
There are some other implications of the new law and the OCM has a few initiatives underway for the transitioning. You can click here to read a detailed brief, or check out our blog post on NYS MMJ.
How to Find a Medical Marijuanas Dispensary in NYS
When you think of an NYS medical cannabis dispensary, you should think of it as any other doctor’s office. Hence, you want to be sure that your dispensary offers a safe and supportive environment that provides access to your medical marijuana needs — and in a professional manner, too. Some of the things to expect from a reputable dispensary offering you access to medical marijuana in New York include:
- Consistency – be sure they are consistent with both supplies and product quality.
- Legal operation – make sure it is a state-authorized dispensary, operating within the tenets of legal protocols.
- Privacy – review their patients’ rights and privacy policies. You want to be sure your information and rights are protected.
- Professionalism – opt for a dispensary with an authorized medical professional who is well informed in the production and application of medical marijuana.
The Best Medical Marijuana Dispensaries in New York State
Vireo Health
Vireo Health is arguably one of the top dispensaries in the country. Famous for its impeccable delivery service, in-store staff performance, and discounts, this dispensary also offers a wide array of medical cannabis-based products for various conditions.
Their color-coded product lines boast a broad spectrum of medical marijuana offers. And don’t worry: their knowledgeable pharmacists can help you make a choice that would be most suitable for you.
Aside from their home delivery services, you can also schedule to get their products in some third-party MMJ dispensaries near you. As part of the pandemic protocol, patients are encouraged to opt for their online services and wear a mask when visiting the dispensary.
Columbia Care Dispensary
The first thing you probably notice is the warm ambiance of the Columbia Care dispensary. The friendliness and professionalism of the staff is absolutely undeniable! This NY dispensary offers full-spectrum cannabis and hemp CBD brands for health and wellness purposes.
You can access their products and services using any NY MMJ card. Their offers also span across CBD and THC products, with their low-THC, high-CBD products being available for patients seeking non-euphoric care. Columbia Care boasts a patient-oriented approach, offering virtual pharmacist consultations, online purchases, and curbside pick-ups. They also involve in a variety of cannabis community initiatives across research, advocacy, and education. Their dispensaries are conformant to pandemic protocols.
Curaleaf
Curaleaf is undoubtedly one of the top choice dispensaries in New York. On the one hand, for their expansive catalog of cannabis products and cannabis-related products, from some of the most awesome edibles to vape cartridges. On the other hand, for their fantastic customer services, from tailored and detailed consultations, secure environments to up to 30% initial discounts and subsequent reward programs.
The dispensary is also intentional about inclusivity, both in their staffing process and in their fair approach to patients from varying backgrounds. Curaleaf takes pride in its home-grown, pure, lab-tested products, which are certified to be natural and consistent. Additionally, they are also part of the industry leaders in cannabis research, community engagements, and advocacy. They adhere to pandemic protocols and are open to various delivery options – home delivery, curbside pick-up, etc.
Sunnyside
Sunnyside is a retail brand of Cresco Labs, which is well known across the United States for its impacts via university collaborations and various organizations to make the cannabis industry progressive and inclusive.
Their medical marijuanas dispensary in NYS has some of the best prices you would get on NYS medical marijuana products. And that is coupled with an ever-friendly staff ready to attend to your needs from the get-go. Sunnyside’s array of medical cannabis products include vapes, tinctures, flower, edibles, beverages, concentrates, prerolls, etc. Sunnyside is also very LGBTQ-friendly, offering a Pride Guide initiative that explores wellness, legal love, and legal cannabis. They adhere to pandemic protocols and offer various delivery options.
MedMen
MedMen provides a trendy, upscale environment for the dispensation of marijuana products to certified MMJ cardholders. One of their most special fortes is how they make it straightforward and effortless for patients to shop securely and with utmost comfort while gaining guiding knowledge on the most suitable strains for their conditions.
Arguably, MedMen has one of the most extensive catalogs of MMJ products, so you can feel confident that you are likely to find what you are looking for in their dispensary. They also offer various discounts on their products for first-time patients, military vets, and discounts via insurance.
How to Find Your Ideal Medical Marijuanas Dispensary in NYS
Moved to NYS recently? New MMJ user? Or, have you just never had much luck finding an ideal state-authorized dispensary for your supplies? Regardless of the situation, finding a suitable dispensary might be a bit tricky, but it is not an impossible task. Depending on your condition, orientation, or what you are looking for, there is a shop for everyone. And you can find yours pretty quickly when you consider the brief guideline below.
- Check their online product catalog to know if they have the product you are looking for or its variant.
- The store should be neat and welcoming with a friendly staff.
- Confirm that they have highly trained staff, pharmacists, or doctors on-call. This is necessary if you are looking for professional recommendations.
- Security; as much as you want to shop in a secure environment, seeing heavy security in or around a dispensary could mean that more than you might bargain for is going on in the dispensary. Nevertheless, a dispensary should be secure.
- Confirm that you can shop online and that delivery is speedy. Depending on your condition or time constraint, you might not want to visit the shop for your supplies always.
- In-store wait time should not be more than 30 minutes or unnecessarily long after online booking.
Turning to Telemedicine for Your NYS MMJ Card
Telemedicine makes getting your NYS MMJ card easier than ever before. Through platforms like Elevate Holsitics, we work with patients one-on-one to help them get their state medical marijuana card effortlessly. Even if you’re someone who doesn’t necessarily do well with computers, our services are effortless.
Right now, Elevate Holistics doesn’t currently service New York state. However, we would never leave you hanging! Our partners over at Heally serve NYS medical marijuana patients, helping you get your card just as you would with us. Schedule an appointment here, or check out Elevate’s other services, and start your NYS MMJ journey today.
