Medical Marijuana Growers Gear Up for Opening Day

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Growing a plant that’s still illegal to cultivate under most circumstances requires special growing practices. But companies in New York say they expect to meet a Jan. 1 deadline to get medical marijuana on the market.

The state granted five licenses for growing legal marijuana for medicinal purposes in July, and qualifying patients must have a special prescription to get it. Forty-three companies vied for the five available licenses; one of the stipulations was being ready to dispense by Jan. 1.

Chuck Schmitt, director of horticulture for Vireo Health of New York, which manufactures in Fulton County and will dispense in Broome, Albany, Westchester and Queens counties, said the company is on target for the Jan. 1 launch date.

“I’ve been surprised how eager the plants are to grow,” he said. “They’re native to most of the world, so they can survive in a variety of environments.”

Four other companies...

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