The announcement comes after Gov. Andrew Cuomo on July 7 signed into law the legalization of marijuana for seriously ill or injured patients.

 

It will be allowable in non-smokeable forms. Medical marijuana advocates have been clamoring for the state to speed up the process, saying patients, particularly sick children, need the drug as soon as possible.

 

"This represents an important step in implementing the medical marijuana program in New York State," said acting Health Commissioner Howard Zucker in a statement. "We have laid out an ambitious timeline in getting the program up and running and we are meeting our goals. Once the applications are in, we can begin our review and move to the next step of selecting the registered organizations this summer."

 

The state expects to register the companies selected by July.

 

After the law was approved, it started an 18-month clock for the health department have the program up and running. The program will allow state-certified doctors to prescribe the drug to patients with cancer, epilepsy and other serious diseases and conditions.

 

The state plans to award five contracts to private marijuana growers, who will each be permitted to open up to four dispensaries to distribute the drug to certified patients across the state. State officials have estimated it would take about nine months to grow the marijuana.

 

The new law will only allow the drug in non-smokeable forms, including pills, oils and vapors.

 

Applicants are required to provide detailed plans about their operations and must pay a $10,000 non-refundable application fee in addition to a $200,000 registration fee, the health department said.

 

The $200,000 registration fee will be refunded to entities that are not issued a registration.

 

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