Answer:

There are presently 10 Registered Organizations (“ROs”) that were set up under the Compassionate Care Act to provide for New York's medical marijuana patients.

            Each Registered Organization is “vertically operated” meaning that each RO cultivates, processes, and sells medical cannabis to their registered patients. Under the vertical system, each RO has one cultivation site and four dispensary satellites from which they dispense medical marijuana to their patients.

            With the passage of the “Marihuana Regulation and Taxation Act” on March 31, 2021, the ROs may be entitled to expand to an additional four satellite outlets and may be able to dispense adult use cannabis rather than just medical products. The MRTA requires that at least 2 of the additional satellites be established in “underserved” communities. The specifics of the expansion of the medical program and the ability of the ROs to enter into the adult use market will be elaborated upon in the rules that are to be promulgated by the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) and the Cannabis Control Board (CCB) which will oversee all aspects of the adult use, medical, and hemp programs.