Michelle Bodner, president of PalliaTech NY, operating the dispensary under the brand name
Curaleaf New York, talks with State Senator William Larkin
TOWN OF NEWBURGH – Orange County’s first medical marijuana
dispensary was formally opened in the Town of Newburgh on Thursday as
politicians and area residents gathered to mark the occasion.
This is the first of four dispensaries Curaleaf New York will open in the state. Purchase of the medical-grade cannabis requires written approval by a physician authorized for that purpose.
The cannabis can be used to provide relief to patients suffering from cancer, chronic pain, PTSD and other serious illnesses, said Becky Dekeuster, director of patient outreach for the company.
“We are fortunate to be able every day to hear from patients things like, ‘thank you for the best night’s sleep I’ve gotten in three months, in a year,” Dekeuster said. “My neuropathic pain is reduced. It is very heartening to be able to do work for the good that helps people so much.”
State Senator William Larkin broke the deadlock in two Senate committees paving the way for passage of the law allowing the sales.
“When we started this issue, we were very clear that we wanted to have something that could help parents, not add to drugs, but to do something that would provide them with an outlet to help themselves, their families,” Larkin said.
Other medical marijuana company dispensaries are in Kingston and White Plains.
