State Health Dept. vague on medical-marijuana startup

The state Health Department isn’t committing to “opening” New York’s medical-marijuana program tomorrow as previously scheduled — but merely saying some time this month.

Approved in 2014, the medical-marijuana program will feature 20 dispensaries statewide and one each in Nassau and Suffolk counties. The state has opened a “patient certification and registration” process, though it’s unclear how quickly any patients will actually receive medical marijuana.

A manufacturer previously told Newsday the state was still working through packaging and pricing issues, which might delay the start. Last week, the Health Department didn’t answer questions about the precise start date, packaging or pricing issues.

— Yancey Roy