An Overview
NYS Medical Cannabis Program
In 2016, New York State implemented the Medical Cannabis Program. In March 2021, the Marihuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA) amended the program and improved access for medical patients with the implementation of regulations including but not limited to the expansion of qualifying medical conditions, the increase in the number of caregivers a patient may designate, and the expansion of available product categories and dispensing limits. Over the last 7 years, the Medical Program has allowed thousands of New Yorkers to gain access to safe, lab tested medical cannabis treatment and has laid the foundation for the equitable adult-use cannabis market in New York State.
Medical Cannabis Program as of April 1, 2025
Registered Patients – 94,460
Certifying Practitioners – 4,532
Program Highlights
Countless NYS certified patients like Jon have found relief from symptoms like pain, nausea, and more with medical cannabis.
Each medical cannabis dispensary in NYS is required to have a pharmacist like Dr. Duclas M. Charles, PharmD, on-site to help patients find the right product.
With more than 4,000 NYS certifying healthcare providers like Dr. Nasim Chowdhury, M.D., more patients can find products that may help them find relief and improve their quality of life.
Overview
Medical-Use Good Manufacturing Practices
All adult-use cannabis products and medical-use cannabis products must be processed in accordance with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards, as applicable for the type of cannabis or cannabis product being processed. All licensees or registrants must maintain GMP standards in their processing facility operations for the duration of the license period. There are NO exceptions to the requirement to process cannabis in accordance with GMP requirements.
Good Manufacturing Practice Audit Requirements:
- Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) is a quality control system for ensuring that products are consistently produced and controlled in accordance with current federal regulations 21 CFR Parts 111 or 117 established by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
- Within one (1) year of commencing licensed/registered operations the licensee/registrant must submit proof of a qualified third-party GMP audit, of the licensee’s extraction and/or manufacturing processes, as applicable, to the satisfaction of the Office.
NOTE: Adult-Use Cannabis Type 3 processor licensees and microbusiness licensees may request a conditional exemption under certain conditions, such as limited processing activities related to packaging, labeling, and branding of specified products. Conditional exemptions apply exclusively to those specific product types and activities and are contingent upon submission of a conditional exemption request and written approval from the Office.
Guidance regarding GMP audit requirements can be found here:
Additional Adult-Use GMP Resources