Vireo gets nod to operate NY’s first medical cannabis delivery service

Regulators have given Vireo Health of New York the go-ahead to deliver medical marijuana to its patients, making it the first cannabis business in the state to get such approval.

Vireo’s delivery service comes in response to a new state regulation intended to boost New York’s struggling MMJ program by making the medicine more accessible to patients.

The company said in a press release it would be able to start deliveries within 90 days, though delivery pricing and other details will be announced later.

Vireo, one of five companies licensed to grow, produce and distribute medical cannabis in New York, said its delivery program – dubbed “from our greenhouse to your front door” – was designed by a team of security experts, pharmacists and physicians.

Because regulations prohibit licensed cannabis companies in New York from outsourcing services, every MMJ delivery will be handled by two Vireo employees, the company said. In addition, Vireo’s delivery vehicles will have safety devices such as GPS tracking.

New York officials approved medical marijuana deliveries in August, one of several measures taken in recent months to help a program that has struggled since launching a little more than a year ago. Through Jan. 9, 816 doctors and nurse practitioners were certified to recommend medical marijuana to the 12,247 patients registered in the state.