Section 34 - Registered organizations1. A registered organization shall be a for-profit business entity or not-for-profit corporation organized for the purpose of acquiring, possessing, manufacturing, selling, delivering, transporting, distributing or dispensing cannabis for certified medical use.2. The acquiring, possession, manufacture, sale, delivery, transporting, distributing or dispensing of medical cannabis by a registered organization under this article in accordance with its registration under this article or a renewal thereof shall be lawful under this chapter.3. Each registered organization shall contract with an independent laboratory permitted by the board to test the medical cannabis produced by the registered organization. The board shall approve the laboratories used by the registered organization, including sampling and testing protocols and standards used by the laboratories, and may require that the registered organization use a particular testing laboratory. The board is authorized to issue regulations requiring the laboratory to perform certain tests and services.4.(a) A registered organization may lawfully, in good faith, sell, deliver, distribute or dispense medical cannabis to a certified patient or designated caregiver upon presentation to the registered organization of a valid registry identification card for that certified patient or designated caregiver. When presented with the registry identification card, the registered organization shall provide to the certified patient or designated caregiver a receipt, which shall state: the name, address, and registry identification number of the registered organization; the name and registry identification number of the certified patient and the designated caregiver, if any; the date the cannabis was sold; any recommendation or limitation by the practitioner as to the form or forms of medical cannabis or dosage for the certified patient; and the form and the quantity of medical cannabis sold. The registered organization shall retain a copy of the registry identification card and the receipt for six years and shall make such records available to the office.(b) The proprietor of a registered organization shall file or cause to be filed any receipt and certification information with the office by electronic means on a real-time basis as the board shall require by regulation. When filing receipt and certification information electronically pursuant to this paragraph, the proprietor of the registered organization shall dispose of any electronically recorded prescription information in such manner as the board shall by regulation require.5.(a) No registered organization may sell, deliver, distribute or dispense to any certified patient or designated caregiver a quantity of medical cannabis larger than that individual would be allowed to possess under this chapter.(b) When dispensing medical cannabis to a certified patient or designated caregiver, the registered organization: (i) shall not dispense an amount greater than a sixty-day supply to a certified patient until the certified patient has exhausted all but a seven day supply provided pursuant to a previously issued certification; and (ii) shall verify the information in subparagraph (i) of this paragraph by consulting the prescription monitoring program registry under this article.(c) Medical cannabis dispensed to a certified patient or designated caregiver by a registered organization shall conform to any recommendation or limitation by the practitioner as to the form or forms of medical cannabis or dosage for the certified patient.6. When a registered organization sells, delivers, distributes or dispenses medical cannabis to a certified patient or designated caregiver, it shall provide to that individual a safety insert, developed by the registered organization subject to regulations issued by the board and include, but not be limited to, information on:(a) methods for administering medical cannabis,(b) any potential dangers stemming from the use of medical cannabis,(c) how to recognize what may be problematic usage of medical cannabis and obtain appropriate services or treatment for problematic usage, and(d) other information as determined by the board.7. Registered organizations shall not be managed by or employ anyone who has been convicted within three years of the date of hire, of any felony related to the functions or duties of operating a business, except that if the board determines that the manager or employee is otherwise suitable to be hired, and hiring the manager or employee would not compromise public safety, the board shall conduct a thorough review of the nature of the crime, conviction, circumstances, and evidence of rehabilitation of the manager or employee, and shall evaluate the suitability of the manager or employee based on the evidence found through the review. In determining which offenses are substantially related to the functions or duties of operating a business, the board shall include, but not be limited to, the following: (a) a felony conviction involving fraud, money laundering, forgery and other unlawful conduct related to owning and operating a business; and(b) a felony conviction for hiring, employing or using a minor in transporting, carrying, selling, giving away, preparing for sale, or peddling, any controlled substance, or selling, offering to sell, furnishing, offering to furnish, administering, or giving any controlled substance to a minor. A felony conviction for the sale or possession of drugs, narcotics, or controlled substances is not substantially related. This subdivision shall only apply to managers or employees who come into contact with or handle medical cannabis.
8. Manufacturing of medical cannabis by a registered organization shall only be done in a secure facility located in New York state, which may include a greenhouse. The board shall promulgate regulations establishing requirements for such facilities.9. Dispensing of medical cannabis by a registered organization shall only be done in an indoor, enclosed, secure facility located in New York state. The board shall promulgate regulations establishing requirements for such facilities.10. A registered organization may contract with a person or entity to provide facilities, equipment or services that are ancillary to the registered organization's functions or activities under this article including, but not limited to, shipping, maintenance, construction, repair, and security, provided that the person or entity shall not perform any function or activity directly involving the planting, growing, tending, harvesting, processing, or packaging of cannabis plants, medical cannabis, or medical cannabis products being produced by the registered organization; or any other function directly involving manufacturing or retailing of medical cannabis. All laws and regulations applicable to such facilities, equipment, or services shall apply to the contract. The registered organization and other parties to the contract shall each be responsible for compliance with such laws and regulations under the contract. The board may make regulations consistent with this article relating to contracts and parties to contracts under this subdivision.11. A registered organization shall, based on the findings of an independent laboratory, provide documentation of the quality, safety and clinical strength of the medical cannabis manufactured or dispensed by the registered organization to the office and to any person or entity to which the medical cannabis is sold or dispensed.12. A registered organization shall be deemed to be a "health care provider" for the purposes of title two-D of article two of the public health law.13. Medical cannabis shall be dispensed to a certified patient or designated caregiver in a sealed and properly labeled package. The labeling shall contain: (a) the information required to be included in the receipt provided to the certified patient or designated caregiver by the registered organization; (c) any applicable date by which the medical cannabis should be used; (d) a warning stating, "This product is for medicinal use only. Women should not consume during pregnancy or while breastfeeding except on the advice of the certifying health care practitioner, and in the case of breastfeeding mothers, including the infant's pediatrician. This product might impair the ability to drive. Keep out of reach of children."; (e) the amount of individual doses contained within; and (f) a warning that the medical cannabis must be kept in the original container in which it was dispensed.14. The board is authorized to make rules and regulations restricting the advertising and marketing of medical cannabis.15. A registered organization shall operate in accordance with minimum operating and recordkeeping requirements determined by the board in regulation.Added by New York Laws 2021 , ch. 92, Sec. 2, eff. 3/31/2021.