Four area businesses are vying for state approval to begin growing and selling medical marijuana. New York is the 23rd state in the national that legalized use of the drug to treat patients. WBFO'S Eileen Buckley spoke to one of the local applicants.
"The patients are the true champions of this process," stated Dr. Gregory Daniel. Dr. Daniel has partnered with Dan Humiston, Founder of The Tanning Bed and president of the International Cannabis Industry to create Alternative Medicine Associates. They've applied to manufacture and dispense medical marijuana.
"Within the city of Buffalo, we plan on having a cultivation production facility, so we have contracted,"said Daniel. "To create in an area Buffalo where a large plant was closed down recently where 300-jobs were lost, so our intent is to open up for business in that facility and that's in the city of Buffalo."
Reportedly Alternative Medicine purchased the former Tyson plant on Perry Street in Buffalo to cultivate the marijuana, but Daniel would not reveal the city site. But Daniel noted the investment is 'significant'.
"We are looking at a $15-million investment. We have to hire experts in the cultivation arena," said Daniel.
Dr. Daniel is founder of Buffalo Emergency Associates and Western New York Immediate Care. But now he wants to treat patients that would benefit from medical marijuana.
"The parents and the children who suffer from chronic illnesses that can benefit from the use of this medication," said Daniel. "They're the ones that we are working tirelessly for."
Friday was deadline to apply for five-licenses up for grabs.
The group is also planning dispensing sites in Depew-Lancaster, Webster, New York, Binghamton and Syracuse.
"We do have the location that we would set the dispensaries up," noted Daniels.
Other companies that applied for the licenses include Atwal Eye Care, proposing to set up in Cheektowaga, Herbal Agriculture in Lewiston and Compassionate Care of New York eyeing a site in Amherst for operations.
The New York State Health Department could render a decision in July.
