AMHERST, NY (WKBW) — After the Botanist in downtown Buffalo closed on Saturday, Verilife Amherst is the only medical dispensary open in Erie County.
"The world of cannabis is very uncertain right now, and what I think the medical dispensaries offered as safety and security," said Adam Stumpf, General Manager of Verilife Amherst.
Verilife is one of only 29 medical marijuana shops in the state.
"When a store closes, we are tasked with finding a replacement for products that have come to work for one patient," said Stumpf.
Currently, there are 234 adult-use recreational marijuana shops in the state, dominating the industry.
But what is the difference between adult-use and medical marijuana dispensaries?
You must be 21 years old for adult-use shops to enter and buy products. For medical shops, you must have a medical marijuana card to enter.
Medical shops also have licensed pharmacists who can give patients the correct dosage and type of medicine. Adult-use shops do not have that.
You will often pay more for the product at adult-use shops due to the 13% tax on cannabis, while medical cannabis shops pay the 3% tax.
Stumpf said the state of the cannabis industry can be concerning for some, especially those on the medical marijuana side.
"It is very disheartening to see the downfall of so many medical cannabis stores, especially juxtaposed to the successes that so many recreational stores are having right now," said Stumpf.
Last week I reached out to the Office of Cannabis Management but was told a day later that the public relations specialists were out of town.
I contacted the OCM again on Monday to ask questions about the state of the medical cannabis industry and received these answers.
- What should cardholders do?
Cardholders can access medical cannabis through remaining licensed dispensaries or consider home cultivation, which is now legal for certified medical patients and their designated caregivers. This option provides greater flexibility and ensures consistent access to medical cannabis products. The Office is focused on ensuring medical cannabis remains available and accessible to all registered patients.
Medical Patients can find their nearest New York State medical cannabis dispensary by visiting the NYS Office of Cannabis Management's Medical Dispensary Verification website at https://cannabis.ny.gov/dispensing-facilities [cannabis.ny.gov]
- Should cardholders be worried there are only 29 stores left in NYS?
The Office is actively monitoring the availability of medical cannabis and working closely with licensees to ensure patients have sufficient access to products statewide.
- What is the Office doing to ensure medical cannabis remains available?
The Office is committed to ensuring access by supporting Registered Organizations (ROs) that prioritize affordable, sustainable, and culturally competent cannabis services while maintaining product availability for patients statewide. To enhance access, the Cannabis Control Board has approved new ROs, and existing ROs are now permitted to apply to the Office for up to two additional medical dispensaries beyond their initial four locations, as authorized by the Cannabis Law.
Stumpf wants his current and new patients to know that Verilife is open.
"We are not going away. We look forward to all of the challenges 2025 has to offer us because we're going to be here for our patients no matter what," said Stumpf.
Verilife is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at 25 Northpointe Pkwy, Amherst, NY 14228.
