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WBNG-TV: ALL-ACCESS: A TRIP INSIDE A MEDICAL MARIJUANA GROWING FACILITY

Fulton County, New York (WBNG Binghamton) Medical marijuana is being grown legally in New York for the first time in more than a century. Josh Martin of Action News was given an exclusive look inside a brand new medical marijuana facility.

The New York State Medical Marijuana Program was launched on Jan. 7. Vireo Health’s facility in Fulton County is a converted juvenile correction facility– and only one of four places in the state where marijuana can legally be grown.

“Because of the federal laws and how they are now, medical cannabis that is sold in New York must be manufactured in New York,” said Vireo CEO Air Hoffnung.

Vireo grows five different strains of marijuana with varying levels of pain-relieving compounds like THC and CPD. The 16 week growing process begins in rooms with blue light for the plants. The lights are on 24 hours a day. The plants are grown hydroponically–meaning without soil.

“We will take a rooted cube to put the plant in,” said Head Grower at Vireo Chuck Schmitt. “We take that rooted cube and we will put it in this block here and that is how we end up with the plants.”

Watch WBNG-TV’s full story here.