New York – Chassidim Take Their Place Among Other Medical Marijuana Vendor Hopefuls

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    File photo of Holocaust survivor Moshe Roth, 81, receiving medical marijuana by a nurse to smoke in his pipe.  EPA/ABIR SULTAN‎New York – Two Chassidim are among the 43 applicants for the New York State Department of Health’s five licenses to manufacture and dispense legal medical marijuana in the State, The Jewish Week reports (http://bit.ly/1CqFv0i).

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    Called The NY Growing Partners, LLC, the company’s principals include Michael Melnicke, a Ger chasid and nursing home entrepreneur, and Satmar chasid Leo Friedman, son of Moses Friedman, also known as Moshe Gabbai. Melnicke and Friedman have teamed up with Alexander Solovey and Pat (Pasquale) DeBenedictis for this venture, both of whom own several nursing home enterprises.

    According to its application, NY Growing Partners, LLC intends on using a 12-acre, “shovel-ready” land located in upstate Saugerties, 90 miles from New York City. The expression “shovel ready” means that the initial impact studies have been fulfilled, which allows for a faster approval process.

    It costs $10,000 to apply for consideration as a medical marijuana manufacturer, and $200,000 for the registration fee, which will be returned to applicants whose submissions are denied. In addition to the fees, criteria for a license includes “the ability to manufacture medical grade marijuana in sufficient quantities to meet the needs of certified patients and being in possession of or having secured the right to use property, buildings, and equipment to carry out production operations, or failing that, posting a $2 million bond.”

    NY Growing Partners has yet to submit an official proposal or site plan, and has said it will only do so if it receives one of the five available licenses. If it does, the company plans to work with the Ulster County Industrial Development Agency to get quick approval from the local town planning boards.

    The odds of receiving a license may be in Melnicke’s and Friedman’s favor, having contributed a total of $13,000 to Governor Cuomo’s campaign and over $30,000 to Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson’s coffers. Thus far, NY Growing Partners has revealed little about itself compared to the other 42 applicants for licenses who have established websites, issued press releases, and given media interviews. But the company has retained Long Island-based PR firm Zimmerman/Edelson, which has close ties to Governor Cuomo.

    Neither Zimmerman/Edelson, nor NY Growing Partners, responded to requests for comment for the article.


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    16 Comments
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    jack25
    jack25
    8 years ago

    Good for them let them make some gelt!

    8 years ago

    I suppose that there is no halachic issur. But I have a really hard time seeing this as a melocho nekiya.

    HOLYJEW
    HOLYJEW
    8 years ago

    whats the big deal ???? so two successful guys from Brooklyn are being business smart and moving quickly for the newsiest business adventures !

    PaulinSaudi
    PaulinSaudi
    8 years ago

    For some reason, this sounds like a sketch on Saturday Night Live. Good luck to them.

    mr613
    mr613
    8 years ago

    קטורת הסמים

    lavrenty
    Member
    lavrenty
    8 years ago

    at least these Hasidim want to EARN their money not mooch off others

    PaulinSaudi
    PaulinSaudi
    8 years ago

    I never watch TV. I have not seen SNL in 20 years.

    FALLSBURGER
    FALLSBURGER
    8 years ago

    Why doesn’t the Jewish Week also give us the ethnic breakdown of the other 42 applicants?
    I am extremely courious to know, are there any Itialians? Belgians? Sudanese? Koreans?
    Out of 43 they only found out about 1 ??? C’mon Jewish Week, we expect better Journalism from you ! Or do we really expect??….

    commonsense99
    commonsense99
    8 years ago

    actually there are two applicants who are frum

    BETHEL, N.Y. — Located just yards from the site of the 1969 Woodstock Festival is a large area of farmland, but it could soon be turned into a medical marijuana facility, if the state health department approves it.
    Sheva Health and Wellness is one of 43 companies applying for a medical marijuana license. They’re hoping to be one of five companies awarded the license to manufacture and dispense medical marijuana throughout the state.
    According to Sheva Health and Wellness, those dispensary locations will be Brooklyn, Yonkers, Rochester and the Watertown area.
    “I believe that our application far exceeds the minimum standards of the RFP,” said Joseph Levine, Sheva Health and Wellness founder

    yaakov doe
    Member
    yaakov doe
    8 years ago

    Are they going to check it for bugs? Chassidish hashgacha?

    8 years ago

    Kosher drug dealing? There are better ways to make a living than this. Except, maybe not as much fun.

    Rafuel
    Rafuel
    8 years ago

    If they don’t intend to sell that stuff to Jews, I have no problem with their business.