The state’s medical marijuana program will launch as scheduled tomorrow, but with only 8 of the 20 approved dispensaries, according to the state Department of Health. Some of the companies that have received the five licenses from the state to grow, manufacture and dispense have run into permitting issues with the dispensaries, which are located in Onondaga, Erie, Albany, Ulster and Westchester Counties, and in Manhattan. Additional dispensaries will be opened shortly. Medical marijuana will be available to patients with chronic diseases including cancer, HIV/AIDS, ALS, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis as well as severe forms of epilepsy.
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State Police arrested 47 year old Frank Alfisi of Stamford, for aggravated driving while intoxicated with a B.A.C. result of .20% and the felony of aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. This arrest occurred after troopers observed an unoccupied vehicle with minor damage left in the road way on Main Street in Stamford, troopers determined Alfisi had been driving with a suspended license when he drove into a small street sign and then left the vehicle. He was arrested at the vehicle owner’s home in Stamford, he was arraigned and was released after his $1,500 cash bail was posted. His next court date is pending.
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Assemblyman Pete Lopez & other Assembly colleagues announced efforts for the new “Spirit of ’76” bill, to allow for a piece of legislation that has garnered the sponsorship of 76 members of the Assembly and 32 members in the Senate to bypass the applicable committee and move to the Floor for a debate and up or down vote. the Bill was forwarded in response to the power wielded by former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, who was known to hold votes from coming to the floor in spite of large sponsorships.
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The Broome County Sheriff’s Office arrested 35 year old Jeremy Sickles of Whitney Point for Grand Larceny. Sickles is accused of taken a 2001 Pontiac from an ex-girlfriend’s residence in the town of Triangle last month, the owner of the vehicle received notification from the Cortland County Sheriff’s Office that her car had been impounded and that Sickles had been arrested on separate charges. Sickles was arraigned & was remanded to the Broome County Jail pending future court action.
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