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The Vireo Health dispensary in Johnson City shares a building with a travel agency and a pizza joint. [Bob Joseph/WNBF News][/caption]

The Southern Tier's only medical marijuana dispensary continues to be open a few hours a week and is serving a small number of patients.

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Patients must bring appropriate documentation when they visit the Vireo Health office. [Bob Joseph/WNBF News][/caption]

Vireo Health of New York has been operating a small office near the Oakdale Mall in Johnson City since late January.

Dr. Stephen Dahmer, the company's chief medical officer, said the dispensary on Harry L. Drive has been averaging between 15 and 25 patients on the one day a week that it's open. The office operates on Wednesdays from noon to 7 p.m.

Two other Vireo Health dispensaries - one in Queens and one in White Plains - now operate four days a week. The company this week opened a fourth office. That office in Albany is open one day a week.

Speaking on WNBF Radio's Binghamton Now program, Dahmer said the number of patients using the Johnson City dispensary has been increasing. He noted only one patient visited the site on its opening day about nine months ago.

Dahmer said it was difficult to make patient projections for each dispensary before they started operations under New York's medical marijuana law. He said Vireo is for greater use of its facilities as more doctors prescribe marijuana for their patients.

Before people can obtain cannabis-based medications, they must be certified by their physician. They also must acquire a medical marijuana registry identification card from the state health department.

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The Vireo Health dispensary in Johnson City is open one day a week. [Bob Joseph/WNBF News][/caption]

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