The New York State’s medical marijuana program will be launched on January 7 almost 18 months after Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the Compassionate Care Act.

Health Department spokesman James Plastiras in an email to reporters late Monday afternoon, said confirmed the launch of the program and said that further details regarding it will be released shortly.

On Monday, Columbia Care, one of five companies licensed to grow marijuana in New York also announced that its Union Square dispensary is also planning to open on Thursday.

Some other dispensaries that are planned for Murray hill, the Bronx and Queens are expected to open sometime later in the month.

Officials previously gave indications that medical marijuana program would launch in January. So far no confirm date of the launch has been provided.

As per the law, patients looking for marijuana first need to be certified by a state-approval physician and then has to register with the Health department and get a registry identification card before allowed to purchase the product.

The rollout in the Empire State will be one of the most restrictive, tightly regulated medical cannabis programs in the United States. The program with sales reportedly beginning on January 7, has very limited access, but it does features the nation’s first certified kosher pot.