Curaleaf New York workers opened their doors to the public over the weekend, making it the first dispensary open in Orange County.

There is a pharmacist on staff, six full-time employees and several part-time employees. Once patients have been certified and have a New York State medical marijuana card, they can come in for a consultation and receive a prescription.

Workers say there are many qualifying conditions for cannabis like Parkinson's disease, cancer, chronic pain, PTSD, HIV/AIDS and IBS, among others. It can also help curb opioid dependence.

"I've sat in on so many consultations where people are using this medication and it's changing their lives," said Curaleaf New York Dispensary Operations Director Mike Conway, "especially taking someone who has been on opioids for a very long time and using medical cannabis to ween themselves off of opioids, which is a huge epidemic here not only in New York State, but in the country as a whole."

The facility already has seen several dozen patients, and Curaleaf is accepting new patients.