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New York's state Department of Health is now allowing New York-based Americans to gain access to its recently approved medical marijuana program which is set to be launched at the start of next year.

To facilitate and ease the process of registration for eligible enrollees, the local health agency also set up a corresponding online system.

The program came about after the state legislature legalized the establishment of such program but included some important pre-requisites for would-be enrollees such as getting a health department certification from a duly-registered physician before applying for state registry identification card.

According to NY Daily News, the state-approved medical marijuana program covers medical conditions such as cancer, HIV/AIDS, epilepsy, Parkinson's and Huntington diseases, sclerosis, and even spinal cord injuries.

"The launch of the state's Medical Marijuana Patient Certification and Registration System marks the achievement of another milestone toward providing relief to all New Yorkers who may benefit from medical marijuana," told Dr. Howard Zucker, the New York Health Department's commissioner, as quoted saying by Press & Sun Bulletin.

So far, five companies were picked to raise the cannabis plants specifically medical purposes. Each dispensary are allowed to grow marijuana in one identified zone and market their pot in four other controlled areas across the state as mentioned by CBS New York.

In the US, 23 states including the Federal District of Columbia have already legalized the use of marijuana for medical purposes. Four states plus D.C. expand marijuana use policy to include recreation albeit with tight-controlled regulation.