Matthew Hamilton in Capitol Confidential reports that New York's very limited medical marijuana program is now in effect, with four patients purchasing marijuana legally in the area in the past week, one in Albany and three in Kingston. Etain, the company with a Kingston dispensary and another location on North Pearl Street in Albany, said it had sold its “Balance” product, which includes equal levels of THC and CBD, to all four patients. New York just started one of the most restrictive programs in the country, with some suffering from cancer, HIV and AIDS, Parkinson's disease, and epilepsy allowed access. Read the full story in Capitol Confidential, a Times-Union blog.