New York marijuana regulators on Friday gave the formal thumbs up to six of the state's 10 licensed medical marijuana companies – most of which are large multistate operators – to begin adult-use cannabis sales on Dec. 29, precisely one year after recreational sales were launched in the Empire State.

The half dozen that got the green light from the state Cannabis Control Board include:

• Columbia Care NY LLC (NEO: CCHW) (OTCQX:CCHWF)
• Curaleaf NY LLC (CSE:CURA) (OTCQX:CURLF)
• Etain LLC, which is owned by Riv Capital (CSE:RIV) (OTC:CNPOF)
• NYCANNA LLC, which is owned by Acreage Holdings Inc. (CSE:ACRG) (OTCQX:ACRHF)
• PharmaCann of New York LLC
• Valley Agriceuticals LLC, which is owned by Cresco Labs (CSE:CL) (OTCQX:CRLBF)

Ultimately those six companies will be permitted to set up co-located recreational sales at up to three of their existing medical dispensaries, but for the time being, each was only approved for a single shop that can open by the end of the month.

Four other New York medical marijuana companies weren't mentioned during the CCB meeting, but technically they are eligible to apply for transition into the recreational market, including:

• Citiva Medical LLC, which is owned by iAnthus Capital Holdings Inc. (CSE:IAN) (OTCQB:ITHUF)
• Fiorello Pharmaceuticals Inc., which is owned by Green Thumb Industries (CSE:GTII) (OTC:GTBIF)
• MedMen Enterprises Inc. (CSE:MMEN) (OTCQX:MMNFF)
• Vireo Health International (CSE:VREO) (OTCQX:VREOF)

The CCB also approved new medical-only dispensary locations for both Citiva and Fiorello at Friday's meeting, giving the former permission to open a dispensary in Ithaca and the latter for one on Long Island.

"The registered organizations being considered today have submitted the required materials to transition, including a community impact plan, medical patient prioritization plan, and an energy and environmental plan," Damian Fagon, chief equity officer at the Office of Cannabis Management, told the board Friday.

"We are excited to have 'registered organizations' enter the market, while continuing to prioritize and expand offerings to medical patients," Fagon said, adding that the OCM recommended the allowance of all six so-called "R.O.'s."