Originally scheduled to open Dec. 15, CannaMed of Boston, a medical marijuana practice has decided to delay it opening until Saturday, Jan. 5, said company spokeswoman Renee Nunez.

She said the company opted to delay its opening to answer local officials' and residents' questions about how a medical marijuana practice operates. Originally, the company was scheduling patients as of Dec. 15.

Last month, Massachusetts voters overwhelmingly approved a ballot question that makes the Commonwealth the 18th state to legalize medical marijuana.

The law allows for patients with HIV, multiple sclerosis, hepatitis C, or other very serious and painful conditions to obtain a card from the state permitting them to purchase and possess up-to a 60-day supply of marijuana, beginning Jan 1, 2013.

Framingham Patch was the first to report on the new business in Framingham. Canna Med is a a franchise of a California-based medical company. Framingham is its first location in Massachusetts. The office is located at 945 Concord St.

Nunez said if everything goes well with its Framingham office, the company could expand and open offices in Needham and Newton.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has been given oversight of implementing the rules of the new medical marijuana law, which takes effect in 2013.

A press spokesperson at the state's health department last week said he couldn't answer any questions, as the legal team is still reviewing the law and writing the new regulations and rules.

Framingham Town Manager Bob Halpin said last week the Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA) estimated the Health Department's rules & regulations may come in April, but the MMA was recommending everything be delayed until July 1, 2013.

CannaMed of Boston is a medical practice. Patients would bring their medical records from their primary physicians to CannaMed's doctors. Doctors at CannaMed would evaluate the patient, review the records and them "determine if they qualify" for a recommendation for marijuana. (Marijuana can not be prescribed as it can not be filled at a pharmacy.) The cost $199. Insurance is not accepted.

CannaMed can not and will not distribute any marijuana, Nunez said.

Halpin said he had organized an informal working group that includes the Framingham police chief, the Framingham Board of the Health and the Framingham Planning Board to discuss how the town should approach the issue of medical marijuana dispensaries.

Halpin told Selectmen he hoped for Framingham to be "out in front" and ready to recommend local regulations or zoning changes to Town Meeting, if needed, once the rules and regulations are available.

Some communities in the Commonwealth are looking at zoning regulations for not only medical marijuana dispensaries but also medical marijuana practices.

The new law allows for up to 35 medical marijuana dispensaries to open in the Commonwealth.