Legal medical marijuana plants growing in Maryland

Posted by Sagar Satapathy on September 06, 2017.

Four years after the policy makers signed the law to legalize medical marijuana in Maryland, the first crop of legal marijuana has finally started to grow. Cultivators ForwardGro in Anne Arundel County and Curio Wellness in Baltimore County are growing medical pot.

The legislation to grow medical cannabis was approved in 2013 following which the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission was formed. However, slow process in identifying cultivator and dispensary cost four years of benefit to the medical marijuana patients in the State. Since its inception, more than 10 companies have got the clearance to grow medical marijuana in Maryland while two have already begun cultivating pot. Medical cannabis are expected to flock the dispensary by early 2018.

Confirming the launch, Executive Director of the Commission stated, “The market will determine this moves forward.”

Once grown and harvested, the medicinal pot will be tested in a laboratory for quality, a process which could take up to one year.

Though the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission has finalized more than 10 cultivators, it has approved of only one dispensary so far. The Allegany Medical Marijuana Dispensary, the only approved dispensary in Maryland is situated in Cumberland and is expected to start by the end of this year. However, as per the existing law, one state can have up to fifteen cannabis dispensaries, which gives ample opportunities for legal marijuana to flourish. A few dispensaries are reportedly waiting for final approval.

For patients to access medical pot, the Commission has prepared a list of 12 mandatory conditions. Multiple sclerosis, chronic pain and Alzheimer are among the conditions required to access medical cannabis. The Commission has also prepared guidelines for the physicians on prescribing medical marijuana to patients.

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