Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
Three medical marijuana firms have received preliminary approval to do business on the Lower Shore.
A state commission tentatively approved Monday the applications of 30 companies, representing 15 growers and 15 processors.
The list includes two businesses in Worcester County: the grower Shore Natural Rx LLC and the processor Blair Wellness Center LLC. Wicomico County was approved for one business, a processor called AFS Maryland LLC.
Little was immediately known of the companies. State business filings show Shore Natural Rx, for one, is registered to Erick Bruder of Ocean Pines.
Blair Wellness Center is registered to Matthew Blair of Timonium. And AFS Maryland is linked to William H. Brothers, who has ties to medical pot ventures in the District of Columbia and Arizona, according to The Washington Post.
The Natalie M. LaPrade Medical Cannabis Commission culled the potential licensees from a larger-than-expected influx of applicants last fall. In all, there were 145 growers and 124 processors in the running.
The commission released little information about the selected applicants. Although staff members used a ranking system to group the companies, it didn't make those numbers available, saying they were used only as an organizational tool.
"All of the chosen business entities have an equal opportunity to complete the licensing process. At this stage, I am very happy with the commissioners' choices," said Paul Davies, the commission's chairman.
It also was unclear where the companies planned to locate their facilities within their counties. It is likely many haven't taken the step of acquiring real estate, though, officials say.
Each company has exactly one year to meet the state's requirements for final approval. Many still need to complete regulatory requirements, raise capital, buy real estate, secure local zoning approvals, build facilities, install equipment and bring staff on board, said Vanessa Lyon, a commission spokeswoman.
Board members, by law, took into account "geographic diversity" when considering the applicants. Since they could pick no more than 15 growers, many who were otherwise "highly qualified" didn't get preliminary approval, according to a commission press release.
Among those not selected: CannaMed Pharmaceuticals, which had gone as far as to buy a former manufacturing facility off Route 50 in Hebron for nearly $1 million earlier this year.
No applicants from rural Somerset County made the cut.
A company called Wellness Farms had inked partnership deals with two local institutions. It had vowed to pursue a research and grant program with the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and a medical outreach effort with McCready Health. But its name wasn't among the 30 released Monday.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Three Lower Shore Firms OK'd To Pursue Medical Marijuana
Author: Jeremy Cox
Contact: (410) 749-7171
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Website: Delmarva Now
A state commission tentatively approved Monday the applications of 30 companies, representing 15 growers and 15 processors.
The list includes two businesses in Worcester County: the grower Shore Natural Rx LLC and the processor Blair Wellness Center LLC. Wicomico County was approved for one business, a processor called AFS Maryland LLC.
Little was immediately known of the companies. State business filings show Shore Natural Rx, for one, is registered to Erick Bruder of Ocean Pines.
Blair Wellness Center is registered to Matthew Blair of Timonium. And AFS Maryland is linked to William H. Brothers, who has ties to medical pot ventures in the District of Columbia and Arizona, according to The Washington Post.
The Natalie M. LaPrade Medical Cannabis Commission culled the potential licensees from a larger-than-expected influx of applicants last fall. In all, there were 145 growers and 124 processors in the running.
The commission released little information about the selected applicants. Although staff members used a ranking system to group the companies, it didn't make those numbers available, saying they were used only as an organizational tool.
"All of the chosen business entities have an equal opportunity to complete the licensing process. At this stage, I am very happy with the commissioners' choices," said Paul Davies, the commission's chairman.
It also was unclear where the companies planned to locate their facilities within their counties. It is likely many haven't taken the step of acquiring real estate, though, officials say.
Each company has exactly one year to meet the state's requirements for final approval. Many still need to complete regulatory requirements, raise capital, buy real estate, secure local zoning approvals, build facilities, install equipment and bring staff on board, said Vanessa Lyon, a commission spokeswoman.
Board members, by law, took into account "geographic diversity" when considering the applicants. Since they could pick no more than 15 growers, many who were otherwise "highly qualified" didn't get preliminary approval, according to a commission press release.
Among those not selected: CannaMed Pharmaceuticals, which had gone as far as to buy a former manufacturing facility off Route 50 in Hebron for nearly $1 million earlier this year.
No applicants from rural Somerset County made the cut.
A company called Wellness Farms had inked partnership deals with two local institutions. It had vowed to pursue a research and grant program with the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and a medical outreach effort with McCready Health. But its name wasn't among the 30 released Monday.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Three Lower Shore Firms OK'd To Pursue Medical Marijuana
Author: Jeremy Cox
Contact: (410) 749-7171
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Website: Delmarva Now
