Measures to legalize medical marijuana – and set up a system of regulated cultivation operations and dispensaries – have a realistic shot of passing in both New York and Illinois, which rank as the third- and fifth-largest states in the nation by population. At the same time, a bill in Nevada that would pave the way for dispensaries is gaining traction among lawmakers, while the odds are good that several other states such as Oregon and New Hampshire will pass MMJ-related measures as well.

If all or most of the measures pass, the medical cannabis industry would benefit from hundreds of millions of dollars in additional sales of marijuana, edibles and related products and services, thousands of jobs and potentially 200,000 or more new state-registered patients.

About two dozen states introduced some type of cannabis legislation this year. Many bills have already died in the legislative process or been put on the back-burner, while several are still working their way through the legislative process but face huge resistance. Just one state – Maryland – has passed medical marijuana laws so far in 2013, but its program is so restrictive that some industry organizations don’t even count it as an “official” MMJ state.

Illinois has the best chance at this point of becoming the next state to join the medical marijuana club. Last week, the state legislature approved a bill that would create a four-year pilot program allowing up to 60 dispensaries and 22 cultivation operations. Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn now holds the fate of the bill in his hands and is expected to make a decision in the coming weeks. While he has not given an indication of which way he is leaning, Quinn has said he is open to the idea of medical marijuana, and the state’s lieutenant governor supports the bill.

Under the measure, patients with one of several dozen medical conditions could register with the state to use medical cannabis after receiving the go-ahead from their doctor.

The list of qualifying medical conditions doesn’t include catch-all ailments such as “chronic pain,” which means the market will be much smaller than states with broader laws such as California and Colorado. Still, the list is extensive enough that Illinois would likely rank in the middle of the pack in terms of overall MMJ market size and near the top when it comes to near-term business opportunities.

Anywhere from 50,000 to more than 100,000 patients could eventually qualify for medical marijuana cards, according to MMJ Business Daily estimates based on per-capita rates in other states with similar rules. The emergence of dozens of dispensaries and cultivation sites would create a sizable need for a variety of other services and products, such as packaging, cannabis testing, edibles products, legal and accounting services, consultancies, etc.

The bill in New York is gaining traction as well, though it has a bigger mountain to climb than the Illinois measure given that it hasn’t been put up for a vote yet. The measure would allow patients with debilitating diseases such as cancer, HIV/AIDS and multiple sclerosis – but not chronic pain – to use marijuana for medical purposes. It would also create a regulated network of dispensaries and grow operations, though an exact number (or whether there will be caps at all) has not yet been determined.

At first glance, the bill seems more limiting than the Illinois measure in terms of who would qualify to use medical cannabis, but patients numbers in New York would most certainly reach into the tens of thousands and could top 100,000 over time.

Aside from the business implications, passage of MMJ laws in New York and Illinois would be a significant moral victory as well. Should they pass, three of the largest states in the nation (including California) would have MMJ laws on the books, helping to erode the federal government’s justification for opposing MMJ. What’s more, the states are spread across the nation, spanning the West Coast, Midwest and Northeast.

In Nevada, a measure that would allow regulated, registered dispensaries to serve patients cleared a Senate finance committee this week, fueling hopes that lawmakers are finally ready to move forward and reform the state’s MMJ laws after years of inaction. Nevada voters approved the use of medical marijuana more than a decade ago, but the law doesn’t allow for dispensaries, meaning patients essentially have to grow their own cannabis. Local and federal officials have raided and shut down the few dispensaries and collectives that sprouted up several years ago.

The patient base in Nevada is relatively small, with just 3,400 registered MMJ users. But the law would potentially allow more than 60 dispensaries in the state, including up to 40 in Clark County (which includes Las Vegas), so there would be plenty of business opportunities.

Proposals in several other states will help fuel additional growth as well if passed, though not to the extent of what would develop in New York, Illinois or Nevada. Medical marijuana seems well on its way to becoming a reality in New Hampshire, for instance, but the state will likely just allow four or five dispensaries to operate.

A bill in Oregon – which, like Nevada, already has medical marijuana laws but doesn’t technically allow dispensaries – would legalize and regulate retail MMJ shops. That would be a major win for the medical cannabis industry, but the business potential could be somewhat limited given that an estimated 150 to 200 dispensaries already operate in the state despite the current legal situation. If the bill passes, most of those would attempt to get a state license. Still, new operations would certainly crop up because the risks would subside greatly. According to a state analysis, the law would lead to an estimated 225 state-licensed dispensaries.

Another Medical Marijuana Business Boom on Horizon? Cannabis Bills Advancing in Key States is a post from: Medical Marijuana Business Daily - Legal, Financial and Dispensary News

The fate of medical cannabis in Illinois now rests in the hands of Gov. Pat Quinn, who has not indicated whether he will sign the measure but previously said that he is “open-minded” on the issue. Promisingly, the state’s lieutenant governor recently came out in support of the bill, which could help tip the scales in favor of the bill for Quinn.

If the governor signs off on the measure, Illinois would become the 20th state in the nation with medical marijuana laws, coming on the heels of Maryland’s move last month to approve a very strict and limited MMJ bill.

Illinois would also become one of the most promising new medical cannabis markets in terms of business opportunities. The bill calls for a four-year pilot program that would allow as many as 60 dispensaries to open up across Illinois – nearly double the allowable number in Massachusetts, which recently passed a medical marijuana law and has attracted a ton of attention from entrepreneurs. The Illinois medical marijuana law also paves the way for up to 22 licensed cultivation centers to launch.

Patients with one of several dozen qualifying medical conditions – including cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDs, multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injuries – could receive an MMJ card with the recommendation of their doctor. Once approved and registered with the program, they could buy up to 2.5 ounces of usable cannabis every 14 days.

With a population of around 13 million, the state would likely have tens of thousands of registered patients – or possibly much more if additional medical conditions are added to the list.

Under the bill, the state would essentially regulate and oversee the entire MMJ program. As part of these responsibilities, it would conduct a background check on patients, caregivers and those who apply for cultivation and dispensary licenses.

“We applaud the Illinois Legislature for taking action and adopting this widely supported and much-needed legislation,” Dan Riffle – deputy director of government relations for the Washington DC-based Marijuana Policy Project, which lobbies for the reform of cannabis laws – said in a statement. “The final product is a comprehensive and tightly controlled system that will allow individuals with serious illnesses to safely and legally access medical marijuana with their doctors’ supervision.”

The measure – House Bill 1 – cleared the Senate by a 35-21 margin, an impressive victory for a controversial issue. The House, which had previously snubbed out cannabis-related bills, passed the current version of the bill last month.

Breaking: Illinois Poised to Become 20th MMJ State as Legislature Passes Medical Cannabis Bill is a post from: Medical Marijuana Business Daily - Legal, Financial and Dispensary News

Maryland is now poised to become the 19th state to allow residents to use medical cannabis and the third to pass such legislation in the past year, following similar moves in Connecticut and Massachusetts in 2012.

The development is welcome news to the cannabis industry and – if the law officially passes – will further fuel momentum for cannabis efforts in general. It also could help build support for medical cannabis measures in nearby states such as New York.

But business opportunities could be somewhat limited.

Under the measure, hospitals that provide research for the government and also have physician residency programs would provide the drug rather than individual dispensaries. These facilities would essentially each set up their own sub-programs, determining whether or not to allow caregivers, creating the list of qualifying medical conditions and setting other criteria patients must meet to get medical cannabis. (You can read the entire bill here.)

Entrepreneurs, therefore, will be blocked out from medical marijuana sales to patients, and the overall market size in general will likely be tiny compared to other MMJ states.

However, there could be some solid opportunities on the cultivation side. The bill stipulates that participating hospitals could get cannabis from either the federal government or state-licensed producers. It’s highly unlikely that the federal government will be growing medical marijuana for Maryland anytime soon, so we could very well see private cultivation operations spring up.

And there could potentially be as many as 25 growers/cultivation sites, as the bill allows up to five research centers to start programs at any one time, and each could have up to five growers. Cultivation sites would operate under heavy regulations covering everything from safety to inventory tracking, creating additional opportunities for ancillary companies that could help the operations meet those requirements.

But that’s still a best-case scenario: Even if the governor signs the bill, it’s uncertain whether the program will actually get off the ground. Participating hospitals would have to take on some significant risks, given that they would be violating federal drug laws and heading into uncharted waters. So far, just one medical facility – Sinai Hospital in Baltimore – has expressed strong interest in participating, while Johns Hopkins Hospital has indicated it will at the very least consider the idea.

It’s unclear if any others are interested. Each facility would have to come up with its own program and get various approvals from the state, adding another layer of complexity that could deter hospitals from participating.

“It will take some pretty bold hospitals to get this program up and running,” said Karen O’Keefe of the MPP. “I wouldn’t say it’s anywhere near 100% that this is going to happen, because there is some risk, and hospitals are usually risk averse.”

Additionally, the program wouldn’t be up and running until 2016 at the earliest, and possibly later. The governor also could suspend the program if the federal government indicates it will crack down on state workers.

The laws are so strict and limiting that several industry organizations – including the Medical Marijuana Project (MPP) – said they will not lump Maryland into the same category as other MMJ states should the measure pass. They will continue to say there are 18 states with “effective” medical marijuana laws.

The patient population could also be extremely limited, as hospitals would likely set a high bar and could choose to exclude patients for various reasons, like addiction.

“We would not suggest that any other state leap to implement this model,” O’Keefe said. “It will put pressure on the government and hopefully show that hospitals are interested (in medical cannabis), but I don’t think this is going to serve every patient in the state who would qualify under these programs.”

Maryland Medical Marijuana Law: Limited Opportunities for MMJ Businesses, Entrepreneurs is a post from: Medical Marijuana Business Daily - Legal, Financial and Dispensary News

A proposal to legalize medical cannabis in West Virginia stalled in the House this week, while a similar measure in Florida appears dead in the water as well.

Both bills faced an uphill battle, so the developments aren’t exactly surprising.

In West Virginia, the state House prevented a floor vote on an MMJ bill (HB 2961) introduced by Democratic Delegate Mike Manypenny, despite little opposition from the public. In fact, 20 people spoke in favor of it in front of a committee chairman, while no one spoke against the measure.

Support runs high among the general population, with a recent poll finding 53 percent of voters back the legalization of cannabis for medical use.

Resistance remains strong in the halls of power, however. This marks the third consecutive session that lawmakers have batted down an MMJ measure sponsored by Manypenny. The difference this time around: Manypenny persuaded a handful of his fellow lawmakers – including Republicans – to sign on as co-sponsors. That bodes well for future efforts, but it could be years before the Legislature has a serious discussion about medical cannabis.

In Florida, the main sponsor of a bill to legalize medical marijuana (HB 1139) said this week that the chances it will pass are “slim to none” after lawmakers failed to debate the issue. It’s doubtful that MMJ will make much progress in the Legislature in the years to come, as lawmakers don’t even seem interested in talking about the issue, let alone voting in favor of medical cannabis legalization.

That doesn’t mean MMJ is completely off the table. Quite the opposite: There’s a real chance Florida could legalize medical marijuana next year – though not through the Legislature. Cannabis advocates are trying to get a constitutional amendment legalizing MMJ on the 2014 ballot.

Florida laws make it difficult to get such citizen-led initiatives in front of voters: Last year, all 11 ballot measures calling for changes to the state’s Constitution came from lawmakers, not citizens. Marijuana advocates will have to collect 700,000 valid signatures just to qualify the measure for the ballot, which could cost $10 million by some estimates.

But several high-profile locals – including influential attorney and top Democratic fundraiser John Morgan – have thrown their weight behind medical cannabis in recent weeks, vowing to pump their own time and money into the effort. Getting the measure in from of voters could seal the deal, as a recent poll found that roughly 70% of locals support the legalization of medical cannabis.

West Virginia and Florida join a growing list of states that have shot down medical marijuana proposals this year. Legislators have introduced MMJ measures in more than a dozen states since the start of the current legislative session, but only a handful are actually expected to pass such laws this year.

Medical Marijuana Legislation Off the Table in West Virginia, Stalls in Florida is a post from: Medical Marijuana Business Daily - Legal, Financial and Dispensary News

New York State Sen. Diane Savino told Medical Marijuana Business Daily that the measure is being drafted and will be ready for introduction in the next few days. She is extremely optimistic about its chances, saying that support is “growing every day” in the Senate, where previous marijuana-related measures have died.

“I’m hoping the bill will be ready by the end of week, and if not then the beginning of next week,” Savino said, adding that identical measures will be introduced in the state Assembly and Senate simultaneously.

The measure would set up a strict regulatory framework covering medical marijuana production and sales, using MMJ programs in states like Colorado and Connecticut as models. The industry would be subject to heavy oversight and numerous rules covering everything from security to permits and registration. The bill also would require comprehensive inventory tracking, from the time the seed is planted to the time cannabis is harvested, packaged and sold to patients.

“What we want to do is adopt the best practices and reject the worst to put forward a bill that will stand up to public scrutiny,” Savino said. “We also want to do everything possible to avoid aggressive intervention by the federal government, and the best way to accomplish that is through a tightly controlled statute that doesn’t allow for a lot of wiggle room.”

Under the bill, dispensaries could be either for-profit or nonprofit. The list of qualifying medical conditions would be very specific, including  diseases and aliments such as HIV/AIDS, cancer, diabetes and multiple sclerosis. The idea is to avoid vague conditions like “chronic pain” that have inflated patient numbers and led to criticism in some other states.

Patients would have to buy medical cannabis from approved dispensaries and would not be able to grow their own.

It’s an important bill for the medical cannabis industry. New York is seen as an important state for medical marijuana because of its size – more than 19 million residents – and influence on the national stage. The market would be somewhat limited, with perhaps just tens of thousands of patients qualifying for MMJ cards initially because of the short list of qualifying conditions. But legalization in NY would still create hundreds of new business opportunities and give the industry even more clout, which could help convince other states weighing medical cannabis measures to follow suit.

The bill could sail through the Assembly – which has passed similar measures before – and Savino said she believes there’s enough support in the Senate. If the proposal clears those hurdles, it would wind up on the desk of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Getting his stamp of approval could be a challenge. Cuomo has said he is against the legalization of medical cannabis. But he has softened his position recently and agreed to explore the issue further. The governor is also pushing to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana.

Savino said she is confident that supporters can convince the governor to give the bill the green light if it passes the Assembly and Senate, though she admits it will take some work.

“Some people in his administration seem amendable to this, but we’d need to sit down and talk through this with the governor,” she said.

Lisa Reid – a senior associate at Patricia Lynch Associates, which is lobbying lawmakers to adopt MMJ laws on behalf of a Colorado company – said the bill stands a much better chance of passing than previous measures in part because it calls for extremely tight regulations.

“Our Republicans friends here in the Senate have found themselves far more comfortable with this model” than others, Reid said. “The fact is that Colorado has the best model, and that model is best for New York.”

She said the biggest fear in New York is that a huge black market will develop. “When you have a tightly regulated system…government oversight, a bar code issued from the time to plant is viable to a bud getting into patients’ hands, you essentially eliminate the black market to the best of your ability,” Reid said. “And when you have a for-profit model, everything is transparent, nothing is underground, and you have the least amount of intervention by the federal government.”

The current legislative session ends June 20, so it’s possible New York will become the 19th state to legalize medical marijuana by summer.

In anticipation of legalization, some professionals are already exploring ways to get involved. Based on the high level of interest in the market, Medical Marijuana Business Daily will hold a seminar in New York City for entrepreneurs and investors who want to learn more about the cannabis industry and opportunities in the region, including Connecticut and New Jersey (both of which have already legalized MMJ). You can find more information about the seminar or purchase tickets here.

New York Medical Marijuana Bill on Horizon, Lawmaker Says Support ‘Growing by the Day’ is a post from: Medical Marijuana Business Daily - Legal, Financial and Dispensary News

But resistance remains strong in one area of the country: the South, which ranks as the last major holdout when it comes to medical marijuana. While voters in Southern states are starting to come around to the idea of medical marijuana, lawmakers are not. Not one state in this conservative region of the country has legalized medical cannabis, in part because of heavy resistance from those in power.

Recent developments in North Carolina highlight just how difficult it is to get a Southern state to go green.

This week, the North Carolina House Rules Committee essentially squashed a medical marijuana legalization bill because, as one lawmaker put it, members were being “harassed” by supporters.

“We (killed) it to be done with it, so people could move on for the session,” Republican Rep. Paul Stam told WRAL.com. Lawmakers said they wanted to stop the flood of calls and emails from MMJ advocates lobbying in support of the bill.

It’s  a shocking admission: Lawmakers, after all, are supposed to listen to the people they represent. Instead, it seems they simply felt bothered by the groundswell of support for a bill they might not agree with personally. The GOP-led committee used a rare procedural move to kill the bill, giving the measure an “unfavorable report” and therefore ensuring no further debate about the issue this year. Lawmakers voted to sink the measure after just 20 minutes of public comments in which all but one person who spoke favored the bill.

This is indicative of the general climate for MMJ in other Southern states. Earlier this month, legislators in Alabama shot down a medical cannabis proposal, while the Arkansas attorney general recently rejected the wording of an MMJ ballot measure (supporters will now go back and try to clarify the language).

Medical marijuana bills are under consideration in several other Southern states, including West Virginia, where support among the public is strong.

But the best opportunity to push through medical marijuana measures in the South might be to get the issue in front of voters in 2014 or 2016. A ballot measure to legalize medical marijuana in Arkansas failed in last year’s elections by an extremely thin margin, indicating growing support among the general population. Cannabis supporters in that state are now pushing for legalization during the state’s 2014 general election.

Response to Medical Cannabis Bill in North Carolina Highlights Challenges for MMJ in South is a post from: Medical Marijuana Business Daily - Legal, Financial and Dispensary News

The state has released proposed rules governing the emerging medical cannabis industry, and they are some of the toughest and most extensive in the nation – by a wide margin. We’re talking an in-depth application and permitting process, up to $100,000 in application and registration fees and a host of operating policies and procedures.

The state’s Department of Consumer Protection – which drafted the rules – now has the entire 74-page document up on its website.

But if you don’t have time to read the lengthy proposal, here are some business-related highlights:

- Patients who have any of the previously outlined qualifying medical conditions must obtain written recommendations/certifications from state-licensed physicians to register for an MMJ card. The proposed rules stipulate that doctors must have a “bona fide” relationship with the patient – meaning they have examined the individual, determined the patient has a debilitating medical condition and explored various treatment options. The physician must also be able to provide follow-up care.

These rules are important for businesses, as they help entrepreneurs determine the potential market. Judging from the relatively limited list of qualifying medical conditions (compared to much more liberal programs in states like California and Colorado) and the requirements for getting a card, the patient base could be fairly limited.

- The state will issue “at least one dispensary facility permit” initially and could increase that number if needed based on demand. The permit-holder could employ up to five workers licensed to dispense marijuana. The language implies that Connecticut will take a very measured approach to permits, possibly allowing just one or a few dispensaries initially.

- The state will eventually post a notice outlining the dispensary permit application and selection process, which will also include the exact number of centers allowed to operate. Selection criteria will include everything from the “character and fitness” of the applicant to the proposed location of the dispensary.

- Applicants must be licensed pharmacists in the state and will be required to submit a detailed business outline that includes a financial statement, a description of the products/services offered, a strategy for preventing the diversion or theft of marijuana, a marketing plan and a thorough blueprint of the proposed facility. The blueprint must contain everything from the total square footage to the size of the counter used for selling marijuana.

- Dispensaries cannot set up shop within 1,000 feet of a school, playground, park, childcare facility, church, temple or other place of worship.

- All dispensary and cultivation site employees must be at least 18 years old and are required to register with the state’s MMJ program.

- Dispensaries and cultivation sites will have to report planned remodels and upgrades as well changes in ownership, name and location.

- The state will issue at least three producer licenses for the commercial cultivation of marijuana. In addition to the factors taken into account for dispensary permits, officials will consider the applicant’s financial position, ability to produce pharmaceutical-grade marijuana and overall expertise in agriculture.

- Cultivation site applicants will also have to put $2 million into an escrow account that the state can access if the operation falters and does not meet certain requirements.

- Applicants for cultivation permits will be required to submit a detailed business outline and blueprint similar to the ones required for dispensaries.

- Sample fees:

•  Patient card – $100 annually
•  Dispensary application fee – $1,000
•  Dispensary permit/license fee – $5,000 annually
•  Dispensary location change fee – $2,500 (includes application fee)
•  Employee license fee to dispense marijuana – $100 annually
•  Producer/cultivation application fee – $25,000
•  Producer permit/license fee – $75,000
•  Producer location change fee – $5,000 (includes application fee)

- Other regulations include everything from signage and security to testing, packaging and labeling.

The draft rules have been presented to the governor. Officials will now review and debate the proposal and make changes and tweaks where necessary. They have until July to draft a final set of recommended rules.

The state’s Department of Consumer Protection said marijuana could be available to patients by the end of the year. But that’s an aggressive, extremely optimistic timeline. It’s likely cultivation sites and dispensaries won’t actually open until well into 2014.

Proposed Connecticut Medical Marijuana Rules: Up to $100,000 in Initial Fees, Extensive Regs is a post from: Medical Marijuana Business Daily - Legal, Financial and Dispensary News

“Looks like it is not going to happen right now,” Illinois State Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie) wrote in an email response to questions by Medical Marijuana Business Daily.

Lang said he doesn’t have time today to explain the situation. But he indicated that his decision to let the bill die without a vote doesn’t necessarily indicate a lack of support among lawmakers.

“It has little to do with vote count,” he wrote.

Just a few weeks ago, it appeared that Illinois had a real shot at becoming the 19th US state to legalize medical cannabis. An MMJ bill had already cleared the state Senate, and Lang expressed optimism that he could get the 60 votes needed to pass a similar proposal in the House.

Several supportive lawmakers began wavering in late November ahead of the initial scheduled vote on the bill. But Lang was able to extend the final deadline for a vote to Jan. 8 and has remained optimistic about its chances of passage, saying he needs a little extra time to gain support from his peers.

The bill – which has seven co-sponsors aside from Lang – calls for a three-year pilot program allowing registered patients to obtain medical marijuana from licensed, regulated nonprofit dispensaries under one of the strictest regulatory frameworks in the country.

Illinois would be a huge win for the medical cannabis industry. The state is home to roughly 13 million people (which ranks fifth in the country by population), giving it a potential market of around 260,000 MMJ patients.

Illinois Medical Marijuana Measure Going Up in Smoke, Lawmaker Says Vote Unlikely is a post from: Medical Marijuana Business Daily - Legal, Financial and Dispensary News

This scenario seems to play out in every new MMJ state these days, from Arizona and New Jersey to Rhode Island and Washington DC.

And now we might see it again, this time in Massachusetts. Last week, we wrote about growing pressure on the health department to delay the state’s marijuana dispensary program by six to nine months.

Under the voter-approved law, the government has until the end of April to create a regulatory framework for dispensaries. But local officials in many towns and cities across Massachusetts – as well as several state lawmakers – say they need more time to sort through the many issues tied to the new law, particularly in the area of zoning. The state health department is also dealing with several other big challenges such as a fungal meningitis outbreak, which will make it difficult to craft regulations in just four months.

Based on the situation in other states, there’s a good chance the government will acquiesce and delay the launch of dispensaries, possibly until 2014.

All of this provides some valuable lessons for entrepreneurs hoping to start a medical cannabis business in a new MMJ state: Prepare for a hefty amount of uncertainty, remain flexible so you can deal with unexpected setbacks and don’t quit your day job right away. Also, you might want to tack on at least a few extra months to any initial deadlines set by the state for planning purposes.

Also last week, the Arizona MMJ industry celebrated yet another important court victory that pretty much ensures dozens of dispensaries will be able to open as planned in the coming months. In a nutshell, a court rejected an attempt by Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery to deny upstart dispensaries zoning approvals while an appeal of a previous ruling is pending. Had the court ruled in favor of Montgomery, local officials could have prevented some – or possibly even all – planned dispensaries from opening.

The Arizona MMJ program is now back on track, and government officials have exhausted most of their legal options. Threats still remain: The ultimate fate of the state’s medical cannabis industry will be decided by an appeals court. But for now, the MMJ community can move full steam ahead.

Other top stories in MMJ Business Daily last week:

Survey for Medical Cannabis Executives

SearchCore Strikes Deal to Sell WeedMaps

Guest Column: Don’t Be Fooled By Obama

Weekly Wrapup: Delays for Massachusetts MMJ? + Arizona on Track After Court Win is a post from: Medical Marijuana Business Daily - Legal, Financial and Dispensary News

First, an overview of the situation in Washington DC:

Local health department officials have finally issued the first certificates of occupancy to a medical cannabis cultivation operation and a dispensary – a major step forward for the District’s MMJ program. Holistic Remedies LLC received the certificate for a cultivation center, while Ventureforth LLC received a certificate for the dispensary, called Capital City Care.

It represents a major step forward for medical cannabis in DC and should put the city’s dispensary program on the fast track. The Department of Health will now conduct an inspection of the cultivation center and the dispensary – reviewing everything from policies and procedures to safety protocols – before granting final approval. That could come in the next week or two, which means the cultivation center could begin growing marijuana by the start of the new year.

Local MMJ laws stipulate that marijuana must be growing for at least 60 days before it can be harvested. So cannabis could be on the shelves of the first dispensary by March at the earliest. The dispensary will likely open earlier, however, to pre-register patients and sell smoking accessories and other paraphernalia.

DC Councilman David A. Catania lauded the city’s progress. “While the process has taken longer than anyone would have liked, I am pleased that we now appear to be only a few short months from the existence of a responsible, well-regulated medical marijuana program,” Catania said.

Now, an overview of the situation in Massachusetts:

On Nov. 6, Massachusetts became the 18th state in the nation to approve the use of medical marijuana. Its law calls for up to 35 nonprofit dispensaries, which could start opening by the end of next year.

The state has until April to craft regulations governing the new industry, but some lawmakers are saying that’s too soon.

An association that represents more than 200 cities and towns across the state has formally asked for a six-month delay in the program, saying the laws are vague and that the current schedule won’t give them enough time to debate and vote on local regulations. The city of Quincy is going a step further, asking for a nine-month delay.

It’s unclear how amenable the state will be to these requests. But there likely will be some type of setback, given that other states in the region that passed MMJ laws – including New Jersey, Rhode Island and Vermont (as well as Washington DC) – have experienced numerous delays as they attempt to set up dispensaries.

East Coast MMJ Update: DC Cannabis Program Advances, MA Cities Seek Delays of 6-9 Months is a post from: Medical Marijuana Business Daily - Legal, Financial and Dispensary News