Maryland's First Medical Marijuana Dispensary Approved

BALTIMORE, MD — Maryland regulators approved the state's first medical marijuana dispensary, allowing a Frederick business to open immediately although the drug will not be available to purchase for months, according to reports.

The Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission approved the license for Wellness Institute of Maryland Wednesday, the only firm authorized to grow medical marijuana since it was legalized in Maryland over four years ago.

The company will start seeing patients Thursday for "pre-orders" of medical marijuana, according to The Baltimore Sun. The first crop is expected to be ready after Labor Day.

"We are fully equipped to deliver medicine as soon as we have it," owner Michael Kline said shortly after the commission approved his license.

Also on Wednesday, the commission delayed a vote to authorize a second grower, Curio Wellness in Baltimore County. Regulators asked for more information about Curio, but would not discuss the issue publicly.

Curio CEO Michael Bronfein expressed disappointment in the decision and said the commission never told him he was missing information. Bronfein also said state inspectors observed and approved his facility June 14.

"Our state of the art facility is ready," Bronfein said in a statement, according to The Baltimore Sun. "Every day the commission fails to provide our stage two license delays patients access to safe, reliable, and effective medicine."

Regulators awarded 15 preliminary growing licenses and 15 preliminary processing licenses last year, which they can revoke if those firms are not granted final licenses by Aug. 15.

The commission's Executive Director Patrick Jameson says the commission will approve more licenses after each applicant undergoes a final state inspection.

The Wellness Institute of Maryland is located at 4606 Wedgewood Blvd., Frederick, MD.

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