Maryland May Pick MMJ License Winners in August

After criticism from the executive director of Maryland’s Medical Cannabis Commission, the chairman of the group announced that the first marijuana business license winners in the cultivator and processor categories could be chosen as soon as August 5.

The MMJ program’s recently appointed executive director, Patrick Jameson, on Tuesday criticized the review process of more than 1,000 marijuana business applications as “too cumbersome” and “too expensive,” and said it had taken “too long,” the Baltimore Sun reported.

Commission members said they were disappointed by Jameson’s comments, and said they believed that they had accomplished a lot in their first year, according to the Sun. Jameson was appointed executive director by Governor Larry Hogan in April, about three months after the previous director had resigned.

Commission chairman Dr. Paul Davies said his group would publicly review the top-ranked growing and processing applications within weeks and decide which would receive preliminary licenses, the Sun reported.

The soonest that could happen is Aug. 5, Davies said. But he did not set a date. The identities of the winners won’t be revealed until a few days after a decision has been made.

Once granted preliminary approval, the companies must pay hefty licensing fees to the state and undergo a series of inspections before obtaining licenses to operate.

Dispensary licenses will be announced later.