Utah rejects appeals from six would-be medical cannabis growers

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Utah dismissed appeals from six companies that were denied licenses to grow medical marijuana, a move that at least temporarily keeps the program on track to launch next year.

Utah’s Division of Purchasing announced the dismissal of the appeals just days after the July 26 deadline to file the challenges.

Purchasing Director Chris Hughes said rejected applicants can appeal his decision to the state Procurement Policy Board.

The denied companies could consider lawsuits at a later point as well.

Utah agriculture officials say they licensed eight medical marijuana growers – instead of the maximum 10 allowed – to avoid an oversupply of marijuana.

But the appeals challenged the state’s decision to award fewer licenses than allowed by law and also alleged that some applicants weren’t qualified.

The companies that appealed were Pure UT, North Star Holdings, Total Health Sciences, Wild West Holding, JLPR and Tintic United Bioscience.

– Associated Press and Marijuana Business Daily