August 15th, 2016 by WCBC Radio

The Natalie M. LaPrade Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission (“MMCC”) today announced the names of the 15 Growers and 15 Processors who have been awarded Stage One license pre-approvals. The Commission’s actions mark a giant step forward for the medical cannabis program in Maryland.

The list does not include Peak Harvest Health, LLC, which had gained the support of local elected officials.  The commission did name Pharmaculture LLC as a processor to be located in Allegany County. County Commission President Jake Shade says the county has had no interaction with Pharmaculture.

The list does include Grow West MD, LLC, as a grower to be located in Garrett County.  Kind Therapeutics USA, LLC, has been named as both a grower and processor to be located in Washington County, while Harvest of Maryland, LLC, has also been tabbed as a grower based in Washington County.

Dr. Paul W. Davies, Chairman of the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission stated, “I’m excited that we have a great number of outstanding companies willing to help sick people in Maryland.” The potential licensees comprise a diverse group of principals, executives and corporate officers including Maryland residents associated with long-time established Maryland businesses, entrepreneurs, women and minority-operated enterprises. Seven of the Processors are affiliated with Growers who received Stage One pre-approvals.

The Commissioners’ selections for Grower entities and locations are:

Curio Cultivation LLC	Baltimore County
Doctors Orders Maryland LLC	Dorchester County
Forward Gro LLC	Anne Arundel County
Freestate Wellness LLC	Howard County
Green Leaf Medical LLC	Frederick County
Grow West MD LLC	Garrett County
Harvest of Maryland LLC	Washington County
HMS Health LLC	Frederick County
Holistic Industries LLC	Prince George’s County
Kind Therapeutics USA LLC	Washington County
Maryland Compassionate Care and Wellness LLC	Carroll County
MaryMed LLC	Dorchester County
Shore Natural Rx LLC	Worcester County
SunMed Growers LLC	Cecil County
Temescal Wellness of MD LLC	Baltimore City

 The Processor entities and locations are:

AFS Maryland LLC	Wicomico County
Blair Wellness Center LLC	Worcester County
Chesapeake Alternatives LLC	Queen Anne’s County
Curio Manufacturing LLC	Baltimore County
Doctors Orders Maryland LLC	Dorchester County
FGM Processing LLC	Charles County
Holistic Industries LLC	Prince George’s County
Kind Therapeutics USA LLC	Washington County
Maryland Compassionate Care and Wellness LLC	Carroll County
MaryMed LLC	Dorchester County
Pharmaculture Corporation	Allegany County
Pro Green Medical LLC	Frederick County
Rosebud Organics LLC	Montgomery County
Seven Points Agro-Therapeutics LLC	Prince George’s County
Temescal Wellness of MD	Baltimore City

The locations of the Growers and Processors span 16 counties and Baltimore City (see map), including Allegany, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Cecil, Charles, Dorchester, Frederick, Garrett, Howard, Montgomery, Prince George’s, Queen Anne’s, Washington, Wicomico and Worcester. Many Grower applicants who were highly qualified were not pre-approved due to statutory limitations on the number of growers.

The Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission’s Executive Director, Patrick Jameson stated, “Now that the Commissioners have made their selections, the real work begins for these companies. We will implement a rigorous Stage Two background and financial due diligence process for these entities prior to issuing a license.  A pre-approval is not a license. I truly look forward to facilitating this nascent state wide industry and working with local, city, and county jurisdictions and with the principals of these organizations.” The Commissioners will vote for licensure once compliance with the regulatory requirements is complete.

The Growers will cultivate a variety of strains ranging in cannabinoid content from a low to high spectrum of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Cannabidiol (CBD), and the Processors will be manufacturing a wide variety of cannabis-infused products containing high and low CBD and THC extracts and in a variety of modes of administration. These pharmaceutical grade products will include oral forms such as oils, pills, capsules, tinctures; sublingual sprays; inhaled products and topical forms such as ointments, salves, and transdermal patches.

MMCC also commissioned the Towson University, Regional Economic Studies Institute “RESI” to coordinate the review of the Dispensary Applications by subject matter experts and to utilize the same process as for the Grower and Processor applications such as compiling the scores and application rankings. The Commissioners will review and vote on the Dispensaries (two per Senatorial district and potentially 15 additional for Growers who wish to be vertically integrated) with medicine tentatively becoming available by the summer of 2017.

Dr. Davies continued, “While we are aware there is a public interest in the rankings of the Grower and Processor applications, the rankings were merely used as an organizational tool.  The Commission will list the entities in alphabetical order. 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."

Maryland received 145 grower applications, 124 processor applications and 811 dispensary license applications. Again, MMCC commissioned RESI to contract with third-party subject matter experts from around the United States to evaluate the applications using a double-blinded process. RESI assigned unique identifying numbers to each application prior to evaluation and review by subject matter experts and Commissioners. Application content comprised text and supporting documents redacted of all identifying information such as individual or entity applicant names and locations.  Once evaluated and scored by the subject matter experts, RESI compiled the scores and ranked the applications. The scored and ranked redacted Grower and Processor applications were then provided to Commissioners for review and final selection.

 The 15 Grower and Processor potential licensees will continue on to Stage Two of the approval process, which will include extensive financial due diligence and background investigations by the MMCC of all those named in the original application and any other principals. Each entity that was issued a pre-approval will have 365 days from date of notification to complete all necessary steps to obtain a formal license and to request final inspection by the Commission. These steps include completing regulatory requirements, raising capital, acquiring real estate, securing local zoning approvals, construction of facilities, installation of equipment, and the hiring and training of staff.

All applicants, including those who did not receive pre-approvals, were notified as to the status of their application by email and U.S. mail today.