Medical Marijuana Grower Buys Land In Allegany County
CUMBERLAND, Md. (AP) -- A company planning to grow medical marijuana has purchased land in Allegany County to cultivate the plant.
The Cumberland Times-News reports that Vast Organic Farms has bought 26 acres in Oldtown and is hoping to obtain one of 15 licenses the state of Maryland is planning to issue by early 2016 for medical marijuana growers.
The company's CEO Casey Callister says the farm would combine indoor growing in greenhouses with possible traditional open-air growing, depending on state regulations. Proposed regulations require strong security, including video surveillance and security guards.
According to the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission, applications for growers will be available in September, with licenses issued in 2016. The commission anticipates that medical cannabis could become available to patients by the second half of 2016.