Maryland Panel To Make License Decisions On Medical Cannabis

BALTIMORE (AP) — A Maryland panel is scheduled to make preliminary decisions about who will get licenses to grow and process medical marijuana in the state.

The Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission is set to vote on the first stage of the licensing procedure for 15 growers and 15 processors. It also will be choosing several additional companies, leaving some extras in each category in case any do not meet requirements for final approval.

The panel is choosing from 145 grower license applications and 124 processor applications.

After initial approval, the commission will conduct financial due diligence and background investigations on the companies.

The names of the companies that are selected Friday won't be made public until Aug. 15. Medical marijuana isn't expected to be available under the state's regulations until sometime next year.