The state Health Department on Thursday released the names and contacts of 15 businesses that have applied to establish Rhode Island's first compassion centers, or stores, to sell marijuana to patients registered in the medicinal marijuana program.
No other details were released Thursday, but Annemarie Beardsworth, department spokeswoman, said further information will be released early next week. That information will include the locations, board of directors and the names of who will be employed in each facility.
Under state law, no convicted felons will be allowed to work at a compassion center.
On June 29, the Health Department will host a meeting at 3 Capitol Hill, for the public to raise questions about the applicants or the facilities that they hope to open. She said the questions will be limited to issues surrounding the proposed centers.
Right now, the Health Department has plans to allow the establishment of up to three compassion centers in the state.
Beardsworth said that Health Department officials have yet to closely review the applications. She said that it's possible that all 15 applicants could be rejected.
The purpose of the compassion centers, which are supposed to run on a non-for-profit basis, is to expand the number of places where patients can get, with a physician's approval, marijuana to treat a variety of illnesses including back pain, nausea and seizures.
Recent Health Department figures show that there are 1,562 patients and 1,240 caregivers in the state.
Beardsworth said that the caregivers will continue their business alongside the compassion center or centers.
NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: The Providence Journal
Author: W. Zachary Malinowski
Contact: The Providence Journal
Copyright: 2010 The Providence Journal Co.,
Website: RI Health Dept. releases names of pot-center applicants
No other details were released Thursday, but Annemarie Beardsworth, department spokeswoman, said further information will be released early next week. That information will include the locations, board of directors and the names of who will be employed in each facility.
Under state law, no convicted felons will be allowed to work at a compassion center.
On June 29, the Health Department will host a meeting at 3 Capitol Hill, for the public to raise questions about the applicants or the facilities that they hope to open. She said the questions will be limited to issues surrounding the proposed centers.
Right now, the Health Department has plans to allow the establishment of up to three compassion centers in the state.
Beardsworth said that Health Department officials have yet to closely review the applications. She said that it's possible that all 15 applicants could be rejected.
The purpose of the compassion centers, which are supposed to run on a non-for-profit basis, is to expand the number of places where patients can get, with a physician's approval, marijuana to treat a variety of illnesses including back pain, nausea and seizures.
Recent Health Department figures show that there are 1,562 patients and 1,240 caregivers in the state.
Beardsworth said that the caregivers will continue their business alongside the compassion center or centers.
NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: The Providence Journal
Author: W. Zachary Malinowski
Contact: The Providence Journal
Copyright: 2010 The Providence Journal Co.,
Website: RI Health Dept. releases names of pot-center applicants
