Two groups seeking to establish medical marijuana dispensaries in Sanford have had their applications rejected by the state.
Green Relief MD has shown interest in setting up a dispensary at Millstone Place, the former Goodall mill at 72 Emery Street that Eric Stone owns. Ahead Care has looked into establishing a facility in the Deer Ridge building on Cottage Street.
Both groups submitted their applications to the state's Division of Licensing and Regulatory Services (DLRS), which is a part of Maine's Department of Health and Human Services.
In November, voters approved a referendum seeking to allow dispensaries in Maine for the purpose of providing medical marijuana for people with debilitating and chronic illnesses. Maine is the fifth state in the nation to enact the law. Under the law, patients are allowed two-and-a-half ounces of marijuana at a time.
Eight nonprofit dispensaries – one in each of the state's eight public health districts – will be allowed to set up business for the first year of the Maine Medical Use of Marijuana Act. On Friday, the DLRS announced the selection of dispensaries for six of those districts. Applicants in the other two districts – the one for York County and the other for Washington and Hancock counties – were not approved.
That means it's back to the drawing board for Green Relief MD and Ahead Care.
"We are re-opening the application process in these Districts," DLRS Director Cathy Cobb stated in a press release. "Those who were not selected can make changes to their plans and reapply."
Groups have until Aug. 20 to reapply. The state will announce its selections by Aug. 31.
All in all, a panel of four members reviewed 27 applications. Applicants needed to score a minimum of 70 points in order to be considered. Green Relief MD scored 52 points, according to data provided by the state's DLRS webpage. Ahead Care scored 65.
In general, the losing applicants failed to demonstrate a nonprofit "mission," Cobb said, adding that the DLRS was weary of applications that represented "get-rich-quick schemes."
The closest approved site for York County is a facility slated for Portland that could be open in as little as two months.
The Sanford Town Council will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, July 20, for the public to comment on the regulation of medical marijuana clinics in Sanford. The hearing will be held at 7 p.m. in council chambers on the third floor of the Town Hall Annex at 919 Main Street.
July 20 also marks the end of an emergency ordinance that the town council enacted that imposes a moratorium on locating such dispensaries in Sanford until reasonable restrictions, conditions and limitations could be established. The council could extend the moratorium for an additional 90 days.
The council considered repealing the moratorium during its meeting on June 8 but decided 6-to-1 against it. Councilor Kevin Chabot was the lone vote in favor of repealing.
During that June 8 meeting, Green Relief Executive Director Ron Fousek told town councilors that his organization would provide a safe, clean facility that would offer services and medical marijuana to patients who have a doctor's prescription. Brian Eager, of Springvale, accompanied Fousek and both men assured councilors that the dispensary would provide patients with privacy and allow them to buy marijuana on site but not use the product there.
In light of Sanford's moratorium, Green Relief also is looking at a site on Goodwin Road in Eliot, near Route 236 and across from a popular tavern.
Fousek called the state's rejection of Green Relief MD's applications "disappointing."
"We obviously have to step up our game," he said. "We need a house cleaning and figure out where we went wrong."
NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: Fosters
Copyright: 2010 Geo. J. Foster Company
Green Relief MD has shown interest in setting up a dispensary at Millstone Place, the former Goodall mill at 72 Emery Street that Eric Stone owns. Ahead Care has looked into establishing a facility in the Deer Ridge building on Cottage Street.
Both groups submitted their applications to the state's Division of Licensing and Regulatory Services (DLRS), which is a part of Maine's Department of Health and Human Services.
In November, voters approved a referendum seeking to allow dispensaries in Maine for the purpose of providing medical marijuana for people with debilitating and chronic illnesses. Maine is the fifth state in the nation to enact the law. Under the law, patients are allowed two-and-a-half ounces of marijuana at a time.
Eight nonprofit dispensaries – one in each of the state's eight public health districts – will be allowed to set up business for the first year of the Maine Medical Use of Marijuana Act. On Friday, the DLRS announced the selection of dispensaries for six of those districts. Applicants in the other two districts – the one for York County and the other for Washington and Hancock counties – were not approved.
That means it's back to the drawing board for Green Relief MD and Ahead Care.
"We are re-opening the application process in these Districts," DLRS Director Cathy Cobb stated in a press release. "Those who were not selected can make changes to their plans and reapply."
Groups have until Aug. 20 to reapply. The state will announce its selections by Aug. 31.
All in all, a panel of four members reviewed 27 applications. Applicants needed to score a minimum of 70 points in order to be considered. Green Relief MD scored 52 points, according to data provided by the state's DLRS webpage. Ahead Care scored 65.
In general, the losing applicants failed to demonstrate a nonprofit "mission," Cobb said, adding that the DLRS was weary of applications that represented "get-rich-quick schemes."
The closest approved site for York County is a facility slated for Portland that could be open in as little as two months.
The Sanford Town Council will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, July 20, for the public to comment on the regulation of medical marijuana clinics in Sanford. The hearing will be held at 7 p.m. in council chambers on the third floor of the Town Hall Annex at 919 Main Street.
July 20 also marks the end of an emergency ordinance that the town council enacted that imposes a moratorium on locating such dispensaries in Sanford until reasonable restrictions, conditions and limitations could be established. The council could extend the moratorium for an additional 90 days.
The council considered repealing the moratorium during its meeting on June 8 but decided 6-to-1 against it. Councilor Kevin Chabot was the lone vote in favor of repealing.
During that June 8 meeting, Green Relief Executive Director Ron Fousek told town councilors that his organization would provide a safe, clean facility that would offer services and medical marijuana to patients who have a doctor's prescription. Brian Eager, of Springvale, accompanied Fousek and both men assured councilors that the dispensary would provide patients with privacy and allow them to buy marijuana on site but not use the product there.
In light of Sanford's moratorium, Green Relief also is looking at a site on Goodwin Road in Eliot, near Route 236 and across from a popular tavern.
Fousek called the state's rejection of Green Relief MD's applications "disappointing."
"We obviously have to step up our game," he said. "We need a house cleaning and figure out where we went wrong."
NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: Fosters
Copyright: 2010 Geo. J. Foster Company
