Maryland Medical Cannabis

Maryland Medical Cannabis License Phase 2

The Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission received close to 1,000 applications for dispensing, growing and processing licenses in 2015. Due to the unexpected large volume of applicants, the announcement of licenses awarded has been pushed back to Summer of 2016.

Pre-approved licensees will progress to Phase 2 of the licensing process and will have a year to accomplish several tasks in order to receive final approval for operations. Phase 2 might include:

• Payment of Phase 2 application fee $4,000
• An audited financial statement for the applicant and for each individual, partnership, corporation, or other entity review that has invested, or is proposed to invest, 5 percent or more of the capital of the applicant
• The party applying for the license must register all dispensary agents by submitting to the Commission:
  • The name, address, date of birth and SSN of a dispensary agent
  • Documentation of the submission of fingerprints of the dispensary agent to the Central Registry and;
  • The request for the criminal history record information of the dispensary agent to be forwarded to the Commission
• Evidence that the proposed premises:
  • Are under the legal control of the applicant;
  • Comply with all zoning and planning requirements; and
  • Conform to the specifications of the application as pre-approved
  • Evidence that all inspections are passed and all of the applicant’s operations conform to the specifications of the application as pre-approved
• Other steps could include raising capital, construction of facilities, installation of equipment and systems and the hiring and training of staff.

The Commission shall notify an Applicant who has been pre-approved for a license within 10 business days of the Commission’s decision.

SELECTION PROCESS: Pre-Approval of License—Phase 1

DISPENSARY APPLICATION
Operational Factors—20%

· A detailed operational plan for the dispensing of medical cannabis extracts and medical cannabis-infused products;

· Summaries of policies and procedures for:

· Counseling and educating patients and caregivers;

· Packaging;

· Labeling.

Safety and Security Factors — 20%

· A detailed plan or information describing the security features and procedures;

· A detailed plan describing how the dispensary will prevent diversion;

· A detailed plan describing safety procedures.

Medical Cannabis Professionalism —20%

· Experience, knowledge, and training in training dispensary agents in the science and use of medical cannabis;

· Use of a clinical director

Retail Management Factors —15%

· A detailed plan to preserve the quality of the medical cannabis

· A plan to minimize any negative impact on the surrounding community and businesses;

· A detailed inventory control plan;

· A detailed medical cannabis waste disposal plan.

Business and Economic Factors —15%

· A business plan

· Demonstrating a likelihood of success;

· Demonstrating sufficient business ability and experience on the part of the Applicant;

· Providing for appropriate employee working conditions, benefits, and training;

· Demonstration of adequate capitalization; and

· A detailed plan evidencing how the dispensary will enforce the alcohol and drug free workplace policy.

Additional Factors —15%

· Demonstrated Maryland residency among the owners and investors;

· Evidence that the Applicant is not in arrears regarding any tax obligation in Maryland and other jurisdictions;

· The medical cannabis extracts and medical cannabis-infused products proposed to be dispensed with proposed cannabinoid profiles, including varieties with high cannabidiol content, and the varieties of routes of administration.

GROWER APPLICATION

Operational Factors—20%

· A detailed operational plan for the cultivation of medical cannabis to include:

· Summaries of policies and procedures for:

· Cultivation;

· Growth;

· Processing; and

· Packaging.

Safety and Security Factors—20%

· Detailed plan or information describing the security features and procedures;

· Detailed plan describing how the grower will prevent diversion; and

· Detailed plan describing safety procedures.

Commercial Horticultural or Agricultural factors—15%

· Experience, knowledge and training in:

· Horticultural production; or

· Agricultural production.

Production Control Factors—15%

· A detailed quality control plan;

· A detailed inventory control plan; and

· A detailed medical cannabis waste disposal plan.

Business and Economic Factors—15%

· A business plan demonstrating a likelihood of success, a sufficient business ability and experience on the part of the Applicant, and providing for appropiate employee working conditions, benefits and training;

· Demonstration of adequate capitalization; and

· A detailed plan evidencing how the grower will enforce the alcohol- and drug-free workplace policy.

Additional Factors—15%

· Demonstrated Maryland residency among the owners and investors;

· Evidence that Applicant is not in arrears regarding any tax obligation in Maryland and other jurisdictions;

· A detailed plan evidencing how the grower will distribute to dispensaries and processors; and

· A list of proposed medical cannabis varieties proposed to be grown with proposed cannabinoid profiles, including:

· Varieties with high cannabidiol content; and

· Whether the strain has any demonstrated success in alleviating symptoms of specific diseases or conditions.

COMAR 10.62.08.05 (J)—For scoring purposes, the Commission may take into account the geographic location of the growing operation to ensure there is geographic diversity in the award of licenses.
PROCESSOR

Operational Factors—20%

· A detailed operational plan for the production of medical cannabis extracts and medical cannabis-infused products;

· Summaries of policies and procedures for:

· Laboratory operations;

· Processing;

· Packaging.

Safety and Security Factors—20%

· A detailed plan or information describing the security features and procedures;

· A detailed plan describing how the processor will prevent diversion;

· A detailed plan describing safety procedures.

Commercial Laboratory, Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, and Consumer Products Production Factors—15%

· Experience, knowledge, and training in:

· Chemical plant management;

· Pharmaceutical manufacturing;

· Consumer product production.

Production Control Factors—15%

· A detailed quality control plan;

· A detailed inventory control plan;

· A detailed medical cannabis waste disposal plan.

Business and Economic Factors—15%

· A business plan:

· Demonstrating a likelihood of success;

· Demonstrating a sufficient business ability and experience on the part of the Applicant;

· Providing for appropriate employee working conditions, benefits, and training;

· Demonstrating of adequate capitalization;

· A detailed plan evidencing how the processor will enforce the alcohol and drug free workplace policy.

Additional Factors—15%

· Demonstrated Maryland residency among the owners and investors;

· Evidence that the Applicant is not in arrears regarding any tax obligation in Maryland and other jurisdictions;

· A detailed plan evidencing how the processor will distribute to dispensaries;

· A list of proposed medical cannabis extracts and medical cannabis-infused products to be produced with proposed cannabinoid profiles, including:

· Varieties with high cannabidiol content;

· Whether the product has any demonstrated success in alleviating symptoms of specific diseases or conditions.