The final approval of eight new medical marijuana dispensaries on Thursday increased the size of Maryland’s retail market to 65 stores, more than halfway toward the 102 that have obtained pre-approval.
“We are making progress,” said Joy A. Strand, executive director of the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission, at the panel’s Thursday meeting.
Revenue from dispensaries hit nearly $9 million in June, up from $2.6 million in January. Total sales for the past eight months stood at nearly $45 million.
National firms are starting to snap up Maryland’s medical marijuana licenses. Regulators want to prevent that
The number of patients certified to obtain medical marijuana in Maryland jumped 27 percent — to 35,019 from 27,585 at the end of May.
Experts estimate that the number of patients typically equal 2 percent of a state’s population. For Maryland, which has a population of about 6 million, that would equate to 120,000 patients.
The state also continues to add medical providers who can prescribe the medication. The commission announced there are now 975 providers — primarily physicians. That’s up from 709 at the end of May.
Click here to read the rest of the article written by Doug Donovan over at the Baltimore Sun