State Receives 11 Bids for Medical Marijuana Dispensary Licenses

Two licenses for medical marijuana dispensaries will be made available in Delaware. One will be issued for Sussex county and the other for Kent county. The state has received 11 bids for medical marijuana dispensary licenses so far.

Some of the applications received wish to serve patients in both counties, says Delaware Online. The identities of the bidders cannot be revealed under current regulations in the state. The applications will be reviewed by the Delaware Health and Social Services Department and the Medical Marijuana Oversight Committee. Contracts should be signed by the end of the summer.

The cost of application is $5,000 and there is a licensing fee of $40,000. The state is calling the chosen applicants “winners,” almost like a lottery. The medical marijuana program administrator, Paul Hyland, said that a possibility that no winner could be selected is a possibility.

Hyland said, “While [Delaware Health and Social Services] intends to add a new compassion center in each of Kent and Sussex counties, we reserve the right to determine that no qualified bidder exists. In the event that such a determination is made, we will act in accordance with what is statutorily required. This is standard with any [request for proposal] process.”

Forums may be conducted to gain public feedback. Those wishing to open dispensaries would be given the task of scheduling a time and location for such forums. Hyland commented on this with, “The goal [of the forums] is to be transparent about the potential location of a compassion center.”

As many patients in Delaware have difficulty traveling to Wilmington, the need for additional locations exists. Medical marijuana patient, Deb McPherson, said, “There is a pretty large patient base down in the lower part of the state. Most of the cardholders are over 50, and they don’t have the stamina and ability to come to New Castle County.”

Todd Boone, who filed a lawsuit regarding the delay of opening compassion centers, said, “I’m pleased that they are starting to move forward. It should have already in 2013. Competition will drive prices down because First State won’t have all the customers. There are a lot of people buying off the streets because it’s cheaper.”