CUMBERLAND The owner of a medical cannabis dispensary on Cumberlands West Side said medicine could be available to patients by July.
Dr. Sajal Roy, co-owner of the Allegany Medical Marijuana Dispensary, 100 Beall St., said Friday progress continues on the dispensary, which is expected to open in June.
We are doing well, said Roy. Right now, it looks like we may be the first dispensary ready to go in Maryland.
The rollout of the medical cannabis industry is being overseen by the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission. Roy and his partner, local businessman George Merling, were notified Dec. 9 that they were granted a stage one dispensary license.
Roy said the effort has progressed nicely since being granted a license. Following a background check and financial verifications, Roy said he began securing zoning requirements and permits for improvements, as well as beginning work on interior upgrades.
The build-out will be complete the first week in May, he said. Then we can call the commission to do the final inspection.
The dispensary is the site of the former Merling Wholesale Co. and Biederlack of America. Prior to those businesses, the 20,000-square-foot building was the home of the Loyal Order of Moose Lodge No. 271 for many years.
Roy said some job positions have been filed while others will be posted on the dispensarys website (Wecome To The Allegany Medical Marijuana Dispensary – Western Maryland’s Premier Medical Marijuana Dispensary) in the coming days.
Susan Shern of Cumberland has been hired as the dispensarys clinical manager, Roy said. She is a University of Maryland graduate and a licensed pharmacist.
We will need four bud tenders, one receptionist and three security people, said Roy. For people not selected, we will offer some per diem work. So like the second person (runner-up), they could cover for vacations and things like that and that way if we have the need to hire them full time that could be ready.
Roy said a regulatory manager and a chief of security have already been hired but names can not yet be released.
Roy said the first medical cannabis medicine to be offered will be buds. He said staff members are being certified as bud tenders by taking a course offered by THC University.
He expects other products like sublingual drops which are the most popular form of the medication tinctures and creams will probably be available later in the year.
Roy said the state requires that buds be obtained from Maryland growers.
There will be product from two Maryland growers, said Roy. Apparently there are two growers who will be ready.
Roy said the response from prospective patients, and other inquiries, has been enormous. He said he received nearly 250 emails asking about the dispensary and the process.
We are going to post information on the website, said Roy. We will post a list of the diseases and conditions that can be treated and we will list updates on the providers participating.
Roy said anyone who is interested in the treatment regiment can pre-register on the website.
Medical cannabis has been thought to help nausea, seizures, post traumatic stress syndrome and pain. Officials hope that medical cannabis can replace addictive opiate medications that are widely abused in the United States.
Roy is also the owner of Factor One Source Pharmacy, located on Virginia Avenue, which opened in 2014. Factor One is a specialty pharmacy that treats complex chronic diseases.
The state issued two dispensary licenses in each of Marylands 47 senatorial districts. In addition to Roy, a license was issued in Western Maryland District 1 to The Apothecary LLC, the dispensary arm for Grow West, LLC. Grow West, who also received a growers stage-one license, is currently in negotiations to locate in Garrett County.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker
Full Article: Medical Cannabis Could Be Available In July
Author: Greg Larry
Contact: 301-722-4600
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Website: Cumberland Times-News
