Delaware Officials Announce State’s First Medical Cannabis Dispensary

Delaware has permitted its first pilot medical cannabis dispensary, which will begin growing the drug this fall.

Lawmakers passed legislation in 2011 to legalize medical cannabis.  The law, signed by Gov. Jack Markell, called for three medical cannabis dispensaries, one for each county. Now, more than three years later, the state has finally approved one medical cannabis dispensary.

Earlier this week, officials finalized an initial two-year contract with First State Compassion Center (FSCC), whose president is Mark Lally, a former state trooper who also served as Carper’s Sussex County director. FSCC plans to operate its medical cannabis “compassion center” at an industrial park on the outskirts of Wilmington.

FSCC is linked to Massachusetts-based Signal Consulting, which specializes in the development of medical cannabis operations. The company was involved with the development of the Thomas C. Slater Compassion Center in Rhode Island that opened last year.

The cultivation and distribution facilities will be in appropriate zones and will offer easy access for patients who are eligible for treatment with medical cannabis. According to a letter from public health   director, Dr. Karyl Rattay, the facility will be within driving distance of a large portion of Delaware’s population and is set within walking distance of two bus routes.

The cultivation of the plants will start this fall, with cannabis expected to be available in four months prior to being sold early next year. The center will be limited to growing a maximum of 150 plants and an onsite inventory of no more than 1,500 ounces. The Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) argues that 150 plants will not be able to serve all of Delaware’s patients, and states that more compassion centers are needed to provide reasonable access to residents with serious conditions.

Last updated: 8/14/14; 12:40pm EST