Multiple bidders looking to build more medical dispensary programs in Delaware

Delaware has 1,351 medical marijuana patients and only one place to get their medicine.

It’s in Wilmington not exactly convenient for the 436 patients who live in Kent and Sussex Counties.

“Traveling for some one who lives in Rehoboth its an 80 mile trip one way trip its essentially a full day or someone who is elderly or has MS pr they are receiving cancer treatment its a tough day,” says Paul Hyland, the state’s medical marijuana program administrator.

Hyland says dispensaries are coming to lower Delaware one for each county, but first the state must decide which companies are best suited to set up shop.

Currently there are eleven bidders hoping for a bid from the Medical Marijuana Oversight Committee.

There’s a lot to consider, first officials want to have public meetings where residents can weigh in on the prospect of a dispensary coming to their area.

There are also zoning requirements like not being within 500 feet of any schools having basic access to power being in a low crime area among other patient considerations.

“The security for the patient so there’s a parking lot that is accessible and the building is disabled accessible,” says Hyland.

The companies that get those two bids would have to install security alarms and cameras before they get their permit. Even then patients will have to wait because the medicine has to be grown.

“Eighteen weeks after planting the crop they can start growing it,” says Hyland, “It is a lengthy process”.

Officials expected bidding to be finished by August and the growing to start in January.

For more information visit http://http://dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dph/hsp/medmarhome.html