Marijuana Business Magazine January 2019

Maryland More than 50,000 patients have signed up for Maryland’s medical marijuana program since regulators began registering patients Dec. 1, 2017. The head of the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission (MMCC) said state regulators are receiving more than 1,000 applications a week from would-be patients. MMCC Executive Director Joy Strand anticipates the pool will max out at roughly 200,000 total patients. The market is expected to reach $100 million in sales in its first full year. Massachusetts Despite long lines, the owners of the first two stores in Massachusetts per- mitted to sell recreational cannabis said the first day of sales went smoothly. Cultivate in Leicester and New England Treatment Access (NETA) in Northamp- ton opened at 8 a.m. Nov. 20. By noon, the wait outside Cultivate was approx- imately three hours. After making their first ceremonial sale to Northampton Mayor David Narkewicz, NETA employees made legal test purchases for them- selves before beginning sales to the general public.