Week in Review: Florida’s restrictive plan, slow returns in NH & Pennsylvania app processs

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By Bart Schaneman, Omar Sacirbey and John Schroyer

Florida’s draft medical marijuana rules would bar new entrants, New Hampshire dispensaries have a ways to go before breaking even, and Pennsylvania releases MMJ business applications.

Here’s a closer look at some notable developments in the marijuana industry over the past week.

Work in progress

Entrepreneurs angling to capitalize on Florida’s new MMJ program may be out of luck – if state health regulators have their way. MMJ advocates, however, are confident this week’s draft…

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First Medical Marijuana Dispensary (Finally) Open in New Hampshire

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CONCORD, NH — It took two years, nine months, and eight days, but New Hampshire’s medical marijuana patients finally have access to a safe, legal supply of cannabis.

On Saturday, the Granite State’s first medical marijuana dispensary, Sanctuary ATC in Plymouth, opened its doors to patients just one day after receiving their registration certificate to operate from state officials.

“When the Therapeutic Cannabis Program was established by the Legislature, it envisioned that people in New Hampshire suffering from serious medical…

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ASA Releases New Report on State Medical Marijuana Programs

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With the release last year of the first detailed analysis and comparison of state medical marijuana laws, Americans for Safe Access (ASA) created a patient-focused tool to identify effective programs and problem areas. That groundbreaking report was followed by the release of ASA’s new, far more detailed report on state programs, which reflects the many new states that have added programs as well as others that have improved their existing programs.

Like the original report, this latest white paper enables advocates, policy makers and…

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ASA Report Evaluates Medical Marijuana Programs Nationwide

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ASA Report Evaluates Medical Marijuana Programs Nationwide

Patient Advocates Hope Report will Help State Legislators “Make the Grade” in 2016

WASHINGTON, DC — Americans for Safe Access (ASA) issued “Medical Marijuana Access in the US: A Patient-Focused Analysis of the Patchwork of State Laws,” on Tuesday. The annual report evaluates the array of differing state medical cannabis programs across the country from a perspective often overlooked in policy debates: the patients’ and provides policy makers with model legislation and regulations. With dozens of states already seeing legislative…

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Location of First New Hampshire Medical Grow Site Approved

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Location of First New Hampshire Medical Grow Site Approved

CONCORD, NH — Officials overseeing New Hampshire’s medical marijuana program have announced the approval of a location for the first registered medical marijuana growing facility, marking a sign of progress in an implementation that has experienced serious delays.

In a press release issued Thursday, the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) announced that Sanctuary ATC, located in Rochester, is the first to receive approval to begin cultivating cannabis in the state:

The NH Department of Health and Human Services…

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New Hampshire to Start Issuing Medical Marijuana Cards

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CONCORD, NH — The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services will begin issuing the first round of medical marijuana ID cards to patients as early as next week, allowing patients to purchase medical marijuana in nearby Maine and legally possess it in New Hampshire.

In a press release issued Tuesday, the Department said they will begin issuing medical marijuana ID cards on Monday, December 28.

Previously, the Department had said that they would not issue ID cards to patients until medical marijuana dispensaries were operational…

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New Hampshire’s First (and Only) Medical Marijuana Patient will Finally Access Medical Marijuana at Maine Dispensary on Friday

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Last month, a judge ordered the New Hampshire Health Department to issue an ID card to Linda Horan so that she can legally purchase medical marijuana in Maine and not face arrest and prosecution in New Hampshire

PORTLAND, ME — A terminally ill woman who successfully sued the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services to obtain the state’s first medical marijuana patient ID card will visit a medical marijuana dispensary in Portland, Maine on Friday.

Linda Horan of Alstead, who suffers from Stage 4 lung cancer, will…

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Judge Orders NH Health Dept. to Issue Medical Marijuana Card to Terminal Patient

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With an ID card, Linda Horan will be able to obtain medical marijuana legally in Maine and use it without fear of arrest in New Hampshire; Horan sued DHHS after it refused to issue ID cards until dispensaries open next year

CONCORD, NH — On Tuesday, a Merrimack County Superior Court Judge ordered the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to issue a medical marijuana ID card to a woman with terminal cancer in order to expedite her access to medical marijuana.

Linda Horan of Alstead filed a lawsuit against DHHS…

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Hearing Thursday for Terminal NH Cancer Patient Seeking Medical Marijuana Access

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Linda Horan of Alstead wants a New Hampshire medical marijuana ID card, which would allow her to obtain medical marijuana legally in Maine and protect her from arrest and prosecution in New Hampshire

CONCORD, NH — Merrimack County Superior Court will hold a hearing at 10 a.m. on Thursday on a lawsuit against New Hampshire Commissioner of Health and Human Services Nicholas Toumpas filed by a terminal cancer patient seeking access to medical marijuana.

Linda Horan of Alstead, who is suffering from Stage 4 lung cancer, filed a…

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Terminal Cancer Patient Seeking Medical Marijuana Files Lawsuit Against New Hampshire Commissioner of Health and Human Services

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Suit filed Thursday by Linda Horan of Alstead asks DHHS to take swift action so that she can immediately begin accessing medical marijuana to mitigate ‘intolerably painful side effects’ of stage IV lung cancer — ‘She does not wish to spend her last months in a narcotic haze from prescribed opiates’

CONCORD, NH — A terminal cancer patient seeking expedited access to medical marijuana filed a lawsuit Thursday in Merrimack County Superior Court against New Hampshire Commissioner of Health and Human Services Nicholas Toumpas.

The…

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NH Cancer Patient Sues Over Lack of Medical Marijuana Card

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Suit filed Thursday by Linda Horan of Alstead asks DHHS to take swift action so that she can immediately begin accessing medical marijuana to mitigate ‘intolerably painful side effects’ of stage IV lung cancer — ‘She does not wish to spend her last months in a narcotic haze from prescribed opiates’

CONCORD, NH — A terminal cancer patient seeking expedited access to medical marijuana filed a lawsuit Thursday in Merrimack County Superior Court against New Hampshire Commissioner of Health and Human Services Nicholas Toumpas.

The…

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Public Meetings this Week to Determine New Hampishere Dispensary Locations

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There will be a series of meetings over the next several days to discuss locations for where the state’s medical marijuana dispensaries and cultivation centers will be licensed. The meetings will take place in the towns of Plymouth, Peterborough, Lebanon, and Merrimack. We encourage you to attend these meetings and show your support for safe and legal access.

Medical marijuana businesses make good neighbors. Studies have shown that medical marijuana businesses do not cause an increase in crime. In fact, they have a minor impact in reducing crime by increasing foot traffic as well as the security cameras and other required safety features. You can learn more about dispensary safety in the community by reading ASA’s dispensary reports for Massachusetts and California.

Monday, August…

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New Hampshire Gov. Signs Bill Expanding Medical Marijuana Conditions

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CONCORD, NH — New Hampshire Governor Maggie Hassan has signed into law a bill that will add epilepsy, lupus and Parkinson’s disease to the list of conditions that qualify a patient for medical marijuana use in the state.

The widely supported bill, House Bill 476, was approved earlier this year by a voice vote in each chamber of the legislature.  The new conditions will be added to the program when the bill takes effect in 60 days.

Once the bill takes effect, epilepsy, lupus and Parkinson’s disease will be added to the list of qualifying conditions that currently includes cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), muscular dystrophy, Crohn’s disease, multiple sclerosis, chronic pancreatitis, spinal cord injury or disease, and traumatic brain injuries.

New…

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New Hampshire Finally Licensing Dispensaries

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There is finally good news regarding the implementation of New Hampshire’s medical marijuana law.

Last week, the Department of Health and Human Services announced that three applicants have been approved to move forward with their plans to open dispensaries in four geographic areas.

One applicant was granted the ability to operate two dispensaries, while the two others may operate one dispensary each.

The announcement came more than four months after the department’s January 23 deadline. The delay was very disappointing, but late is obviously better than never.

The details, including the names of the three approved entities, are available here at the department’s website.

This news, while positive, does not necessarily mean that safe, state-legal access for patients is right around…

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New Hampshire Selects Medical Marijuana Providers

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CONCORD, NH — On Tuesday, the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) announced the three providers that have been selected to operate the four medical marijuana dispensaries in the state.

Of the three selected, one provider will be responsible for operating two dispensaries, called “alternative treatment centers” in New Hampshire.

“This is an important milestone to bring the Alternative Treatment Centers on-line,” said DHHS Commissioner Nicholas A. Toumpas. “Now that the selections have been made, we will work closely with the selected Treatment Centers to make them operational as soon as possible so that they can open their doors and begin to provide…

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Source: The Daily Chronic

Where is New Hampshire’s Medical Marijuana Program?

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Meet Joe Lachance.

Joe has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, two master’s degrees, is an active member of his local Congregational Church and the Republican party, and is married with two children.

Joe is a veteran of the United States Army, having served in the 25th Infantry Division from 1989 to 1992.  While serving his country, Joe suffered an injury that resulted in permanent nerve damage to his back and right leg, resulting in severe chronic pain that persists to this day — one of several service-related conditions…

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