HARTFORD, April 3 – Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection Commissioner William M. Rubenstein announced today the names and locations of the first six dispensary facilities that will be authorized by the state’s Medical Marijuana Program. These are the facilities that may legally dispense Connecticut-produced marijuana products to seriously ill patients who have been certified by their physicians as potentially benefiting from the use of medical marijuana, and who have registered with the state’s Medical Marijuana Program. 

“With the selection of dispensary facilities, all necessary pieces of the medical marijuana program are in place and we are poised to provide patients with a safe and secure source of needed medicine,” Commissioner Rubenstein said. “As retail points from which products are dispensed and educational materials are provided to patients, the dispensary facilities will be the public face of Connecticut’s medical marijuana program, and therefore, careful thought and deliberation went into selection of the most qualified applicants.”

Like the four producers that were awarded licenses in January, the six dispensary facilities were chosen through a competitive process, from 27 applicants that responded to a Request for Applications in November 2013.Each applicant was required to provide detailed information, including the applicant’s qualifications and experience, a business plan identifying the products and services it will offer, security features, and plans to provide benefits to the local community.

The selected dispensary facilities are:

The selected dispensary facilities will be eligible to receive their licenses upon payment of the $5,000 license fee and submission of certain final documentation, which must occur within 30 days.  The facilities will then begin construction, as needed, hire and train staff, and develop educational programs and materials.All are expected to be ready to open and serve patients by the time marijuana products are available from licensed producers sometime this summer.

Today’s announcement is another milestone in the implementation of Connecticut General Statutes Chapter 420f, which provides for the palliative use of marijuana for patients suffering from one of 11 specific debilitating illnesses, whose doctors believe that such treatment is appropriate.

Connecticut’s is the first state medical marijuana program based on the pharmaceutical/ medical model --from physician certification, to production facilities operating as pharmaceutical manufacturers, to dispensing to patients by licensed pharmacists. 

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