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Medical Cannabis Industry Temporarily on Hold in Maryland

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Medical Cannabis IndustryJust as Maryland was getting ready to have an established medical cannabis system in place, yet another hurdle has gotten in the way. This past Thursday, a judge temporarily put the medical cannabis program on hold based on allegations that racial diversity wasn’t a factor when cultivation firms were being chosen.

According to the Baltimore Sun, the temporary hold was granted by Circuit Judge Barry Williams, who will not be granting any licenses for the next 10 days. There will be a hearing on June 2, which will determine if the entire process of licensing and approval will have to begin again, or if grows will be able to move forward and get medical cannabis rolling.

Williams used the phrasing “potentially arbitrary and capricious and possibly unconstitutional” to describe the manner in which the first 15 licenses have been awarded. This is causing concern that he will find the process unconstitutional and put the entire program on hold.

While cannabis supporters in Maryland are concerned that the process be as inclusive of racial diversity as possible, they also feel ready to move forward with medical cannabis after working through setbacks and red tape.

“It’s our hope that this gets resolved quickly and expeditiously,” stated Brian Brown, attorney for Alternative Medicine Maryland. The group has been fighting to get medical cannabis pushed through in Maryland, despite the setbacks.

“Maryland’s patients and families have waited nearly four years for access to these important medicines,” Jake Van Wingerden, chairman for Alternative Medicine Maryland, told Baltimore Sun. “We are hopeful that the Circuit Court will rule against Alternative Medicine Maryland’s frivolous legal filing when all the evidence is heard on June 2.”

This latest setback has disappointed some Maryland medical cannabis hopefuls, but those involved continue to fight for swift access at the state level.

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