Minnesota Hands Out State’s First Grow Licenses

[jumpincactus]

In May, Minnesota officially became America’s 22nd medical marijuana state with one caveat: patients can’t inhale marijuana in plant form. Now, over six months later, the state has decided who will be able to produce marijuana in pill and liquid form, the state’s approved methods of consumption.

Yesterday, Minnesota’s state Department of Health handed out the highly coveted grow licenses to LeafLine Labs and Minnesota Medical Solutions (MinnMed for short). The two winning producers were the ones chosen out of ten competitors to become the state’s first two legal producer of medical cannabis.

LeafLine and MinnMed’s grown material will be sold in “distribution centers”, and LeafLine’s first center is set to open in Eagan, in July. Both companies have plans for numerous dispensaries throughout Minnesota, but will need local approval before they can move forward.

Interestingly, each company has extremely different backgrounds. The individuals behind LeafLine own Bachman’s Floral Gift and Garden Centers, a major floral shop and household in Minnesota. Meanwhile, MinnMed has Colorado ties, and works with People’s Choice Medica, a cannabis consulting firm based in Denver.

If all goes according to plan, Minnesota’s medical marijuana patients in need will have safe access by July 1–and that’s a major victory. The state of Minnesota plans to allow a total of eight total dispensaries.

All told, once production gets fleshed out, the two firms will be servicing around 5,000 patients in Minnesota. But for now, both companies will focus on developing massive grow facilities and hiring staff for their soon-to-be flush businesses.

 

[probono4u]

Here we are almost two years later. MinnMed has ties to NY through Vireo Health. The individuals behind LeafLine are related to the owners of Bachman's Floral. So far, under 2k patients are in the registry. Hopefully, Intractable Pain will increase the number so prices will drop. Also, news of a very serious State and Federal investigation broke earlier this month. Law requires at least two manufacturers but what if Minn. Med is found guilty, faces federal minimum sentencing, and loses its license to operate in MN? Are we left with one ethical company to serve the entire State of Minnesota? This is huge precedent if the allegations are true:

 

[Grow Journal]

The people laying out the "plan" for MN are a bunch of idiots in my opinion. Supposedly they believe that cannabis is medicine (supposedly they believe this) but 2 growers to supply the meds for the entire state, with only 8 locations (supposedly coming) and then the plant itself is illegal, despite an 18 year emry university study that regular plant smokers over 18 years had healthier lungs than those that didnt smoke at all over the same time.... but MN in their love and compassion for the sick have done such a nobel thing making it available to the MN tax payers... FN Asshole idiots (I hope the people in MN that didn't think and then set the MN MMJ system up read this and pray for a brain and then I hope their prayers come true)