More than 100 businesses picked to sell Maryland medical marijuana

(Cannabist) Maryland officials on Friday announced the 102 businesses who have received preliminary authorization to sell the state’s first legal medical marijuana, bringing the long-awaited program a step closer to fruition. The Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission said patients could be able to begin legally purchasing the drug as soon as this summer, to treat conditions including seizures, anxiety and side effects of cancer or chemotherapy. Lawmakers first approved medical marijuana 3 1/2 years ago, but the program has been beset by various delays. The commission last month gave preliminary authorization to dispensaries in each of the 47 state Senate districts, choosing from a pool of more than 800 applications scored by outside experts and with names of the companies and people involved redacted to avoid bias. The agency announced the identities of the winners and their locations on Friday.