Pubdate: Wed, 26 Mar 2014
Source: Baltimore Sun (MD)
Copyright: 2014 The Baltimore Sun Company
Contact:  http://www.baltimoresun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/37
Author: Erin Cox
Page: 2

MEDICAL MARIJUANA PLAN ADVANCES

Nearly 100 medical marijuana dispensaries could open in Maryland under
a bill approved Tuesday by a Senate committee.

The Judicial Proceedings Committee voted 10-1 to create a medical
marijuana program significantly different from the version approved by
the House of Delegates. The House plan calls for 10 licensed pot
growers, which would also operate all dispensaries.

Senators said they worried the House version would create a monopoly
of pot growers who could control prices and wield considerable
political power. The senators' bill calls for growers and dispensaries
to be separate, and requires at least 94 dispensaries to be operated
across the state.

Lawmakers approved the state's first medical marijuana program last
year, but it failed to get off the ground. The program relied on the
state's academic centers to administer it, but none
volunteered.

The full Senate could take an initial vote on the committee proposal
as soon as today.
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MAP posted-by: Matt