MILFORD — The medical marijuana dispensary seeking to open in Milford took a step closer to final approval, getting into the inspection phase after facing the state’s expanded background checks.
Milford Medicinals was among 11 dispensaries that the state Department of Public Health (DPH) approved on Friday for a provisional certificate of registration, which will allow it to begin setting up at 13 Commercial Way.
New England Treatment Access Inc., which has proposed dispensary locations in Brookline and Northampton, has also received permission to enter the inspection phase. It plans to grow the medical marijuana sold at these dispensaries at a facility in Franklin.
According to DPH, 97 percent of the state’s population will live within 30 miles of a registered dispensary.
Back in January, the department initially chose 16 nonprofit companies — representing 20 locations — that would be eligible for the provisional certificates, but it had to reevaluate its selection process in light of media reports about applicants that had lied or falsified documents.
The department ordered the 16 companies to undergo more comprehensive background checks, which delayed the process several months.
Creative Services Inc., an investigative firm contracted by the state, completed 176 background checks of investors, staff and related companies, DPH said Friday. In addition, the department reached out to more than 200 officials in the 20 cites and towns listed in the applications to confirm claims of local support.
Six companies representing nine dispensary locations were eliminated from the certification process. According to the State House News Service, former Congressman William Delahunt’s company, Medical Marijuana of Massachusetts Inc., won’t be moving forward.
In a statement, Karen van Unen, executive director of DPH’s Medical Use of Marijuana Program, said, “This process is designed to ensure only the highest quality applicants advance to meet the patient access and public safety needs of the commonwealth.”
The department has also identified five applicants eligible to apply for dispensaries in counties that do not have a dispensary. They will be able to apply on July 9 and selections should take place in October.
During the summer, state health officials say they will conduct inspections on the companies approved for provisional certificates, looking “to ensure product safety and quality, security, storage and transportation.”
And the companies still must complete the municipal approval process, including local zoning and permitting, to receive a final certificate of registration.
Milford Medicinals expects to open its doors sometime in early winter, if not later, spokesman Michael Dundas said Friday. “We certainly did not expect this type of delay,” Dundas said.
Initially, many of the dispensaries, including Milford Medicinals, thought they could begin opening this summer.
Dundas said he and other officials are “gratified” to receive a certificate. “This is just another step to move forward with our plan to provide high-quality medical marijuana to the patients in need in Massachusetts,” he said.
Page 2 of 2 – The company will start the build-out of its Commercial Way warehouse immediately, he said, and will keep local officials updated along the way.
“We have been very pleased that the town of Milford has been amenable to our plans,” Dundas added.
Matt Tota can be reached at 508-634-7521 or mtota@wickedlocal.com.
Milford medical marijuana firm moves closer to approval
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