2nd medical marijuana dispensary in northern New Castle County to open on Friday

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A  New Jersey organization is expected to open a medical marijuana dispensary in the Newark area on Friday, the  Newark Post reported. 

Compassionate Care Reseach  Institute received the contract for the facility in 2017,  but has been quiet on the progress of the project at the former Alexander’s Garden  site on Ogletown Road.

Sentiment has been growing for a second compassion center in New Castle County that would join the First State Compassion Center west of Wilmington.  First State also operates a store in Sussex County.

A Delawareonline  story stated that the New Jersey  institute has been involved in cultivation and dispensary activities in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and the epicenter of the marijuana industry, Colorado. 

Pennsylvania and Maryland are in the early stages of rolling out a medical marijuana industry with neighboring Cecil County, MD  to be the site of one growing operation. 

Former Delaware Health and Social Services spokesperson Emily Knearl said in 1917 the department decided to go outside the bidding process, due to delays and cost pressures it would cause.

Under state law, DHSS is allowed to do use alternate means to award the contract.  noted that two-thirds of use of medical marijuana prescription activity. 

Knearl noted that two-thirds of the use of medical marijuana prescription activity involves New Castle residents. 

Click here for other Delaware Business Now stories on medical marijuana. 

The selection process was criticized a few years ago when First State Compassion Center was selected. The organization is headed by a well-connected former legislative aide and a former state trooper. First State did partner with an organization with experience in running medical marijuana facilities.

First State both grows and sells medical marijuana at a site on Germay Drive, just west of Wilmington.  It also operates a dispensary in Lewes that was opened in 2107.

In addition, Columbia Care  opened a  location in Smyrna. 

An effort to legalize marijuana for recreational failed during the past legislative session.

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