State officials have awarded licenses to medical marijuana dispensaries in 20 communities.
Among the sites approved by the state Department of Public Health are two in the city of Boston and one apiece in Brookline, Cambridge, Newton and Quincy. The sites are located in 10 of the state’s 14 counties.
In 2012, voters at a statewide referendum approved the use of marijuana in the treatment of various medical conditions including cancer, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease.
Companies seeking approval of medical marijuana facilities have enlisted the assistance of various well-connected political figures in the past year.
Medical Marijuana of Massachusetts won approval to open dispensaries in Mashpee, Plymouth and Taunton, all three of the communities in which it had submitted applications. William Delahunt, a former Norfolk County district attorney who represented the state’s 10th Congressional District from 1997 to 2011, lobbied on behalf of the company in presentations to local officials last year.
In announcing the decision, the Department of Public health said "the selection of dispensaries was based on the quality of the applications. This was an objective, merit-based process guided by state procurement principles." Applicants were ranked by an independent consultant, ICF International, on a scale from 0 to 163 based upon public health, security and strength of business plan. All of the successful applicants scored at least 137, DPH said.
The law allowed up to 35 outlets to be awarded statewide.
List of approved applicants:
- Medical Marijuana of Massachusetts Inc., Mashpee
- William Noyes Webster Foundation Inc., Dennis
- Medical Marijuana of Massachusetts Inc., Taunton
- Brighton Health Advocates Inc. d/b/a Compassionate Care, Fairhaven
- Alternative Therapies Group Inc., Salem
- Healthy Pharms Inc., Haverhill
- Debilitating Medical Condition Treatment Centers Inc., Holyoke
- New England Treatment Access Inc., Northampton
- Patriot Care Corp., Lowell
- Central Ave Compassionate Care Inc., Ayer
- Garden Remedies Inc., Newton
- The Greeneway Wellness Foundation Inc., Cambridge
- New England Treatment Access Inc., Brookline
- Ermont, Quincy
- Medical Marijuana of Massachusetts Inc., Plymouth
- In Good Health Inc., Brockton
- Good Chemistry of Massachusetts Inc., Boston
- Green Heart Holistic Health & Pharmaceuticals Inc., Boston
- Bay State Relief Inc., Milford
- Good Chemistry of Massachusetts Inc., Worcester
