The District government has issued occupancy permits for its first medical marijuana cultivation center and dispensary that will be located respectively, in Northwest and Northeast.
Overall, the program which will be overseen the D.C. Department of Health, is expected to operate six cultivation centers where 95 plants can be grown at a time. Licensed physicians will be able to write prescriptions for two ounces of marijuana per month
Patients only qualify if, according to D.C. legislation, they have HIV or AIDS, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, cancer or any other condition considered chronic or long lasting-- which interferes with the basic functions and cannot be treated effectively by ordinary medical measures and procedures. The 110 patients who currently qualify for the program are required to have an "ongoing relationship" with the doctor who authorizes their marijuana usage.
"Issuance of the certificates of occupancy puts us at the threshold of an operational medical marijuana infrastructure in the District," D.C. Council member David Catania said in a Dec. 13 statement. "I am pleased that we now appear to be only a few short months from the existence of a responsible, well-regulated medical marijuana program. . . I am proud to have championed the effort and look forward to the day that individuals enduring pain and suffering every day will be able to obtain the effective treatment they require."
Source: Toke of the Town
