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The state's medical marijuana dispensary program opened Monday. Rip City Remedies, among the existing dispensaries to apply online on opening day, sells immature marijuana plants to patients. The dispensary is located on Southeast Division Street in Portland.

(Beth Nakamura/The Oregonian)

Officials say 281 medical marijuana dispensaries began the process of registering with the state in the first week of a program that regulates the retail sale of medical cannabis in Oregon.

The number is fewer than what was initially reported Monday, the opening day of the program, when officials said they got 289 applications. Karynn Fish, spokeswoman for the state's medical marijuana dispensary program, on Friday said the initial figure included duplicate applications. She said some initial applicants withdrew.

The vast majority – 129 – were filed in Multnomah County, according to data released Friday by the state. Lane County came in second with 39.

Here’s how many applications were filed in the remaining counties:

Benton: 4; Clackamas: 10; Clatsop: 4; Columbia: 1; Coos: 4; Curry: 3; Deschutes: 16; Douglas: 5; Hood River, 2; Jackson: 19; Josephine: 3; Klamath: 3; Lincoln: 10; Linn: 4; Malheur: 3; Marion: 13; Polk: 2; Umatilla: 1; Union: 1; Washington: 4; Yamhill: 1.

Counties where no dispensaries applied: Baker, Crook, Gilliam, Grant, Harney, Jefferson, Lake, Morrow, Sherman and Tillamook, Wallowa, Wasco and Wheeler.

Until now, Oregon’s medical marijuana retail industry has operated in a gray area, relying largely on the tolerance of local communities and police. Some communities, especially in Washington County and parts of southern Oregon, balked at retail sales of medical marijuana and took steps to shut down businesses. Others, notably Portland, greeted the outlets with a shrug.

A new law, passed in 2013, directed the Oregon Health Authority to create a registry of medical marijuana facilities. Those facilities must follow security and testing rules and they have to carefully track the marijuana coming in and out of their stores. The state, meanwhile, has two regulators who will inspect the establishments annually.

-- Noelle Crombie