Jeff Mordock

The News Journal

Delaware has received 11 applications for two licenses to open medical marijuana dispensaries in Kent and Sussex counties.

The state cannot identify the bidders under contracting rules. However, Delaware Division of Public Health spokeswoman Emily Knearl said some of the applicants sought bids to serve both counties and the state received at least four bids for each county.

A team of representatives of the Division of Public Health, which oversees the state's medical marijuana dispensaries, Delaware Health and Social Services Department and the Medical Marijuana Oversight Committee, will review the applications and select winners in August. Knearl said the state expects to sign a contract by the end of summer.

Applicants paid a $5,000 fee, and winners will have to pay a licensing fee of $40,000.

There is the possibility that no winner could be selected, said Paul Hyland, the state's medical marijuana program administrator.

"While [Delaware Health and Social Services] intends to add a new compassion center in each of Kent and Sussex counties, we reserve the right to determine that no qualified bidder exists," Hyland said in an email. "In the event that such a determination is made, we will act in accordance with what is statutorily required. This is standard with any [request for proposal] process."

Bidders may be required to host a public forum near the proposed location to collect public feedback, which will be factored into the selection process. Bidders will be expected to coordinate the time and location of the meetings and demonstrate adequate public outreach.

"The goal [of the forums] is to be transparent about the potential location of a compassion center," Hyland said.

The Kent County location could be in Dover at 26 Starlifter Ave., the former Monster Racing site. Last week, Kent County Levy Court commissioners approved leasing the property to Compassionate Care Research Institute, a New Jersey-based operator of medical marijuana dispensaries.

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Medical marijuana was legalized in Delaware nearly five years ago. Under the law, the state is required to open three dispensaries with one serving each county by 2013.

First State Compassion Center didn't open near Wilmington until 2015. At the end of last year, more than 700 Delaware residents were issued medical marijuana cards by the state Health Division, but some live far away and have difficulty traveling to Wilmington.

"There is a pretty large patient base down in the lower part of the state," said Deb McPherson of New Castle, a medical marijuana cardholder who founded the Delaware Patient Network to assist those in need of the drug for medicinal purposes. "Most of the cardholders are over 50, and they don't have the stamina and ability to come to New Castle County."

Todd Boone of Milton suffers lingering pain from a motorcycle crash, but cannot take pain medicine such as Vicodin and Oxycodone because of allergies. He was one of the first 300 to receive a card from the state.

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Boone had filed a lawsuit against the state alleging the delay in opening the compassion centers violated the two-year timeline mandated in the 2011 law. The lawsuit was dismissed by Superior Court and is on appeal to the state Supreme Court. He said there is a need for medical marijuana in the state's southern counties.

"I'm pleased they are starting to move forward," Boone said. "It should have already in 2013."

"Competition will drive prices down because First State won't have all the customers," Boone said. "There are a lot of people buying off the streets because it is cheaper."

Last week, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf signed a medical marijuana bill into law. The law is not expected to impact Delaware because it will take at least two years to sort out regulations and get retailers opened. Also, Delaware does not offer reciprocity with other states, preventing Delaware patients from buying in Pennsylvania.

Contact Jeff Mordock at (302) 324-2786, on Twitter @JeffMordockTNJ or jmordock@delawareonline.com.

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