Another delay for medical marijuana dispensary

Two-hundred Delawareans authorized to use marijuana for medical reasons now must wait until June before they're able to legally buy the drug.

Delaware's only dispensary, First State Compassion Center, near Wilmington, was scheduled to open this month. But construction delays pushed off the opening until June, says Mark Lally, the center's president.

The latest delay is relatively minor, partly caused by electrical issues and the complications of growing marijuana from seed, Lally said.

But it comes after Gov. Jack Markell delayed implementation of the medical marijuana program, authorized in 2011, for years over concerns that the U.S. Justice Department could prosecute state officials involved.

The four-year-long layover has caused angst for patients who are licensed by the state to use and posses the drug, without any legal way to purchase it.

"I just want it to get straightened out finally," said Deb McPherson, 47, of New Castle, who uses marijuana to treat symptoms of Fibromyalgia. "It's been a long time coming."

Under state law, with certification from a doctor, Delawareans can use marijuana to treat symptoms associated with cancer, Alzheimer's disease, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and conditions that cause intractable nausea, severe pain or seizures, among other illnesses.

Public health officials say 200 Delawareans have ID cards allowing them to use the drug for medical purposes, with another 170 applications being processed.

"We don't want to disappoint our patients," Lally said Friday. "These are sick people who need their medicine. We certainly understand that need and we're pushing as hard as we can."

Issues with Delaware's medical marijuana program will remain even after the center opens its doors.

Markell authorized the opening of only the New Castle County center under a pilot program, but the 2011 law calls for one center in each county. Also, regulations allow the center to cultivate just 150 marijuana plants, and keep an inventory of no more than 1,500 ounces.

The Marijuana Policy Project, a national advocacy group, maintains that will cause a shortage of legal medicine for Delaware patients being treated by marijuana.

A spokesman for Markell said the governor is "committed to implementing a reliable program that minimizes the risk of federal interference and meets the needs of medical marijuana patients.

"The priority now is getting the first dispensary up and running well," Markell spokesman Jonathon Dworkin said in an email.

Contact Jonathan Starkey at (302) 983-6756, on Twitter @jwstarkey or at jstarkey@delawareonline.com.