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COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio officials say it could be a leafy green Christmas for some medical marijuana patients as small amounts of cannabis become available for sale before the end of the year.

The Columbus Dispatch reports a spokeswoman for the Ohio Department of Commerce says the state’s first harvested marijuana plants should be processed, tested and on dispensary shelves next month.

Spokesperson Kerry Francis says delays in certifying testing labs that gauge potency and examine plant products for contamination has thwarted plans to make cannabis available this month.

She says large amounts of marijuana should be available at dispensaries starting early next year.

Nearly 320 doctors have registered to become recommending physicians for people who have one or more of Ohio’s 21 qualifying medical conditions for legal cannabis use.

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