Connecticut seeks to add 3 medical marijuana dispensaries, totaling 12

(Peter Hvizdak - New Haven Register) ¬ The drying room of the medical marijuana production facility, Advanced Grow Labs in West Haven, Connecticut, September 15, 2015. Advanced Grow Labs is one offour legalized growers of marijuana in Connecticut for the palliative use of pharmaceutical quality marijuana by Connecticut's healthcare system and its dispensaries for qualifying patients. The useof medical marijuana in Connecticut was legalized in 2012. ¬ less (Peter Hvizdak - New Haven Register) ¬ The drying room of the medical marijuana production facility, Advanced Grow Labs in West Haven, Connecticut, September 15, 2015. Advanced Grow Labs is one offour ... more Photo: Peter Hvizdak / ©2015 Peter Hvizdak Photo: Peter Hvizdak / ©2015 Peter Hvizdak Image 1 of / 5 Caption Close Connecticut seeks to add 3 medical marijuana dispensaries, totaling 12 1 / 5 Back to Gallery

HARTFORD — The state Department of Consumer Protection is seeking applications to open at least three new medical marijuana dispensaries in Connecticut, bringing the total to 12 or more, the department announced Wednesday.

“Our state’s Medical Marijuana Program is incredibly successful, and is growing rapidly,” said Consumer Protection Commissioner Michelle H. Seagull in a statement.

As of Dec. 31, there were 22,411 registered medical marijuana patients in Connecticut, with most in Hartford, New Haven and Fairfield counties, according to the department’s website. A total of 807 doctors and advance practice registered nurses had registered to certify patients to buy cannabis products, the release stated.

The state issued a Request for Application that requires details about the applicant’s business and site plan, financial data, and security and compassionate care programs. The deadline to apply is April 9.

The nine existing dispensaries are located in Milford, with two, and one each in Branford, Hartford, Waterbury, Bethel, South Windsor, Montville and Bristol. There are four state-approved growers as well. Geographic diversity will be taken into account when reviewing applications, according to a department spokeswoman.

The Consumer Protection Department is seeking the applications “in order to best meet the demand for medication, and continue our commitment to quality health care,” Seagull said in the statement.

There are 22 conditions for which patients 18 and over can purchase medical marijuana, including cancer, epilepsy, glaucoma, epilepsy, sickle cell disease and psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. There are six conditions approved for patients under 18.

For more information, email dcp.mmp@ct.gov with the subject line “Medical Marijuana RFA Question.”