The first permits for growing medical cannabis will soon be issued in West Virginia. “We hope to issue grower permits within the next week,” said Jason Frame, Director of the West Virginia Office of Medical Cannabis. “It’s a huge step for O-M-C to actually start production of these physical facilities.”
Ten growers were selected to receive the permits out of 39 applicants. They’ll not be able to sit around. Each permit requires action within six months. There are provisions to provide some additional time if needed, but if the permit holder fails to move forward with the development of an operation in the prescribed time, they risk losing the permit.
“The point of that provision is to make sure people don’t obtain these permits and then just sit on them. We want an operational industry in the state,” Frame told members of the Medical Cannabis Advisory Board in a Thursday virtual meeting.
The practice of hording permits has been a problem in other states in launching the medical cannabis industry. Some will obtain the permits and hold them for sale at a profit at a later date. Others, Frame said, will be awarded a permit and will immediately sell for a profit. The action can’t happen in West Virginia since the code forbids selling of the permit and also requires action within the six month window to get going.
Read more at wvmetronews.com