Medical Marijuana Licensing Starts Monday in Maryland

Many patients and caregivers in Maryland can now sign up for medical marijuana licenses.

Monday marks the first day that people in the state can apply for licenses through the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission (MMCC). Registration is open starting at 9 a.m. to people whose last names start with the letters A through L.

No final licenses have been issued yet. Once a patient is registered with the state, they must see a doctor also registered with the state who can provide written certification for the patient to buy medical marijuana from a state-license dispensary. Qualifying medical conditions include severe pain, seizures and post-traumatic stress disorder, according to the MMCC website.

Registration will be open to people whose last names start with the letters M through Z at 9 a.m. April 17. Then, registration will be open to all starting April 24.

Maryland's medical marijuana program has suffered setbacks and delays since the state's first law was approved in 2013.

While Maryland has issued pre-approval to growers and dispensaries, no marijuana is being grown in the state yet. A court case over how those grow and dispense licenses were issued is pending.

The state had projected that medical marijuana would be available to patients by the end of this summer.