Two MN Companies Picked to Sell Legal Pot
The Minnesota Health Department has selected two companies to oversee the production and distribution of medical marijuana in the state. Sales are expected to begin July 1st next year.
The LeafLine Labs and Minnesota Medical Solutions companies were among a dozen that submitted applications to the department. The two manufacturers will be responsible for growing the medical cannabis, processing it into pill or liquid form, and distributing the medications through a network of eight distribution sites they will establish around the state. In addition, they will be working with MDH to advance the science on the proper uses of cannabis as medication.
LeafLine Labs is a Minnesota-based company founded by two emergency medicine physicians, members of the Bachman family and executives from Theraplant, a Connecticut-based medical cannabis manufacturer.
Minnesota Medical Solutions is a locally owned, physician-led group composed of doctors, pharmacists, scientists, greenhouse operators, building contractors, educators and other supporters. Their manufacturing facility, located in Otsego, was started in July this past summer and will be functional this week. They plan to open four distribution facilities in Rochester, Maple Grove, Minneapolis and Moorhead.
The final selection of the two parties was made by Minnesota Commissioner of Health Dr. Ed Ehlinger, with recommendations from the review panel. According to Commissioner Ehlinger, the two manufacturers were selected based on their commitment to the patient experience, technical proficiency in cultivation and the formulation of medicine, rigorous safety and security standards, and sound business planning and resources.
“We are pleased to have two strong partners for Minnesota’s medical cannabis program,” said Commissioner Ehlinger. “Our goal is to safely provide medical cannabis products to patients with qualifying conditions by the deadline of July 1, 2015, and our attention over the next few months will be on working with these two manufacturers to implement the program and safely grow, process and distribute the products.”
For more information about the medical cannabis program, please visit the MDH medical cannabis website.
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