State agency announces blind review of facility license applications
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS), touting their commitment to providing information in real time concerning the implementation of medical marijuana, shared they will provide updates as they become available at medicalmarijuana.mo.gov. Public feedback on the updates is both encouraged and proving to be helpful to the implementation team.
DHSS also released a study from researchers at the University of Missouri with quantitative market analysis for medical marijuana operations in Missouri. View the entire report here.
The report details projections for the state’s medical marijuana market. The department stressed that the Constitution is clear that there will be at least 60 cultivation licenses, 86 infused products manufacturing licenses and 192 dispensary licenses (at least 24 per congressional district).
“We are working to implement a program that was voted by and for the people of Missouri, so it is important to us that we keep as much information as possible related to this program in front of the public,” said Lyndall Fraker, Director of DHSS Section for Medical Marijuana Regulation.
DHSS also established ten advisory committees composed of subject matter experts to help review draft questions for the facility license applications. More information about these committees and how to provide feedback can be found here.
Draft rules related to both transportation and physicians/health care providers are now posted on the DHSS website. These rules are in draft form and are subject to change.
Additional drafts of proposed rules addressing other components of the medical marijuana program are also available online. DHSS encourages feedback on these drafts as well as future drafts as these are not final.
DHSS will soon be issuing a request for proposals for an independent blind scorer for medical marijuana license and certificate applications.
“We are committed to transparency and fairness and want to emphasize that the reviewers of applications will be blinded to the identity of applicants,” said Dr. Randall Williams, Director of DHSS. “Those granted a license or certificate will be selected solely upon the content of their applications, and those assigning scores to applications will have no access to applicants’ identifying information.”
Feedback regarding any of the program’s updates can be submitted using the online suggestion form.
Article XIV of the Constitution tasks DHSS with having all rules finalized by June 4.