NEW APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED FOR A LOCAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARY

SANFORD -- In the latest round of applications submitted to the Maine
Department of Health and Human Services, 19 nonprofit corporations
have applied to operate medical marijuana dispensaries in the state.
Two of the applications are for a dispensary in Sanford.

Last Friday, Aug. 20, was the deadline for the second round of
applications for medical marijuana dispensaries.

The additional application process became necessary because the DHHS's
Department of Licensing and Regulatory Services rejected all proposals
submitted in June for dispensaries in Maine Public Health Districts 1
(York County) and 7 (Washington and Hancock counties) during the
initial application process. There were successful applicants in the
other six public health districts.

Applicants were required to address several areas in their
applications, including the plan to operate as a nonprofit corporation
long-term, convenience of location, prior business experience, patient
education, record-keeping, inventory, quality control, security and
staffing.

Ten applications were received Friday for District 1. In addition to
the two proposals for Sanford, there were two proposals for Saco and
five for Biddeford. Another application listed its proposed business
location as "Biddeford or Saco."

Neither of the two applicants who submitted proposals for Sanford in
the first round submitted an application for Sanford this time.
However, one applicant, Lucas Sirois, using the business name Today's
Herbal Care, Inc., submitted applications for dispensaries in
Biddeford and in Sullivan (District 7). During the first round, Sirois
submitted three applications, including one for Sanford, under the
business name "Ahead Care." None was successful.

The other applicant that submitted a proposal for a dispensary in
Sanford in June -- Green Relief MD -- did not submit an application
for a Sanford dispensary in the second round. However, Patti Fousek
said Tuesday that she and her husband, Ron, the founders of Green
Relief MD, submitted applications in the second round under the
business name Maine Modern Medicines. The applications are for
dispensaries in Saco and Hancock (District 7). Brian Connolly is
listed as the acting CEO of Maine Modern Medicines.

The two applicants proposing to operate a dispensary in Sanford are
Primary Organic Therapy, Inc., which lists a Portland address, and
Maine Organic Farmacy, with a mailing address in Kennebunk. Both
applications name 90 Community Drive, in Sanford's industrial park, as
their proposed business location.

The industrial park is in the industry and business (IB) zone, one of
three zones in which a medical marijuana dispensary is now permitted
as a conditional use under Sanford's zoning ordinance.

Revisions to the town's zoning ordinance were made over the summer to
accommodate a registered nonprofit medical marijuana dispensary. The
changes received final Town Council approval Tuesday night and are now
in effect.

A four-member panel will review and score each application. Award
announcements will be made by the end of business on Aug. 31.