The Cannabis Control Commission on Tuesday wrapped up its review of priority applicants for recreational marijuana businesses.

The commission put registered medical dispensaries (RMDs) with operational and provisional certificates granted by the Department of Public Health, as well as so-called economic empowerment applicants, at the head of the line for the coveted industry licenses. In all, the commission received 320 applications for priority status.

Of those, 205 were approved and 115 were denied.

Those who were denied by the commission often missed the April 16 deadline, or failed to meet the requirements for consideration.

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Top photo courtesy of Adobe Stock

CHARLESTON — A petition for the West Virginia Legislature to call itself into special session to fix the state’s medical marijuana bill failed during May legislative interim meetings, but that doesn’t mean lawmakers won’t reconsider the issue before next year’s regular session.

House Speaker Tim Armstead, R-Kanawha, said he has spoken with Gov. Jim Justice and House Minority Leader Tim Miley, D-Harrison, about how to best work out banking problems with the medical marijuana program.

RELATED: West Virginia Special Session Begins with Attempt to Get Medical Marijuana Bill onto Agenda

Armstead said he hopes a solution can be found and lawmakers can meet before next year’s session to put the program back on track.

Last year, the Legislature passed a bill allowing for the medical use of marijuana beginning in 2019, after the state had time to set up rules and regulations and create an application process for growers, processors and dispensers.

But state Treasurer John Perdue said in March that his office would not be able to handle financial transactions—such as application fees—because of a conflict between state and federal law regarding marijuana.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Applicants to operate the first Ohio medical marijuana dispensaries will have to wait a little longer to find out whether they'll be awarded licenses by the state.

The Ohio Board of Pharmacy canceled a special meeting scheduled for Wednesday and plans to announce dispensary license winners at a its regular monthly meeting June 4-6. The agency had just announced the Wednesday meeting on Monday. Of the 376 applications submitted in November, the board can award licenses to as many as 57 sites across the state.

Board spokesman Cameron McNamee said all applications have been scored but the board is still waiting on background check information and verifying whether applicants have met all of the necessary objective criteria. One of those criteria is whether a proposed site is at least 500 feet from a school, church or other prohibited site.

"We wanted to make sure everyone meets those minimum qualifications," McNamee said.

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Walker, Michigan – May 21, 2018 – PRESS RELEASE – Pipp Horticulture (a division of Pipp Mobile Storage Systems, Inc.), a provider of space-saving, multi-level mobile cultivation systems, announced that it has acquired Greenhaus Industries Inc., an innovator and manufacturer of multi-level cultivation and drying systems designed for the vertical farming industry. The principals of Greenhaus, who will remain with the organization, have combined over 25 years of experience in indoor cultivation design, operations and product development. Pipp Horticulture and Greenhaus have been strategic partners since 2017 and have already completed numerous projects together across the United States and Canada.

“This union will allow us to combine Pipp’s engineering, manufacturing and installation expertise with Greenhaus’ extensive vertical cultivation and horticulture knowledge, to rapidly expand in North America and abroad,” said Craig Umans, CEO of Pipp Mobile Storage Systems Inc. “Combined, we are poised to become a leader in this emerging industry."

Vertical farming is projected to be over a $6 billion industry by 2023. Recognizing the potential in this market, Pipp Horticulture has developed a movable, multi-layer growing system, allowing indoor agriculture operations to stack grow trays to maximize its cubic and square footprint and increase yields.

“Vertical farming is the future. One indoor acre equals four to six outdoor acres while having a higher and more consistent yield, protection from adverse weather and increased bio-security,” said Michael Williamson, founding partner of Greenhaus Industries. “With Pipp Horticulture, we are thrilled to help create more efficient and sustainable facilities for food and cannabis crops.

“We are excited that this acquisition will bring us one step closer to becoming a one-stop-shop for our customers, providing turnkey solutions for their cultivation needs,” said Craig Umans, CEO of Pipp Mobile Storage Systems Inc.

Top photo courtesy of Pipp Horticulture