Howard County will soon be home to two medical marijuana dispensaries, as the state’s first licensed dispensary locations begin to open their doors.
Remedy Columbia and Greenhouse Wellness in Ellicott City are set to open in the coming weeks to bring residents some of Maryland’s first legal medical marijuana.
Both locations are ready to open as soon as they have received product from marijuana growers; Greenhouse co-owner Gina Dubbé said they hope to receive their first batch in the coming week, and Remedy assistant manager Trent Williams said they hope to open by the end of December.
As two of only 10 dispensaries currently licensed in the state, Greenhouse and Remedy stand to serve a large number of patients. Both companies said they’ve already received numerous calls and visits from people hoping to buy product; there are currently more than 17,000 Maryland consumers registered for medical marijuana, according to data from the state's Medical Marijuana Commission.
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At Greenhouse Wellness, co-owners and long-time friends Dubbé and Leslie Apgar are hoping to bring an upscale, personal feel to their dispensary, and to bring medical marijuana into the mainstream.
Dubbé, whose entrepreneurial background includes he launch of the pain reliever TheraPearl, said the two aimed to create a space for patients that resembled a high-end spa, rather than the seedy, rundown shop she said many people have in their minds when they think of marijuana dispensaries.
“We’re thrilled to be changing the face of what medical marijuana dispensaries look like,” said Apgar, who is a licensed physician and owner of the medical spa Pura Vida. “Our patients should feel comfortable and safe coming in here. The last thing they need to be worried about is their environment.”
Top image: © Jon Bilous | Dreamstime
