Maryland Approves Bill Allowing Medical Marijuana Programs at Research Centers

Maryland lawmakers have approved a bill that allows academic medical centers to distribute medical marijuana, according to the Associated Press. Governor Martin O’Malley said he is likely to sign the measure.

Under the bill, participating medical centers would have to specify the medical conditions it would treat with medical marijuana, and the criteria under which patients would be allowed to participate, the AP reports. Medical centers would be required to provide the state health department with daily data on patients and caregivers. The health department would have to make that information available to law enforcement.

The Washington Post reports legislative analysts say medical centers are unlikely to begin dispensing medical marijuana before 2016.