ST. PAUL - Minnesota officials on Friday began seeking two companies to grow marijuana and produce medicine from the plant.
Anyone wanting to make the medicine must notify the state Health Department by Sept. 19 and file the application by Oct. 3. State officials plan to announce the winners Dec. 1.
Minnesota lawmakers and Gov. Mark Dayton earlier this year approved allowing medical marijuana to be used to treat certain serious conditions that do not respond well to traditional medicine. The law allows two companies to provide the medicine, with the first doses expected by next July 1.
Marijuana cannot be smoked under the new law, but could be used in liquid, pills and vapors.
The state requires potential manufacturers to fill out a detailed 36-page application, including proving blueprints of their proposed facilities, as well as paying a $20,000 application fee.
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More information about the Minnesota medical marijuana program, including how to apply to be a manufacturer, is available at http://tinyurl.com/mnmarijuana .
