NH's First Medical Marijuana Dispensary Opens in Plymouth

Sanctuary ATC in Plymouth, a nonprofit health organization that produces therapeutic cannabis, received a registration certificate from the NH Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to begin operations at its dispensary. Officially opening on April 30th, Sanctuary ATC is the first NH alternative treatment center (ATC) to dispense therapeutic cannabis products containing delta-8-THC to qualifying patients and designated caregivers.

In July 2013, Governor Maggie Hassan signed HB 573 (RSA 126-X) into law, creating an exemption from criminal penalties for the therapeutic use of cannabis. The NH Legislature placed the responsibility for administering the program within the DHHS, which began issuing Registry Identification Cards by mail to approved patients and caregivers last December.

The Department's primary responsibilities include:

• Maintaining a registry of, and issuing registry identification cards to, eligible qualifying patients who have been certified by their medical provider to have a qualifying medical condition and associated symptoms;
• Issuing registry identification cards to designated caregivers who are authorized to assist qualifying patients with the therapeutic use of cannabis; and
• Issuing registration certificates to a maximum of four alternative treatment centers in the state for the cultivation, production, and dispensing of cannabis to qualifying patients, or their designated caregivers.

The Therapeutic Cannabis Program will ultimately include four dispensary locations. Temescal Wellness, Inc., which received a conditional registration certificate and is cultivating therapeutic cannabis, will open its dispensaries in Dover and Lebanon in the next few weeks. Prime ATC, which is completing construction of its cultivation center, expects to open its dispensary in Merrimack later this summer.