Not enough marijuana to go around as Salisbury dispensary opens

Medical marijuana is available on Maryland's Eastern Shore for the first time.

But there's a catch: The region's lone dispensary has so little product that it is only accepting patients who have pre-registered with the company.

"We are contacting pre-registrants via email, so if you are properly pre-registered, please expect to see an email from us in the near future," Peninsula Alternative Health said Thursday morning on its Facebook page. "We expect to open to non pre-registrants later in the month."

The company operates a shop on Snow Hill Road a few blocks south of East Main Street in Salisbury.

State law requires all patients to register with the Medical Cannabis Commission and obtain a recommendation from a doctor or other health provider. 

A handful of dispensaries have opened across the state since the program launched earlier this month, but virtually all have been dogged by meager supplies, according to multiple media reports. 

Background:Salisbury medical marijuana dispensary gets state license

More:Medical marijuana: Shore medical community slow to embrace it

More:Worcester medical marijuana grower: 'This is medicine we're creating'

Peninsula CEO Anthony Darby said he hopes the company is able to contact its 400 pre-registered patients by the end of next week. He expects a large shipment to arrive around that time, allowing him to throw open his doors to the public Dec. 19.

Some Maryland dispensaries this week tried to sell to the public immediately, leading to long lines and frustration, Darby said. 

"We took a very different approach, doing a very slow roll out this week," he said.

Darby added he isn't surprised by the fledgling industry's fits and starts. Growers and processors need time to ramp up production and work out kinks in the supply chain, he said.

The state's medical marijuana program has been on the books since 2013, but legal challenges and charges of bias over the state's selection of companies repeatedly delayed its launch.

Peninsula Alternative Health, which is not affiliated with Peninsula Regional Medical Center, is one of two dispensaries picked by the commission for Maryland's Senate District 37, which encompasses portions of Caroline, Dorchester, Talbot and Wicomico counties.

The state has issued pre-approvals to 102 dispensaries. So far, 10 have received the final go-ahead to open for business.

IF YOU GO

Peninsula Alternative Health

What: Eastern Shore's first medical marijuana dispensary

Where: 400 Snow Hill Road, Salisbury

For more information: 410-622-3661 or peninsulamd.com

Note: Pre-registered patients are being contacted; doors are expected to be open to the public Dec. 19.