Delaware’s Marijuana License Lottery Kicks Off Today
The state of Delaware is one step closer to legalizing marijuana, as the Office of the Marijuana Commissioner is hosting a lottery today to award licenses for manufacturing and cultivation. The event will be streamed live on Facebook at 9 a.m. and is expected to last until noon.
A total of 727 applicants have made it to the lottery round, out of over 1,260 applications received. The 13 existing medical marijuana dispensaries in the state have already been granted licenses, which will be awarded in November.
The lottery will feature witnesses and an auditor to ensure its integrity, according to Marijuana Commissioner Rob Coupe. Cultivation licenses are expected to be awarded by November 1.
The licenses being awarded today include social equity retail licenses, but open retail licenses will be awarded in a separate lottery in December due to high demand. There is no lottery needed for testing labs, as there are low applications and available licenses.
After winning a license, businesses will still need to go through additional licensing phases with the state before approaching local governments. Those who lose the lottery can still save their paid applications for potential future lotteries.
The lottery can be streamed live on the Office of the Marijuana Commissioner’s Facebook page. The event is expected to be closely watched, as it marks a significant step towards legalizing marijuana in Delaware.
