Thirty-seven companies have applied to the state for the right to produce or dispense medical marijuana. The Department of Consumer Protection said it expects to award licenses under the state's new medical marijuana law early next year.
The department hasn't definitively said how many licenses will be granted, but it's expected that there could be up to five dispensaries and three production facilities. The department allows adult Connecticut residents being treated for a debilitating medical condition by a Connecticut-licensed physician to register for a medical marijuana certificate.
State officials released lists of the companies applying as dispensaries and producers, but haven't said where they want to site the facilities. Some towns are actively vying for the businesses, while others have said they don't want the additional responsibility of setting zoning laws and other regulations for the industry.