Seven companies are interested in opening medical marijuana shops in the state of Iowa.
The state’s Department of Public Health has said that seven companies have filed a total of 21 applications for dispensaries by the Thursday deadline.
Up to five licenses are expected to be awarded by April 1st.
Across the state, four applications were filed for the Sioux City and Davenport areas, three each for Des Moines and Council Bluffs, and one each for Cedar Falls, Cedar Rapids, Coralville, Iowa City, Urbandale, Waterloo, and Windsor Heights.
The applications were $5,000 each and the companies remain unidentified.
The dispensaries are expected to open early next year and will be selling medical marijuana to adults in Iowa who have special I.D. cards that confirm they have qualifying health conditions.
Currently 305 Iowans have medical marijuana cards that allow them to use marijuana products for medicinal use.
