Mass. Issues First Marijuana Certificate

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has issued the state's first certificate of registration for a marijuana dispensary.

The certificate was given to Alternative Therapies Group, Inc., allowing it to begin growing marijuana for medical use.

Before the company is allowed to sell or transport marijuana, the dispensary will need to undergo additional oversight, including inspections of its transportation plans and testing of its plants once they are grown.

Alternative Therapies Group has been approved to operate a dispensary site in Salem and a cultivation site in Amesbury.

The awarding of the certificate comes more than two years after voters approved a state ballot question allowing up to 35 outlets to sell marijuana to patients suffering from conditions including cancer, HIV, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease.