State public health officials on Friday announced 11 approved medical marijuana dispensaries – including two in Central Massachusetts – will move to the inspectional phase after completing a verification level that included background checks.
Officials said some of the dispensaries believe they can open by November while others may open by next February.
At a press briefing in Boston, officials said 97 percent of residents in Massachusetts live within 50 miles of the dispensaries announced on Friday. They include Central Ave Compassionate Care Inc. in Ayer, and Bay State Relief Inc., which would do business as Milford Medicinals Inc., in Milford.
The other facilities would be located in Salem, Haverhill, Newton, Lowell, Quincy, Brockton, Brookline, Northampton and Dennis.
Twenty sites had won initial approval in February. One of them, Good Chemistry of Massachusetts Inc., had planned to open a site in Worcester at 9 Harrison St., in the Canal District. But it didn’t make it past the second round.
The program of phased approval was established following approval of a ballot referendum in 2012 that allowed the medical use of marijuana.
“We want to make sure we implement the voters’ will,” said Karen Van Unen, executive director of the state’s Medical Use of Marijuana Program.
