ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - Two Maryland companies say the state is wrongly refusing to explain why they were abruptly bumped off a list of 15 finalists to be licensed to grow medical marijuana in the state.
Green Thumb Industries and Maryland Cultivation and Processing have asked a Baltimore judge to decide whether the state is abusing right to keep internal deliberations secret.
Assistant Attorney General Heather Nelson cited that rule in more than 80 objections to attorneys' questions during the January deposition of Deborah Miran.
She was the only person on a Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission subcommittee who voted against replacing the two companies with others who ranked lower.
The attorney general's office said it does not comment on pending litigation.
Last summer, Maryland selected 15 finalists from 145 applicants to grow and process medical marijuana, but none has received final approval.