Cannabis pharmacy to open in North Logan

The Utah Department of Health named Logan, Utah as a location for one out of only a handful of companies throughout the state to receive a license to sell medical marijuana, and one business plans to open shop in North Logan. 

True North of Utah, one of 10 companies set to receive a cannabis license, will be located at 2359 North Main Street. The company will operate the other location in Ogden, Utah.  

According the UDOH’s website, more than 60 companies submitted more than 130 applications during a competitive bidding process to be awarded the licenses. 

“The evaluation committee spent hundreds of hours evaluating applications from companies seeking a limited number of licenses,” Richard Oborn, director of the Utah Department of Health Center for Medical Cannabis, said in a press release. “It was a highly competitive process and some qualified applicants will be left disappointed, but that is the nature of a highly competitive process.”

Mike Standlee, founder and CEO of True North of Utah, said he has been watching and preparing for the Utah medical marijuana market for years. According to Standlee, this preparation was key to helping the company receive not only two licenses in a competitive field but also receive the highest application score out of the large field of applicants.  

“I’m passionate about innovating great products while providing superior customer service,” Standlee said. “We are honored to be able to provide a quality product for patients as they ease their pain and live a better life.”

Tom Hudachko, UDOH director of communications, emphasized the department is still in the “intent to award” phase, and no licenses have been issued yet. Still, Standlee said the company has completed all the necessary paperwork and the company expects to be awarded the two licenses. 

Standlee also said the company received one of only eight licenses to grow cannabis in Utah, allowing the company to both distribute and produce their own cannabis. 

 “The real winner here will be our patients,” Standlee said. “We can keep the costs low, and the quality of our product high as we oversee every step, from seeding to the sealing of the final product.” 

 Standlee said the company expects their Ogden location to be open sometime during the spring. Standlee also said the Logan location will be open “before July, possibly sooner.” 

Standlee said the company is preparing to build a growing and processing site in Box Elder County, Utah. Until that time, True North of Utah is growing plants at a temporary grow site. 

According to Standlee, the company has also identified several nonprofit groups in the area, which will be announcing partnerships with True North of Utah to raise awareness for the local community of patients. 

Standlee has a long relationship with the agricultural industry, stretching back over 40 years. Standlee said he is currently devoting all his time in the cannabis industry and is the founder of the Sky Dispensaries brand, a company in Arizona which also holds multiple licenses in that state.

On Dec. 3, 2018, the Utah State Legislature passed H.B. 3001: the Utah Medical Cannabis Act to replace Utah Proposition 2, a voter approved bill which legalized the use of medical marijuna for qualifying individuals. 

The Utah Medical Cannabis Act also provides for the legalization of medicinal cannabis, but makes some changes to the original proposition, including setting the current number of cannabis pharmacies in Utah, providing for more in the future and making changes to the language of the bill.  

Under the Act, UDOH is directed to implement the necessary steps to provide medical cannabis to treat patients by March 1, 2020. Prospective patients can get more information at the Utah Medical Cannabis Program website

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