Following Sunday’s passage of the medical marijuana bill, future prospective dispensary owners are preparing for an application process, which one cannabis educational organization says will be an expensive proposition.

Russ Cersosimo, director of strategic alliances for the Pennsylvania Medical Cannabis Society, said groups should expect to pay up to $1 million just to be in position to submit a competitive application. These ancillary fees include lawyers, accountants and lobbyists, he said.

“People don’t realize the financial and time commitment necessary to be successful in this business,” Cersosimo said. “It’s a big undertaking. You’re going to have to quit your job.”

The newly passed legislation will allow for 25 grower/processor licenses, five of which will allow holders to open up to three dispensaries each, and 50 dispensing licenses, which also permit up to three dispensaries each.

Cersosimo said interested parties should expect an application to be released this December with a deadline in January 2017. Dispensaries might begin business operations as soon as September 2017, he said, and consumers should be able to access these facilities around January 2018. [Read more at the York Dispatch]