Since lawmakers approved medical marijuana in Maryland, the nascent industry has been mired in legal and political controversy.

A judge is deciding whether the state improperly awarded licenses to grow and process the plant. Black lawmakers said minorities didn’t have a fair chance of getting those licenses. Now the governor has ordered a study.

ForwardGro isn’t waiting to see how it all turns out.

The firm in Anne Arundel County has poured more than $10 million into building a state-of-the-art greenhouse in the basin of a reclaimed sand mine.

ForwardGro is one of 23 companies licensed to grow or process marijuana in Maryland for patients suffering from cancer, epilepsy and other conditions. Amid the uncertainty that has slowed the development of the industry, most are forging ahead with costly plans to build elaborate growing operations that could have crops ready as soon as August.

“We’re very excited that some of our members are 30 days away from planting their first plants,” said Jake Van Wingerden, chairman of the Maryland Wholesale Medical Cannabis Trade Association. “You’ll see product in the marketplace by this fall.” [Read more at Baltimore Sun]