Ten companies are now vying to open a medical marijuana dispensary in York County ”“ and the majority of the applications received by the Department of Health and Human Services’ Friday deadline propose dispensaries in either Biddeford or Saco.

Two of the 10 are eyeing property at 90 Community Drive in Sanford at the Sanford Industrial Estates.

DHHS will decide Aug. 31 which of the 10 ”“ if any ”“ will be the successful applicant.

Friday’s 10-company list is the result of a second call for applications for York County. Several companies submitted applications in the first round, announced July 9, but none achieved high enough scores from state evaluators.

Several of the applications for the Biddeford area appear to be located in the general vicinity of Southern Maine Medical Center.

City Manager John Bubier said that is not surprising. While Biddeford still has a moratorium in place, officials are working on an ordinance, and Bubier this morning said it appears that “more than likely”  the medical zone would be the spot designated for a medical marijuana dispensary.

One of the areas under scrutiny in Saco is on Willey Road, at Saco Industrial Park. Another identified Gooch Street as a possible location.

In Sanford, the 90 Community Drive property is being eyed by Primary Organic Therapy Inc. of Portland and also by Maine Organic Farmacy of Kennebunk.

Mark Patterson of Patco Inc. said the companies are looking to lease a portion of the building at 90 Community Drive.

“Based on our research (an industrial park) seems to be an area the state likes to see, rather than on Main Street,” said Patterson this morning.

In Saco, Maine Modern Medicines, based in South Berwick is proposing 14 Gooch St. as a dispensary location; The Green Market, based in Orrington is eyeing 14 Willey Road and Remedy Compassion Center, Inc. of Vienna is proposing unspecified locations in either Saco or Biddeford.

Those companies eyeing Biddeford include Safe Harbor Maine, based in Poland and proposing a dispensary at 460 Alfred St.; Maine Alternative Treatment Solutions, Inc. of Newry, proposing 17 Pomerleau St.; Alleviations, Inc. of Scarborough eyeing a general location of Route 111; Maine Wellness Group of Windham proposing 5 Drapeau St. and Today’s Herbal Care proposing 24 West Cole Road.

Sanford councilors will hold a second reading of a proposed ordinance Tuesday that would allow medical marijuana dispensaries in three zones under certain circumstances ”“ including the industrial park area, the millyard area and in the office residential and business park zone.

One application that was expected to be filed for a dispensary at Stone Mill Place, a former textile mill on Emery Street, was not on the list.

Eric Stone, who owns the mill, said the individuals putting together the application couldn’t get the financing together.

He said, however, he has been in talks with Remedy Compassion Center, Inc. of Vienna, the group eyeing a general Biddeford or Saco location, about the possibilities of cultivating marijuana at the mill. Remedy Compassion Center, Inc. has already gotten the go-ahead for a dispensary in Wilton. Stone said while the possibility is speculation at this point, if Remedy Compassion Center, Inc. were the successful York County applicant the company might grow marijuana for both the York County and Wilton dispensaries at the mill.

— Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 or twells@journaltribune.com.