State health officials approved a highly prized license Friday, allowing the first dispensary for medical marijuana in Boston. The officials selected Patriot Care Corporation to run the facility that will be located close to Downtown Crossing on 21 Milk Street.

"I am pleased with the steady progress we are making and expect the first dispensaries to open later this winter. By expanding access into these additional counties, we are promoting our goals of patient access and public safety across the Commonwealth," said Karen van Unen, executive director of the Medical Use of Marijuana Program.

Officials of the state Department of Public Health approved a total of four dispensaries: Coastal Compassion in Fairhaven, Mass Medicum in Taunton and Patriot Care in Boston and Greenfield, Boston Herald reports.

"We're very excited about moving this program forward, providing safe access to patients who can benefit from access to cannabis," said Tim Keogh, president of Coastal Compassion, South Coast Today reports.

Around two years ago Massachusetts voted to approve medical marijuana.

The state approval gave way to controversy, which in turn led to disqualification of applicants that included two in Boston. Only 11 locations had been approved as of the beginning of this month.

Patriot Care, which will be running the Boston dispensary, also won licenses in Lowell earlier this year and Greenfield Friday, the Boston Globe reports.

It is the only company that is allowed to run three dispensaries in Massachusetts. The state officials further said that they would allow another company to go ahead with plans to open dispensaries in Brookline as well as Northampton.