Pennsylvania picks medical marijuana program dispensaries
(Harrisburg) — State regulators on Thursday announced the 27 entities that have been selected to operate dispensaries under Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana law, a program expected to be up and running next year.
The Health Department said not all of them are currently opting to run three locations, so for now there will be 52 dispensaries scattered around the state.
The agency posted online the winners’ applications and the locations where they will operate.
Office of Medical Marijuana director John Collins said the process was competitive, with hundreds of quality applicants.
The entities that were issued permits will have six months to become operational and can begin providing the drug to patients.
A Health Department spokeswoman said they will start to implement the business plans they outlined in their applications, addressing aspects of operations such as security, transportation and employee background checks.
The state government will conduct inspections.
Last week, the state awarded permits to 12 applicants to grow and process medical marijuana.
The Pennsylvania medical marijuana law allows people who suffer from a list of conditions to obtain the drug as pills, vapor, ointment or liquid, but not in smokeable form.
The state expects patients and caregivers to be able to register in September.
An earlier story appears below.
(HARRISBURG) — Medical marijuana patients will be able to obtain the drug from 52 locations that have just been issued permits by the Pennsylvania government.
The Health Department on Thursday disclosed the 27 entities that can each operate three locations, although some are opting not to run three sites.
The state is posting the winners’ applications online and the locations where they will operate.
The Pennsylvania medical marijuana law allows people who suffer from a list of conditions to obtain the drug in pill, vapor, ointment or liquid form.
The state expects patients and caregivers to be able to register in September.
The program is projected to be up and running sometime next year.
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