The Department of Health Wednesday released more details about its plans to issue medical marijuana dispensary and grower/processor permits.
The state plans to issue 12 grower/processor permits statewide-- 2 in each of the 6 medical marijuana regions. A total of 25 medical marijuana grower/processors licenses are authorized under the law.
The state plans to issue a total of 27 dispensary permits during the first phase of the program rollout. A total of 50 dispensary licenses are authorized under the law.
Dispensary and grower/processor applications will be accepted by the state between February 20 and March 20.
The applications will be available January 17. Additional details will be posted on the Department of Health’s Medical Marijuana Program webpage.
“I am excited to announce that we’ve reached an important milestone in the program with the release of permit applications on January 17, 2017, on our website at www.health.pa.gov,” said Secretary of Health Dr. Karen Murphy. “In the first phase of the program, there will be up to 12 permits issued for grower/processors across Pennsylvania’s six medical marijuana regions, and up to 27 permits issued for dispensaries. The decision for which counties will be issued permits in this first phase was determined by using the department’s medical data, as well as comments from more than 5,000 patients and nearly 900 potential grower/processors and dispensary applicants.”
Secretary Murphy also discussed recommendations made by the Physician Work Group, which met November 28 in Harrisburg.
“We cannot underestimate the role of physicians in making sure that patients can access medical marijuana,” Secretary Murphy said. “That’s why the involvement of physicians and healthcare professionals through our Physician Workgroup is vital to the successful development and implementation of Pennsylvania’s Medical Marijuana Program. At this meeting, we were able to speak with physicians, hospital administrators, and addiction specialists about their role in the program.”
Some of Physician Workgroup recommendations include:
-- Clearly identifying the role of physicians serving adults and children for the conditions outlined in the program;
-- Developing specific training for dosing recommendations for physicians at dispensaries and for quality monitoring of the program; and
-- Having different approaches for rural and urban areas in program access, education and medication delivery.
For more information, visit the Department of Health’s Medical Marijuana Program webpage.
