Harrisburg, Pennsylvania – The state Health Department’s medical marijuana program is expected to launch by early 2018, state health officials said Tuesday.
“The department is being very thoughtful and thorough in our approach to developing and implementing a medically focused program that will benefit patients with serious medical conditions,” said Dr. Karen Murphy, the state’s health secretary, in a statement. “We have started working closely with physician groups to disseminate important information and have formed a physician workgroup to ensure continued communication and feedback on the program and its implementation.”
After years of debate, the state’s medical marijuana law was signed in April. It will allow patients suffering from certain conditions to obtain medical cannabis products from dispensaries after receiving certification from a doctor.
Since the law’s approval, the department has released a public survey about regulations for growers, processors, dispensaries and laboratories; created the physician workgroup for medical input; and worked on the information technology solutions for tracking medical marijuana.
It has also drafted temporary regulations that will allow patients under 18 to use products from other states while Pennsylvania’s program is being developed.
The first Medical Marijuana Physician Workgroup will meet in the next few weeks, health officials said. That group will provide input on the regulations and implementation of the medical marijuana law and research.
Participants will include:
- Allegheny Health Network
- Geisinger Health System
- Penn State Health
- Port Allegany Health Center
- Temple University Health System
- The Lehigh Valley Health Network
- Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals
- University of Pennsylvania – Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
- The Commonwealth Medical College
- Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians
- Pennsylvania Chapter – American Academy of Pediatrics
- Pennsylvania Medical Society
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Full Article: 2018 Launch Set For Pennsylvania’s Medical Marijuana Program
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