HARRISBURG, PA — Full implementation of Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana program is still over a year away, but a significant milestone was reached this week when the Department of Health announced where the state’s dispensaries and cultivation facilities will be located, and that applications will be accepted starting in January.
On Wednesday, Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Karen Murphy announced that up to twelve grower/processor licensses will be issued across Pennsylvania, and up to 27 medical marijuana dispensaries will be permitted in the first phase of the state’s medical marijuana program. The application process begins next month.
“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,” Murphy said in a press release. Applications will be available from the Department of Health’s website at www.health.pa.gov.
The state is divided into six medical marijuana regions, with each region allocated two cultivation facilities. Each region will have a varied number of dispensaries, based on a number of factors, including population density.
“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,” Dr. Murphy explained.
Not surprisingly, the Southeast Region, which includes Pthiladelphia, will receive the most dispensaries, with ten being allocated. Rural regions of Pennsylvania will receive two.
Philadelphia County, which is made up of the city of Philadelphia, will receive 3 dispensaries. Montgomery County, comprised mostly of Philadelphia suburbs, will receive two. Allegheny County, home to the state’s second largest city, Pittsburgh, will also receive two dispensaries.
Here’s the breakdown by region of which counties will receive a dispensary. Unless otherwise noted, one dispensary has been allocated to each:
Region 1 – Southeast
- Berks County
- Bucks County
- Chester County
- Delaware County
- Lancaster County
- Montgomery County – 2 dispensaries
- Philadelphia County – 3 dispensaries
Region 2 – Northeast
- Lackawanna County
- Lehigh County
- Luzerne County
- Norhampton County
Region 3 – Southcentral
- Blair County
- Cumberland County
- Dauphin County
- York County
Region 4 – Northcentral
- Centre County
- Lycoming County
Region 5 – Southwest
- Allegheny County – 2 Dispensaries
- Butler County
- Washington County
- Westmoreland County
Region 6 – Northwest
- Erie County
- Mckean County
Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana bill, Senate Bill 3, was signed into law by Governor Tom Wolf on April 17, 2016, and took effect on May 17, 2016. The program will offer medical marijuana in non-smokable form to patients who are residents of Pennsylvania and under a physician’s care for the treatment of a serious medical condition, and is expected to be fully implemented by 2018.
More information about the medical marijuana program is available at www.health.pa.gov.
Tags: Karen Murphy, PA SB 3, Pennsylvania Department of Health, Pennsylvania medical marijuana