Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
More than a decade after he retired from practicing podiatry, Dave Feller said he might be inclined to get back into the workforce due to the many employment opportunities that will open up now that medical marijuana has been legalized in the state of Pennsylvania.
"I want to see what medical conditions are allowed to be treated with medical marijuana and if podiatry is one of them," said Dr. Feller, 65, of Butler. "If people are in pain and this law will allow treatment of medical marijuana, this is another avenue to use other than opiates and anti-inflammatories."
The way he sees it, the medical marijuana industry could not only provide an alternative when it comes to treating patients in pain, it could be a way to supplement his retirement income.
Dr. Feller was among more than 160 people who packed a seminar held Sunday at Pittsburgh Marriott North in Cranberry, which was hosted by US Cannabis Pharmaceutical Research and Development. The Melbourne, Fla.-based consulting company hosted two sold-out events this weekend to educate people on the variety of ways they can play a role in what promises to be a profitable and fast-growing segment of legalized pain management.
People of all ages and from all walks of life paid $350 each to attend the comprehensive seminar that touched on how to obtain licenses for growing medical marijuana and operate dispensaries in the state of Pennsylvania, as well as issues related to the legal aspects, accounting, taxes, staffing, plant production and liabilities involved in the business.
Several attendees declined to provide their names to a reporter out of concern that their employers might retaliate against them. Although medical marijuana is legal in this state and others, it is still illegal at the federal level and a stigma is still attached to marijuana use.
The event organizers say a sizable portion of attendees also choose to pay the seminar fee in cash to avoid any paper trail related to the marijuana industry. They said credit card companies and PayPal also have flagged accounts when people use them to pay for the seminars due to its connection with marijuana.
Gov. Tom Wolfe signed the medical marijuana bill into law on April 17. Children in the state battling severe health problems should have access to medical marijuana as early as this summer. The law, however, made it legal as of last month for minors with qualifying ailments - such as cancer, autism, Crohn's disease and epilepsy - to obtain medical marijuana from other states where it is legal and bring it to Pennsylvania. Adults will have to wait longer for medical marijuana in this state. The state Health Department will announce updates at its months briefings.
"If done well, Pennsylvania has the chance to become one of the best medical marijuana markets in the country," said Michael Patterson, CEO of US Cannabis Pharmaceutical Research and Development. He said New York has 20 medical marijuana dispensaries in operation, New Jersey has just five. However, Pennsylvania law will permit 175 licensed businesses.
"This will create thousands of good-paying jobs," he said. "For example, every dispensary must have a physician, nurse practitioner, physician assistant or pharmacist on site at all times when a dispensary is open to the public. ... Each grower/processor location will have from 10 to 30 staff members and dispensaries will have anywhere from five to 20 employees initially. All of these jobs will be created over the next two years.
"Also, this will be the only time in history in which almost every applicant will have no experience. Medical marijuana levels the playing field. Anyone who wants to make a difference has the opportunity to work in this industry."
Isaac Holeva, special events and promotions coordinator of the Pittsburgh NORML advocacy group, said the purpose of the seminars is to educate as many people as possible on the the upcoming opportunities in Pennsylvania for medical marijuana.
"We've been inundated with calls and messages from people who want to know how to get involved and work within the industry," Mr. Holeva said. "We are seeing regular folks come to the seminars as well as shrewd businessmen who know this is a great opportunity to seize on, as well as people we would expect to see who are there to satisfy their curiosity."
As a pharmacist, Mark Hahn, 37, of Cranberry said he attended Sunday's seminar because he is particularly interested in how medical marijuana can help people with seizure disorders who don't respond to traditional medicines as well as how it helps patients manage pain for injuries such as concussions.
"I want to learn more about the risks and benefits of medical marijuana," he said, adding that he also is excited about the possibility that the industry could provide him with a second job. "It does seem to be a growing industry. I'm looking to learn more."
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Medical Marijuana Opening Door To Business Opportunities
Author: Tim Grant
Contact: tgrant@post-gazette.com
Photo Credit: Seth Perlman
Website: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
"I want to see what medical conditions are allowed to be treated with medical marijuana and if podiatry is one of them," said Dr. Feller, 65, of Butler. "If people are in pain and this law will allow treatment of medical marijuana, this is another avenue to use other than opiates and anti-inflammatories."
The way he sees it, the medical marijuana industry could not only provide an alternative when it comes to treating patients in pain, it could be a way to supplement his retirement income.
Dr. Feller was among more than 160 people who packed a seminar held Sunday at Pittsburgh Marriott North in Cranberry, which was hosted by US Cannabis Pharmaceutical Research and Development. The Melbourne, Fla.-based consulting company hosted two sold-out events this weekend to educate people on the variety of ways they can play a role in what promises to be a profitable and fast-growing segment of legalized pain management.
People of all ages and from all walks of life paid $350 each to attend the comprehensive seminar that touched on how to obtain licenses for growing medical marijuana and operate dispensaries in the state of Pennsylvania, as well as issues related to the legal aspects, accounting, taxes, staffing, plant production and liabilities involved in the business.
Several attendees declined to provide their names to a reporter out of concern that their employers might retaliate against them. Although medical marijuana is legal in this state and others, it is still illegal at the federal level and a stigma is still attached to marijuana use.
The event organizers say a sizable portion of attendees also choose to pay the seminar fee in cash to avoid any paper trail related to the marijuana industry. They said credit card companies and PayPal also have flagged accounts when people use them to pay for the seminars due to its connection with marijuana.
Gov. Tom Wolfe signed the medical marijuana bill into law on April 17. Children in the state battling severe health problems should have access to medical marijuana as early as this summer. The law, however, made it legal as of last month for minors with qualifying ailments - such as cancer, autism, Crohn's disease and epilepsy - to obtain medical marijuana from other states where it is legal and bring it to Pennsylvania. Adults will have to wait longer for medical marijuana in this state. The state Health Department will announce updates at its months briefings.
"If done well, Pennsylvania has the chance to become one of the best medical marijuana markets in the country," said Michael Patterson, CEO of US Cannabis Pharmaceutical Research and Development. He said New York has 20 medical marijuana dispensaries in operation, New Jersey has just five. However, Pennsylvania law will permit 175 licensed businesses.
"This will create thousands of good-paying jobs," he said. "For example, every dispensary must have a physician, nurse practitioner, physician assistant or pharmacist on site at all times when a dispensary is open to the public. ... Each grower/processor location will have from 10 to 30 staff members and dispensaries will have anywhere from five to 20 employees initially. All of these jobs will be created over the next two years.
"Also, this will be the only time in history in which almost every applicant will have no experience. Medical marijuana levels the playing field. Anyone who wants to make a difference has the opportunity to work in this industry."
Isaac Holeva, special events and promotions coordinator of the Pittsburgh NORML advocacy group, said the purpose of the seminars is to educate as many people as possible on the the upcoming opportunities in Pennsylvania for medical marijuana.
"We've been inundated with calls and messages from people who want to know how to get involved and work within the industry," Mr. Holeva said. "We are seeing regular folks come to the seminars as well as shrewd businessmen who know this is a great opportunity to seize on, as well as people we would expect to see who are there to satisfy their curiosity."
As a pharmacist, Mark Hahn, 37, of Cranberry said he attended Sunday's seminar because he is particularly interested in how medical marijuana can help people with seizure disorders who don't respond to traditional medicines as well as how it helps patients manage pain for injuries such as concussions.
"I want to learn more about the risks and benefits of medical marijuana," he said, adding that he also is excited about the possibility that the industry could provide him with a second job. "It does seem to be a growing industry. I'm looking to learn more."
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Medical Marijuana Opening Door To Business Opportunities
Author: Tim Grant
Contact: tgrant@post-gazette.com
Photo Credit: Seth Perlman
Website: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
