Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
Some 10,135 patients have registered to participate in Pennsylvania's nascent medical marijuana program so far with 1,188 of them certified by physicians to participate in the program, according to the state Department of Health.
"Patients have started to receive their medical marijuana identification cards, bringing us one step closer to getting medication to patients in the next four months," Gov. Tom Wolf said in a news release.
"Our grower/processors are well underway, and our dispensaries are approaching the point where they will be ready to open their doors. Patients who are desperately waiting for this medication will soon find relief."
To date, eight of the 12 grower/processors that received permits have begun their operation.
The other four are in the final stages of the department's inspection process. "We have been working with them to make sure they are meeting all of the standards set out by the regulations and their facilities are safe and secure," said Dr. Rachel Levine, the state's acting health secretary and physician general. "At this time, we do not foresee any issues with the remaining facilities that would prevent them from becoming operational."
To become operational, the grower/processors must pass several inspections and have a fully integrated seed-to-sale tracking system. After that, they can begin accepting seeds and clones to grow medical marijuana.
Physicians also are continuing to register to participate in the program. To date, 550 have registered and of those, nearly 250 have completed the training to become certified practitioners. A fifth continuing education provider, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, also has been approved.
"Physicians play a critical role in this medically-focused program," Dr. Levine said. "The response has been encouraging from the medical community as more doctors are becoming educated on how medical marijuana can help their patients."
Wolf signed the law on April 17, 2016, establishing the medical marijuana program. Pennsylvania is now among 29 states, plus the District of Columbia, to legalize medical marijuana.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: More than 10,000 patients register for medical marijuana in Pa. | PennLive.com
Author: Jan Murphy
Contact: Contact Page - The PA Media Group
Photo Credit: Jim Mone
Website: Central PA Local News, Breaking News, Sports & Weather - PennLive.com
"Patients have started to receive their medical marijuana identification cards, bringing us one step closer to getting medication to patients in the next four months," Gov. Tom Wolf said in a news release.
"Our grower/processors are well underway, and our dispensaries are approaching the point where they will be ready to open their doors. Patients who are desperately waiting for this medication will soon find relief."
To date, eight of the 12 grower/processors that received permits have begun their operation.
The other four are in the final stages of the department's inspection process. "We have been working with them to make sure they are meeting all of the standards set out by the regulations and their facilities are safe and secure," said Dr. Rachel Levine, the state's acting health secretary and physician general. "At this time, we do not foresee any issues with the remaining facilities that would prevent them from becoming operational."
To become operational, the grower/processors must pass several inspections and have a fully integrated seed-to-sale tracking system. After that, they can begin accepting seeds and clones to grow medical marijuana.
Physicians also are continuing to register to participate in the program. To date, 550 have registered and of those, nearly 250 have completed the training to become certified practitioners. A fifth continuing education provider, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, also has been approved.
"Physicians play a critical role in this medically-focused program," Dr. Levine said. "The response has been encouraging from the medical community as more doctors are becoming educated on how medical marijuana can help their patients."
Wolf signed the law on April 17, 2016, establishing the medical marijuana program. Pennsylvania is now among 29 states, plus the District of Columbia, to legalize medical marijuana.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: More than 10,000 patients register for medical marijuana in Pa. | PennLive.com
Author: Jan Murphy
Contact: Contact Page - The PA Media Group
Photo Credit: Jim Mone
Website: Central PA Local News, Breaking News, Sports & Weather - PennLive.com
