Pennsylvania to make new regulations for Marijuana Growers and Processors

Posted by Sagar Satapathy on October 28, 2016.

Pennsylvania officials are making progress on rules to govern the state’s new medical marijuana program, including how dispensaries will operate and the fees paid by growers and processors.

Department of Health Secretary Dr. Karen Murphy on Tuesday announced temporary regulations for marijuana growers and processors under Act 16 are slated to be published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin on October 29. She also urged for public comment on marijuana dispensary regulations.

Dr. Murphy appealed patients, lawmakers and medical marijuana experts to provide feedback on the regulations, which will be opened until Nov. 4. The state has received 1,000 comments on temporary regulations for growers and processors, she said.

Dr. Murphy said that Pennsylvania should have its marijuana program fully operational by 2018.The regulations outline the financial, legal and operational requirements needed by an individual to be considered for a grower or processor permit, as well as where the facilities can be located.

Dispensaries must be under constant video surveillance and equipped with a professionally monitored security system. If a dispensary has additional locations, a physician assistant or nurse practitioner can be present in lieu of a doctor or pharmacist.

Regulations require all dispensaries to be at least 1,000 feet from a school or day care center. No one under 18 can enter a dispensary without an adult. A marijuana dispensary can't be inside another retail business.

Medical marijuana products must be delivered to patients in sealed containers, with a warning label. Products will be available in pills, oils, tinctures or ointments at up to 50 dispensaries. Each dispensary can have up to three locations.

Notably, Pennsylvania legalized medical marijuana in April 2016. The complete implementation of the program was expected to take 18 to 24 months and includes setting up dispensaries and laboratories.

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