What comes next for Pa.’s medical marijuana program?
Governor Tom Wolf signs Senate Bill 3, legalizing medical marijuana in Pennsylvania. (Courtesy of PA Internet News Service).
(Harrisburg) — Governor Tom Wolf has signed medical marijuana legislation into law.
So what comes next?
The state Department of Health says it will take up to two years to fully implement the program by setting up growers, distributers, and dispensaries across the state.
Deputy Health Secretary Dr. Loren Robinson says patients with a qualifying condition will need to be certified by a licensed medical provider.
“The patient will submit the form to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, in order to receive a patient identification card for the Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana program,” she says. “Once they have received their patient identification card, patients can go to one of the 150 dispensaries located across the commonwealth, present their patient identification card and purchase medical marijuana.”
The law does include a “safe haven” provision to allow families with children suffering one of the conditions to obtain medical marijuana from another state before Pennsylvania’s program is up and running.
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