Medical marijuana dispensary planned in midstate communities
(Photo: Lillian Reed – The Evening Sun)
(Hanover) — A company that already grows and sells medical marijuana in Florida has the go-ahead to sell medical cannabis products in the Hanover area.
Cansortium Pennsylvania LLC was awarded one of 27 permits by the Department of Health Thursday.
They include Lebanon Wellness Center LLC in Lebanon. Its main office will be based in Altoona, in Blair County, according to a state Department of Health news release. The Lebanon location at 847 Cumberland St. and a site in Gettysburg were included as other locations for Lebanon Wellness.
Two others are in Berks County: Prime Wellness of Pennsylvania, LLC in South Heidelberg Township and Franklin Labs, LLC in Reading. Another is in Franklin County: AES Compassionate Care, LLC in Chambersburg.
In Lancaster County, a permit was awarded to Lancaster County to Bay LLC, which will be known as Cure Pennsylvania.
Cansortium is part of Knox Medical, which has operations in Florida and will soon begin to sell medical marijuana in Texas and Puerto Rico, said company spokesman Adam Sharon.
Pennsylvania will gain about $7.9 million from marijuana permit applicants this year. Sean Heisey, York Daily Record
Unlike those states, Pennsylvania divides up the duties between growing and selling cannabis to separate companies, and Knox Medical won’t be growing it here, Sharon said.
The company, registered to an office in King of Prussia, also has some Pennsylvania ties, which is in keeping with the state’s requirement to employ residents. Dr. Norman Frey, a Pittsburgh-based doctor of osteopathy, will serve as the company’s medical director, according to the company’s application filed with the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
Several others on the company’s roster either live in or have gone to school in Pennsylvania.
Hanover residents may recognize the dispensary’s location in the 600 block of Frederick Street, Penn Township, as the old Buona Fortuna restaurant building.
Each permit-holder can open up to three sites, but the other two sites haven’t been determined yet, Sharon said.
One thing is certain: York won’t get a dispensary, Sharon said. That’s because the rules require dispensary owners to open additional sites within their allowed region but in other counties.
Permit-holders have six months to set up shop. The company’s application states it will be ready to open by November 7.
It will also hire “at least 8” people, Sharon said. Jobs should be posted by July 14, the application states.
Knox Medical executives were “very excited” from the news, which they learned about through media inquiries, Sharon said. “A tremendous amount of effort have gone into preparing for moments like today. It’s very exciting and humbling. It’s an opportunity that’s guided us to ultimately help patients and families.”
This story is part of a partnership between WITF and the York Daily Record.
A collection of interviews, photos, and music videos, featuring local musicians who have stopped by the WITF performance studio to share a little discussion and sound. Produced by WITF’s Joe Ulrich.
