Business picks up at Chambersburg’s lone dispensary

(Chambersburg) — Franklin County won’t be getting a second medical marijuana dispensary.

Investors have gotten state approval to relocate the dispensary proposed for Guilford Township to West Manchester Township in York County. Building near Chambersburg would have cost too much, according to Jonathan Gusdorff, managing partner of KW Ventures Holdings LLC.

KW Ventures of Havertown had planned to build Firefly Dispensaries across the street from the Chambersburg Walmart at 1737 Lincoln Way East. Excavation began in August, then stopped.

Chambersburg’s first and only medical marijuana dispensary, Organic Remedies, opened in March at 900 Wayne Ave.

“I guess that means we own Chambersburg as far as patient population,” said Eric Hauser, president and CEO of Organic Remedies. “It may be a good thing. I don’t know that there’s enough patient population in Chambersburg to support two dispensaries. We’re happy things are working out for us in Chambersburg.”

Patients come from as far away as Pittsburgh and State College to pick up medical marijuana at Chambersburg because the Organic Remedies dispensary has a broader selection of products, Hauser said. Supplies statewide currently are relatively scarce as processors continue to come online.

“Business is starting to pickup,” Hauser said. “We’re not turning anybody away. We pride ourselves on the time we spend with patients.”

Patients are encouraged to schedule appointments.

“We are encouraged by the results we are getting from our current patients,” said Hauser, a pharmacist at the dispensary. “There’s still a little bit of skepticism out there. It’s a new area, even though it’s been in use in California for 20 years. We’re getting amazing results that can’t be achieved with traditional medications.”

Medical marijuana does not have the ill side effects that other pain and seizure medications can have, according to Hauser.

Medical marijuana is available to a patient whose doctor certifies he or she has a qualifying medical condition. Three more local doctors in three months have been approved to certify patients for participation. The health department has certified seven doctors in Franklin County.

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