Uniontown to get medical marijuana dispensary
Five Southwestern Pennsylvania applicants are among 27 across the commonwealth chosen by the state Department of Health for permits as dispensaries for medical marijuana.
As announced Thursday, those applicants operate 10 of the 52 sites where dispensaries will be located, including one operated by Maitri Medicinals LLC in downtown Uniontown.
Sites also were authorized for one operation apiece in Washington and Westmoreland counties.
As was the case earlier with 12 locations for growing/processing the drug, two of which are in Southwestern Pennsylvania, dispensary permittees will now have six months in which to become operational, before they can begin operations.
Unlike the grower/processor permittees, those authorized to dispense medical marijuana could obtain permission to operate up to three locations in different counties.
State health officials said some permit holders opted not to go for three locations at this time.
“We remain on track to provide medication to patients in 2018,” said John Collins, director of the department’s Office of Medical Marijuana, reiterating his comments of 10 days ago when the grower/processor permits were issued.
Locally, that included facilities to be operated by AGRiMED Industries of PA LLC near Carmichaels and PurePenn LLC in the former U.S. Steel millsite in McKeesport.
Maitri’s primary dispensary location will be in Pittsburgh’s Oakland section.
Maitri also applied for a grower/processor permit for Rostraver Township, which was turned down during the first round for what eventually may be the issuance of 25 grower/processor permits.
“This has been a highly competitive process and the department received hundreds of quality applications,” Collins said. “Once this program is fully operational, patients with serious medical conditions will have locations throughout the commonwealth where they can purchase medication to help in their treatment.
The Healing Center LLC will have its primary dispensary in the city of Washington and a secondary site in Monroeville.
Keystone Integrated Care LLC will have its primary dispensary in Greensburg, a secondary location in Pittsburgh’s Lawrenceville section and a tertiary one in Cranberry Township.
Others awarded dispensary permits are Cresco Yeltrah LLC in the city of Butler and Keystone Relief Centers LLC with a primary location in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood and a secondary location in Zelienople, Butler County.