Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
Pennsylvania Department of Health officials could decide within the next two weeks whether to allow a Chicago-based medical marijuana company to move its proposed Erie County dispensary.
GTI LLC was originally scheduled to open a medical marijuana dispensary at 7789 West Ridge Road, Fairview Township, on Dec. 29 and begin selling its products there in March 2018. But GTI officials have filed a report with the health department, asking regulators to determine if the company should relocate to another Erie County location because of environmental concerns with the site.
"There were underground gas tanks on the property back in the day," said Pete Kadens, the CEO of GTI. "We are asking the regulators to evaluate the current property and determine if it is inappropriate for our business. If so, then allow us to relocate."
Kadens declined to say if GTI has chosen an alternate dispensary location. He said he hopes to hear from the health department within the next 10 to 14 days.
GTI, which stands for Green Thumb Industries, received licenses from the state to grow and dispense marijuana for medical purposes under the new Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Program. It will grow marijuana in Danville and is permitted to dispense it at three locations, including one in Erie County.
The health department expects medical marijuana will be available to patients across the state within the next five months, health department spokeswoman April Hutcheson said.
"We are building an entire system from scratch," Hutcheson said. "It takes time."
The state's Medical Marijuana Law was signed in April 2016. It provides access to medical marijuana to patients with one of 17 medical conditions, including cancer, autism, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease.
In order to receive medical marijuana, a patient must be certified as having one of the conditions by a physician whom the health department has approved as a practitioner. As of Friday, no physician based in Erie County has been approved.
"That's as of (Friday). That doesn't mean there won't be any," Hutcheson said. "We have about 500 physicians who have initiated the application process and only 150 of them have been approved so far."
Kadens said he is concerned about the lack of approved Erie County physicians. He plans to visit Erie in January to educate local doctors about the medical marijuana program.
"It's about educating them on this topic and convincing them to get through the four-hour certification course they need to take," Kadens said.
Even if no Erie County physician is approved, patients will still be able to be certified to acquire medical marijuana. They will just have to visit an approved physician elsewhere in the state, Hutcheson said.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Fairview's planned medical marijuana dispensary could move - News - GoErie.com - Erie, PA
Author: David Bruce
Contact: Contact - Erie, PA - GoErie.com
Photo Credit: Lucy Nicholson
Website: GoErie.com: Local & World News, Sports & Entertainment in Erie, PA
GTI LLC was originally scheduled to open a medical marijuana dispensary at 7789 West Ridge Road, Fairview Township, on Dec. 29 and begin selling its products there in March 2018. But GTI officials have filed a report with the health department, asking regulators to determine if the company should relocate to another Erie County location because of environmental concerns with the site.
"There were underground gas tanks on the property back in the day," said Pete Kadens, the CEO of GTI. "We are asking the regulators to evaluate the current property and determine if it is inappropriate for our business. If so, then allow us to relocate."
Kadens declined to say if GTI has chosen an alternate dispensary location. He said he hopes to hear from the health department within the next 10 to 14 days.
GTI, which stands for Green Thumb Industries, received licenses from the state to grow and dispense marijuana for medical purposes under the new Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Program. It will grow marijuana in Danville and is permitted to dispense it at three locations, including one in Erie County.
The health department expects medical marijuana will be available to patients across the state within the next five months, health department spokeswoman April Hutcheson said.
"We are building an entire system from scratch," Hutcheson said. "It takes time."
The state's Medical Marijuana Law was signed in April 2016. It provides access to medical marijuana to patients with one of 17 medical conditions, including cancer, autism, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease.
In order to receive medical marijuana, a patient must be certified as having one of the conditions by a physician whom the health department has approved as a practitioner. As of Friday, no physician based in Erie County has been approved.
"That's as of (Friday). That doesn't mean there won't be any," Hutcheson said. "We have about 500 physicians who have initiated the application process and only 150 of them have been approved so far."
Kadens said he is concerned about the lack of approved Erie County physicians. He plans to visit Erie in January to educate local doctors about the medical marijuana program.
"It's about educating them on this topic and convincing them to get through the four-hour certification course they need to take," Kadens said.
Even if no Erie County physician is approved, patients will still be able to be certified to acquire medical marijuana. They will just have to visit an approved physician elsewhere in the state, Hutcheson said.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Fairview's planned medical marijuana dispensary could move - News - GoErie.com - Erie, PA
Author: David Bruce
Contact: Contact - Erie, PA - GoErie.com
Photo Credit: Lucy Nicholson
Website: GoErie.com: Local & World News, Sports & Entertainment in Erie, PA
