Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
The Pennsylvania Department of Health must reveal who sat on the secret panel that reviewed and scored applicants for medical marijuana permits, the Office of Open Records ruled Thursday.
PennLive reporter Wallace McKelvey made a request under the state's Right-to-Know law in May for the names, titles and departments of "panel members from various disciplines" who reviewed all the applicants.
The panel's scores determined who won 12 grower/processor permits and 27 dispensary permits earlier this summer, including a grower in McKeesport and dispensaries in Greensburg, Squirrel Hill and Oakland.
The health department denied McKelvey's request, arguing that revealing the panelists' names could compromise their personal security or open them up to influence by potential applicants – even claiming that McKelvey himself could hypothetically find himself in the medical marijuana industry and have insider information if he had the panelists' names, PennLive reported.
On McKelvey's appeal of the denial, the Office of Open Records ruled the health department couldn't prove there would be threats to the panelists' safety, especially if only a small group of panelists reviews each application. The ruling said that disclosing the whole panel wouldn't reveal which specific members had denied an application.
The health department now has 30 days to either provide PennLive with the records or appeal the decision to the Commonwealth Court.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: State must give PennLive names of secret medical marijuana permit panelists | TribLIVE
Author: Matthew Santoni
Contact: Contact Us | TribLIVE
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Website: Home | TribLIVE
PennLive reporter Wallace McKelvey made a request under the state's Right-to-Know law in May for the names, titles and departments of "panel members from various disciplines" who reviewed all the applicants.
The panel's scores determined who won 12 grower/processor permits and 27 dispensary permits earlier this summer, including a grower in McKeesport and dispensaries in Greensburg, Squirrel Hill and Oakland.
The health department denied McKelvey's request, arguing that revealing the panelists' names could compromise their personal security or open them up to influence by potential applicants – even claiming that McKelvey himself could hypothetically find himself in the medical marijuana industry and have insider information if he had the panelists' names, PennLive reported.
On McKelvey's appeal of the denial, the Office of Open Records ruled the health department couldn't prove there would be threats to the panelists' safety, especially if only a small group of panelists reviews each application. The ruling said that disclosing the whole panel wouldn't reveal which specific members had denied an application.
The health department now has 30 days to either provide PennLive with the records or appeal the decision to the Commonwealth Court.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: State must give PennLive names of secret medical marijuana permit panelists | TribLIVE
Author: Matthew Santoni
Contact: Contact Us | TribLIVE
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Website: Home | TribLIVE
