One Year In, Medical Marijuana is On Track in Philadelphia

A year ago on the 17th, Governor Tom Wolf passed medical marijuana into state law in Pennsylvania. On the anniversary of that legality, a bonafide industry is taking shape in the City of Brotherly Love, as well as in other cities throughout the Keystone State. Philadelphia’s Department of License and Inspections has, in accordance with the law, issued nine permits for growers and dispensaries within the city. Since the bill was signed into law, the Department of Health has set in place provisional regulations for segments of the medical marijuana industry and created a Medical Marijuana Physician Workgroup.

A year after medical marijuana was legalized in Pennsylvania, Philadelphia’s framework for growing and dispensing the substance is developing. (image: https://vaping360.com/)

According to The Philadelphia Tribune, “Locally, License and Inspections issued eight permits for medical marijuana dispensary zoning as of April 14, said spokeswoman Karen Guss. The applications were issued for 915 N. Front St., 1125 E. Passyunk Ave., 8319 Stenton Ave., 1201 Walnut St., 460 N. 2nd St., 114 N. 3rd St., 444 N. 4th St. and 957 Frankford Ave. The only permit issued for medical marijuana growing facility zoning is 3100 N. 17th St.”

A large part of the city’s progress on the medical marijuana front is thanks to Councilman Derek Green, one of the industry’s most vocal supporters. Green, who has a 16-year-old autistic son, became interested in the benefits of medicinal pot when he read research associating it with positive effects in autistic individuals. Once the bill made law, Green headed up the campaign to get industry permits for Philadelphia by facilitating hearings and submitting city-specific changes to Pennsylvania’s zoning rules. Due to the fact that Keystone State regulations permit municipal zoning waivers, Green said the city’s proposed changes were accepted.

Green points out that the medical marijuana industry doesn’t just help patients, but it also creates job opportunities. This is especially true for the city’s African-American residents, who don’t often get the chance to get in on the ground level of a developing industry. Green urges Philadelphia’s residents of color to get involved and learn more about the industry and the opportunities it provides.