Pennsylvania aims to start medical marijuana sales in 2018

HARRISBURG (PPG)— Pennsylvania officials said today that they will begin accepting applications early next year for medical marijuana growers and dispensaries, with a target date of mid-2018 for legal sales to begin in the state. Health Secretary Karen Murphy told reporters at a news conference today that firms can apply between Feb. 20 and March 20 to grow or sell the drug to patients with proper prescriptions. Health officials expect more than 900 applications. In the first phase, said Ms. Murphy, the department will license up to 12 growers and up to 81 locations for dispensing medical marijuana. Those are the ones expected to be up and running by mid-2018, she said. The bill that passed the Republican-controlled Legislature and signed by Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf this past spring permits up to 150 dispensaries and 25 growers statewide.