Patients and Laboratories Reminded to Provide Input on Medical Marijuana Program before Comment Period Closes November 18

HARRISBURG, Pa., Nov. 16, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Department of Health is reminding Pennsylvanians that the public input period for surveys relating to patients who will be eligible for the Medical Marijuana Program and the proposed temporary regulations for laboratories will both end Friday, November 18.

To ensure the medical marijuana program will meet the needs of individuals with serious medical conditions as defined by Act 16, patients are encouraged to complete a survey that is available on the department's website.

The proposed temporary regulations for laboratories that would be responsible for testing medical marijuana are also available for review and comment here. Both surveys will be available for comment until 5:00 PM on November 18.

The medical marijuana program was signed into law by Governor Tom Wolf on April 17, 2016. Since that time, the department has:

• Completed the Safe Harbor temporary guidelines and Safe Harbor Letter application process, as well as approved 120 applications to date;
• Released public surveys to aid in the development of temporary regulations for growers/processors and dispensaries/laboratories;
• Developed the Medical Marijuana Physician Workgroup, which is scheduled to meet again on November 28; and
• Released a Request for Information for Electronic Tracking IT solutions for the tracking of medical marijuana.

Full implementation of the program is expected to take between 18 and 24 months. The program will provide access to medical marijuana for patients who are Pennsylvania residents under a physician's care for the treatment of a serious medical condition as defined by Act 16. 

Questions about the medical marijuana program can be emailed to [email protected]. Information is also available at www.health.pa.gov.

MEDIA CONTACT: April Hutcheson, 717-787-1783

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Health

Related Links

http://www.state.pa.us