June 01, 2016
Pennsylvania health officials announced on Wednesday the steps they are taking to get the state's new medical marijuana law off the ground.
Department of Health Secretary Karen Murphy said the first thing being taken care of is creating temporary regulations for growers and processors.
The goal is to get those operations off the ground soon so they can start producing the product, and the department is conducting an online survey for input on how to best craft the regulations.
Other necessary temporary regulations, like those for dispensaries, doctors and patients, are supposed to be completed by the end of 2016.
The department also said it's reviewing the 123 applicants seeking the newly created job of medical marijuana program director, a position that's expected to be filled by July.
Pennsylvania's medical marijuana law took effect in May after Gov. Tom Wolf signed a bipartisan bill in April.
The law allows patients with one of 17 qualifying conditions to access the drug in pill, oil or ointment form.
Wolf recently said the program is expected to be fully up and running by 2018. The Department of Health gave a similar timeline Wednesday, saying full implementation should take from 18 to 24 months.
