Calling it “disruptive” and “unlawful,” a group of Pennsylvania marijuana growers and retailers wants to snuff out the state’s pioneering research program before it is launched.
The first of its kind in the nation, the research program would allow eight of the state’s teaching hospitals to contract with a cannabis producer. Each contract is estimated to be worth tens of millions of dollars. The agreements grant the producers a “super-permit” to operate an indoor grow facility and to open six retail dispensaries that can sell medical marijuana to any approved patient.
RELATED: Pennsylvania Finalizes Medical Marijuana Research Regulations
But the group of commercial growers and retailers filed a petition last week in Commonwealth Court, saying the research program would give the hospital-affiliated producers an unfair advantage, “flood the market with medical marijuana,” and kill their businesses.
The complaint asks a judge to review the regulations and declare them invalid. A hearing is scheduled for May 2 in Harrisburg.
If the court agrees, it would effectively shut down the state’s institutional research ambitions.
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