(This story has been updated from an earlier version.)
Pennsylvania on Monday unveiled eight universities that will be allowed to research medical marijuana, a potential boon for an industry where cannabis study is extremely limited.
According to the Tribune-Review, the schools authorized to conduct MMJ research are:
- Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia
- Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Erie
- Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia
- Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey
- Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
- Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia
- University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Monday’s announcement by Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf is unusual because few state cannabis programs have made such a commitment to studying medical cannabis.
But research is sorely needed in a space where a lack of scientific studies into the medical benefits of cannabis has slowed the growth of the industry.
Here’s what you need to know:
- The eight “certified academic clinical research centers” will research the efficacy and safety of medical cannabis for treating several health conditions.
- Each center will partner with a cannabis company that will be granted one state license to cultivate and process MMJ. The company will also receive a dispensary license to sell medical cannabis at up to six storefronts.
- A legal challenge filed by some MMJ license holders is still pending, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. A group of license holders filed an injunction to stop Pennsylvania’s research program, arguing that it will provide an unfair advantage to the partner company.
