Pittsburgh weighing medical cannabis zoning rules

Pittsburgh lawmakers could soon adopt zoning rules governing the city’s newly emerging medical marijuana industry.

The Pittsburgh City Council is weighing rules that would allow dispensaries in commercial zones and permit growers and processors in general or urban industrial zones, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Local lawmakers could decide the issue in the next couple of weeks.

“It’s important that we set some standards that will help these businesses help individuals who need medical attention,” said Councilman Corey O’Connor, who introduced the legislation last week. He added: “I feel like if it is a business, it should be where most businesses are.”

O’Connor added that Pittsburgh could begin receiving marijuana business applications next spring. Observes have reckoned that the first dispensaries could be operational in 2018.

Pennsylvania legalized medical marijuana in April. And in recent weeks state health department officials have been crafting regulations for the new industry, including 150 dispensary businesses and 25 grower-processor businesses.