This week is shaping up to be a big one for medical marijuana.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health awarded 13 permits Tuesday to cannabis cultivators, bringing the number of companies licensed to grow and process medical marijuana in the state to 25.
And on Wednesday, vaporizable “flower” — the most popular and affordable form of marijuana — goes on sale at a dozen dispensaries across the state.
The Health Department approved two new growers for the southeast section of the state. DocHouse LLC — headed by Elkins Park lawyer Justin Moriconi — will operate in Pottsville, and Agri-Kind LLC will set up cultivation in Chester.
Once again, Philadelphia was shut out.
Two Democratic politicians from Philadelphia, City Councilman Derek S. Green and State Rep. Jordan Harris, had called on the state to consider the city for an indoor grow operation.
“It’s concerning,” Green said. “We’re up to 25 cultivators and there isn’t a single one in the city. Look at the economic development perspective. We have the highest level of poverty of any large city in the entire nation. Cultivation provides jobs.”