3,000 Pennsylvanians with anxiety certified for medical cannabis in the first month

In July, Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine announced that anxiety and Tourette syndrome would be added to a list of more than 20 qualifying medical marijuana conditions. Since then, a staggering 3,000 people have been certified for anxiety disorders.

Even more surprising, within just the first few days, 212 people were certified for medical cannabis because of anxiety, John Collins, director of the Office of Medical Marijuana, said at a meeting of the Medical Marijuana Advisory Board last week.

That number has been surging by about 1,000 people a week since certifications began July 20.

Pennsylvania’s program formally began on Feb. 15, 2018. At the moment, Collins said, 180,000 patients and 20,000 caregivers are registered in the system. Roughly 121,000 patients are actively purchasing medicine.

That’s translated into about $200 million in sales by dispensaries to patients, Collins said. Sales from medical marijuana grower/processors to dispensaries total $150 million.

Be sure to check out our upcoming Fall issue for more on how medical cannabis has and will continue to help those afflicted with anxiety and stay tuned to dispensemagazine.com for a related podcast with Dispense Publisher Sven Hosford and Sara Makin of Makin Wellness.