State denies medical marijuana growing/processing company’s permit renewal request

HARRISBURG, July 29, 2019 – On Monday, The Pennsylvania Department of Health announced that it has denied AGRiMED Industries of PA, LLC’s application to renew its grower/processor permit. This decision comes after the DOH concluded the company did not comply with regulations governing the processing, harvesting or destruction of marijuana plants. According to the DOH, AGRiMED has 30 days to appeal the decision. 

“Our medical marijuana program has been one of the most successful in the country, providing evidence-based, quality options for patients suffering from serious medical conditions,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said in a press release. “Part of the reason for that success is our efforts to hold grower/processors and dispensaries accountable for meeting their obligations under the law. In this case, AGRiMED was not able to do that so we have denied its application to renew its permit.”

AGRiMED received a medical marijuana grower/processor permit in June 2017 and became operational in February 2018. The company has been growing marijuana, but its processing equipment is not operational, so it has not been processing or shipping medication for sale at dispensaries.

The decision to deny the renewal of AGRiMED’s is subsequent to a cease and desist order that was issued on July 1. During a surprise inspection, AGRiMED was unable to produce records to confirm how or when it destroyed mature marijuana plants. Because the security cameras were frequently non-functional, it also could not produce security footage of the destruction of the plants, as required. According to the cease and desist order, plants that reach maturity and are not processed must either be harvested, trimmed or destroyed.
Without a permit, it is mandatory for AGRiMED to dispose of any remaining seeds, immature medical marijuana plants, medical marijuana plants and medical marijuana products under the direct supervision of the department at a date to be determined.