The Pennsylvania Department of Health is urging physicians to join a working group to inform its development of a medical marijuana program.
"The department is being very thoughtful and thorough in our approach to developing and implementing a medically-focused program that will benefit patients with serious medical conditions," Pennsylvania Health Secretary Karen Murphy said in a statement. "We have started working closely with physician groups to disseminate important information, and have formed a physician workgroup to ensure continued communication and feedback on the program and its implementation. Physicians and their medical expertise are crucial to the success of Pennsylvania's medical marijuana program, and we will continue to engage them throughout the process to ensure their medical expertise is heard on behalf of patients."
Physicians from the following organizations are participating, according to the department.
- Allegheny Health Network (Pittsburgh)
- Geisinger Health System (Danville, Pa.)
- Penn State Health (Hershey, Pa.)
- Port Allegany (Pa.) Health Center
- Temple University Health Systems (Philadelphia)
- The Lehigh Valley Health Network (Allentown, Pa.)
- Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals (Philadelphia)
- University of Pennsylvania – Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine (Philadelphia)
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
- The Commonwealth Medical College (Scranton, Pa.)
- Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians (Harrisburg)
- Pennsylvania Chapter – American Academy of Pediatrics (Media)
- Pennsylvania Medical Society (Harrisburg)
The state expects to implement the medical marijuana program in early 2018.
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