Opportunity to help people trumps economic impact of medical marijuana plant
Robert Doria, district commander of the American Legion speaks at the Penn Health Group medical marijuana grower-processor facility groundbreaking Friday. Doria said he and the posts he represents all support the development because of the effective impact medical marijuana has on PTSD sufferers.
Amy Fauth/For the Observer-Reporter
John Smolic, executive vice president of Penn Health Group, addresses the crowd during the groundbreaking ceremony Friday. Penn Health Group held the ceremony to mark the construction of the company’s pharmaceutical grade medical marijuana grower-processor plant in Lemont Furnace.
A medical marijuana plant coming to Fayette County will bring jobs to the area, but local and state officials say that pales in comparison to the health benefits its products could have on residents suffering from various medical conditions.
During a groundbreaking ceremony Friday, at the future site of Penn Health Group’s medical marijuana grow facility, state Sen. Pat Stefano shared the story of a local mother who’s daughter suffers from Dravet Syndrome, a rare genetic brain dysfunction that causes repeated seizures, and how the use of medical marijuana reduced those seizures from several hundred a day to two in a week.
“I could see the benefits,” said Stefano. “And I’d hear, ‘Why in PA?’ and I say, ‘why not?'”
Penn Health Group’s facility is expected to be completed in early 2019 and will house 37,000 square feet of a growing and processing operation.
According to John Smolic, executive vice president of Penn Health Group, the plant will provide the highest quality and most effective pharmaceutical grade medical marijuana products for people who suffer from various medical conditions. The goal is the help improve the health and overall quality of life of its patients.
There are a number of medical conditions that have been found to have vastly improved by the use of medical marijuana. One – in particular – has brought the support of perhaps an unlikely group, the American Legion.
Robert Doria, district commander of the American Legion, said after learning the positive effects the drug has on those that suffer from post-traumatic stress syndrome, he and his organization were happy to back the development.
“I believe medical marijuana can help people,” said Doria, who is particularly interested in the effects with veterans.
He admitted he was skeptical at first, but Penn Health has won him over. Doria said the facility has the American Legion support from the areas he represents, including Uniontown, Dunbar, Grindstone, Brownsville, Connellsville, Masontown, Fayette City, Point Marion, Vanderbilt, Republic, Perryopolis, New Salem, Trotter and Braznell. In fact, his support of medical marijuana and the health implications it can have for veterans and spouses is so serious, he has written a letter professing the organization’s support and asking that the drug be removed from the federal DEA list of Schedule 1 drugs for its medicinal qualities.
State Rep. Ryan Warner echoed Stefano’s thoughts and there’s one particular medical condition that medical marijuana could have a positive impact on and it’s not just a condition, but an epidemic in Fayette County and Pennsylvania – the opioid epidemic.
According to Warner, that is his top reason for supporting the construction of a facility like this one in Fayette County.
The other is something that continues to be a legislative goal of his – bringing family sustaining jobs and growth to Fayette County. Warner added that the county and state couldn’t ask for a better partner in this venture.
“These guys are top notch…,” said Warner of Penn Health Group. “I am extremely honored and proud to have them here in Fayette County.”
Fayette County Commissioner Vince Vicites couldn’t be more pleased that Penn Health Group selected Fayette County to build their facility.
“This is real important for Fayette County,” said Vicites at the groundbreaking event Friday.
Initially, the facility will employ 35, including positions in the areas of cultivation, lab and processing and packaging and sales. The company, along with their security contractor and general construction company, held a job fair Friday at the Hilton Garden Inn in Uniontown for local people seeking employment in the medical marijuana industry.
Smolic is confident the company will easily fill the positions that are open. A web job board was also set up and Smolic said the site has received between 50 to 60 hits per day. The hiring process will begin in December, which will include state-mandated background checks. The growing operation expects to be ready to open in February.
Penn Health Group began preparing for this day in July when the company was awarded a medical marijuana growing license from the state. According to Smolic, the company’s application received the highest score overall for both the first and second rounds of judging.
As they made plans for the facility, Smolic said they were committed to developing an operation that meets federal standards from the Food and Drug Administration in anticipation of medical marijuana being legalized federally. Facilities that aren’t already in compliance will have to temporarily close while they become compliant. Penn Health Group won’t have to take that step.
Johnna Pro, regional director for the state Department of Community and Economic Development said Fayette County should be proud of the partnership with Penn Health Group and be excited to have them as part of the community.
“This is going to be an amazing facility that will not only have a big impact on Pennsylvania, but on Fayette County,” said Pro.