Shrinking Supply For Growing Demand: Philly Down To 3 Medical Marijuana Dispensaries
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Philadelphia has lost one of its medical marijuana dispensaries and three others that were supposed to be operating by now have postponed their openings. Medical marijuana won't be available in the city until at least March.
Terra Vida had obtained a permit for a location in Mt. Airy, but founder Chris Visco says, after a zoning fight with city council members, she's relocating to Chester County.
"We searched throughout the entire city, everywhere we could think of looking," Visco said. "There was a location on City Line Avenue that we thought would be great, but there was no way to have any private access to our space for delivery of product."
Visco says between the state rule that deliveries have to be made out of public view, and a city ordinance restricting locations near day care providers, there's nowhere left in the city to put a dispensary.
Terra Vida's departure leaves three providers. One is being sued so its future is up in the air. The other two, Integrative Wellness on Frankford Avenue and Holistic Pharma on Krewstown Road, got extensions for opening, as did the other 52 dispensaries statewide. Holistic founder Keith Morgan says growers are only now getting started.
"Product won't be available until late March," he said.
Demand, though, is in place. As of Friday, 11,410 patients were registered, 1,419 Patient certifications and 1,017 ID cards have been issued and 585 physicians registered as prescribers.