First off I want to congratulate Lake Erie College of Medicine (LECOM) on its selection as one of eight Pennsylvania institutions that were recently certified by the state Department of Health to serve as a Medical Marijuana Academic Clinical Research Center.
This is a great honor for the college and further cements its reputation as being among the leading medical institutions in the Commonwealth, as it joins with such great teaching schools as Drexel University College of Medicine, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Penn State College of Medicine, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.
LECOM will be at the forefront of this new and expanding research effort in Pennsylvania and that will not only increase its standing academically, but make it even more attractive to potential students, staff, researchers and faculty.
Much has been accomplished since the medical cannabis legislation was signed into law in 2016. Twenty five grower/processor and 50 dispensary permits have been awarded and a number of facilities have opened, allowing patients across the Commonwealth to receive medicine.
The medical cannabis legislation provided for eight Pennsylvania medical schools to conduct medical cannabis research as “Academic Clinical Research Centers.”
However, shortly after the research regulations were issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, they were challenged and a court issued a preliminary injunction to stop their implementation.
Fortunately, the Legislature passed a measure to clarify the intent of the medical cannabis legislation and the Governor signed it into law.
All Academic Clinical Research Centers, including LECOM, were certified by the Department of Health in late September. Now, these institutions, including our own, are now ready to move forward and that truly is good news for the region and for the patients who will benefit from this research.
In closing, I encourage local residents to visit my website, www.senatorlaughlin.com, and my Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/senatorlaughlin/, to keep up to date with state government news – including the state budget – and learn more about state services and agencies.
Contact: Matt Azeles mazeles@pasen.gov