Merski: Medical marijuana dispensary to create 24 new jobs in Erie

ERIE, Aug. 6 – A new medical marijuana dispensary will bring 24 new jobs to the area, state Rep. Bob Merski, D-Erie, announced today.

Merski said the state Department of Health yesterday approved Goodblend Pennsylvania LLC as the eighth and final clinical registrant of Pennsylvania’s first-in-the-nation medical marijuana research program. One of the company’s two dispensaries will be located on Erie’s West Side, with the other in Pittsburgh.  

“The health department’s approval yesterday brings the best possible news for our community because the dispensary is expected to create 24 full-time-equivalent jobs with family-sustaining wages,” Merski said.

“It’s also exciting to know that we will be playing a role locally in a unique new program to research the health benefits of medical marijuana for patients with cancer, post-traumatic stress disorder and other serious medical conditions.”

Merski said the new dispensary is expected to be located at 2178 W. 38th Street in Erie.

Companies participating in the new research program hold both growing/processing and dispensary permits and will partner with academic institutions around the state. Goodblend will be partnering with the University of Pittsburgh.

Earlier this year, another participant, CannTech PA, LLC, contracted with Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine.

More information about the program is available here.