With the dust settling and fuzzy math shrieks abating, Pennsylvania's medical ­marijuana program's (program) first phase has drawn to a close. Or has it?

Denying 408 applications and demanding its 12 grower/processor and 27 dispensary licensees construct statutorily compliant facilities within 182 days, the program's ­overseeing agency, Pennsylvania's Department of Health (DOH), faces Herculean obstacles in overcoming the missteps which crippled New York, Maryland and New Jersey's programs and ­mollifying scores of disgruntled and litigious applicants.

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Medical Marijuana Program

Defined by the Medical Marijuana Act, 35 P.S. Sections 10231.101-10231.2110, regulations promulgated there under, and Medical Marijuana Organization (MMO) permit application (application) (hereafter, collectively referred to as the marijuana law), the program encompasses 17 serious medical conditions eligible for marijuana prescription including post-traumatic stress disorder.

Authorizing 25 grow/processing licenses and 50 dispensary licenses, each empowering the licensee to open three locations for up to 150 dispensaries, leading trade publication Marijuana Business Daily estimated that if even less than 1 percent of the commonwealth's 12.8 million residents participate, the program would be populated by over 100,000 card holders generating $100-$150 million in annual sales revenue.