Pennsylvania Launches Medical Marijauna Research Program

Pennsylvania has announced the launch of a new medical marijuana research program that is the first of its kind in the nation.

Through the new initiative, some of the state's top universities will be paired with clinical registrants to study the impact of medical marijuana on any of the 21 serious medical conditions for which the drug's use has been approved.

"Pennsylvania is on the forefront of clinical research on medical marijuana," Pennsylvania Secretary of Health, Dr. Rachel Levine, said in a statement. "This research is essential to providing physicians with more evidence-based research to make clinical decisions for their patients."

The first three paired registrants and schools are below:

• PA Options for Wellness, Inc., affiliated with Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey
• Agronomed Biologics LLC, affiliated with Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia
• MLH Explorations, LLC, affiliated with Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia

Marijuana has seen a huge upswing in the state in recent months and years, both on the medical and recreational front. The state legalized medical marijuana in 2016. Since then, about 1,140 Pennsylvania physicians have been approved as part of the state's medical marijuana program, and nearly 159,000 total patients have been registered.

Furthermore, the push to legalize recreational marijuana in Pennsylvania has made it to the floor of the state legislature.

Eight medical schools in Pennsylvania have been certified as academic clinical research centers, including Penn State, Drexel, Thomas Jefferson, Temple, UPenn, Pitt, PCOM, and Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine.