Pennsylvania medical marijuana sales near $100 million in first year

Pennsylvanians bought almost $100 million worth of medical marijuana in the first year it was available, the Department of Health announced Friday.

“The first year that the state’s medical marijuana program has been operational tells us that this program is working to help Pennsylvanians in need of this medication,” Governor Tom Wolf said. “Patients are realizing the benefits and there has been steady, positive progress that I am pleased to report.”

About 83,000 Pennsylvanians have medical marijuana cards. Those patients have used their cards for more than 600,000 “dispensing events” at the state’s 45 operating dispensaries.

Pennsylvania collects a 5 percent tax on the sales from the growers to dispensaries, but there is no sales tax for patients who buy medical marijuana from the dispensaries, said Jeff Johnson, a Department of Revenue spokesman.

The Department of Health said that there were $132 million in medical marijuana sales, but department spokesman Nate Wardle said that total included sales from growers to dispensaries as well as sales from the dispensaries to the public.

Sales from growers to dispensaries accounted for “more than $40 million,” Wardle said. [Read more at New Castle News]