Unfortunately, it is not possible for certified physicians in PA to prescribe MMJ for treatment of moderate to severe chronic back pain or hip or knee osteoarthritis pain – the types of pain for which opioids are often overprescribed.
Another problem is the limitations placed on the access to MMJ. In Pennsylvania, MMJ is not sold or distributed in pharmacies such as CVS, Rite-Aid, etc. Patients and caregivers can obtain medical marijuana only at VERY FEW approved dispensaries approved by the PA Department of Health. Furthermore, MMJ dispensaries “may not be located within 1,000 feet of the property line of a public, private or parochial school or a day-care center” according to PA Act 16.
Because Newtown Township is part of a joint municipal zoning consortium with neighboring Upper Makefield and Wrightstown townships, any zoning ordinances regulating the location of the MMJ operations must be approved by all three municipalities, collectively known as the “jointure.”
On March 1, 2018, the jointure drafted an amendment to the Joint Municipality Zoning Ordinance (JMZO) to permit Medical Marijuana Dispensaries by special exception (SE) in the VC-1 Village Commercial-1 and TC-2 Town Commercial 2 Districts as long as long as the applicants “verify that the proposed Medical Marijuana Dispensary is not within 1,000 feet of the property line of a public, private, or parochial school, preschool, or day care facility.”
In Newtown Township there is practically no location that meets these requirements (see map below). Only Upper Makefield has possible locations for dispensaries.
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