A new menu will be served up at the former La Mixteca restaurant in downtown Bradford: medical marijuana.
Dubois Wellness Center LLC is slated to open a medical marijuana dispensary at 109 Main St., one of 27 facilities announced by the Pennsylvania Department of Health on Thursday.
The Medical Marijuana Program, signed into law by Gov. Tom Wolf in April 2016, will offer medical marijuana to patients who are residents of Pennsylvania and under a practitioner’s care for the treatment of a serious medical condition. Patients can take the medicine by pill, oil, vapor, ointment or liquid, but not in the form that can be smoked.
Bradford Mayor Tom Riel said he is not surprised that a dispensary will be opening downtown. Guidelines for applicants in opening a facility pointed out that dispensaries were only permitted in Region 6 for McKean and Erie counties.
“The city has no problems with any such facility,” Riel said, adding that the location will be no different than another pharmacy in downtown Bradford.
However, he said he believes the site will bring people from across the region to downtown Bradford.
“We chose Bradford not only because it is the biggest city in McKean County but due to the fact it’s right off of highway (U.S. Route) 219 with easy access to Interstate 86,” Dubois Wellness Center LLC stated in its application to the state. “It is also conveniently located next to Warren, Lewis Run and Mount Jewett, all which add to the potential patient population.”
Dubois Wellness Center also noted the proposed facility is located just 7 minutes from Bradford Regional Medical Center, and is the perfect location for a medical cannabis dispensary.
“When searching for our facility we worked hand and hand with the City of Bradford in scouting a location that works best for the patients and the city,” the application stated.
DuBois Wellness picked the location because of the accessibility by bus, and also the fact that the area has more than 20 parking spots for patients.
“We had heard that the City of Bradford was likely to get one,” Sara Andrews, executive director of the Bradford City Office of Economic and Community Development, said. “We were approached by DuBois Wellness Center on the building at 109 Main St. and as it was vacant agreed to an option-purchase agreement with them. It is my understanding that DuBois Wellness Center operates similar reputable dispensaries in other states and this operation will be run much like a pharmacy.”
The site will have six months to become operational before employees can start dispensing medical marijuana.
“With over 3,500 square feet on two levels and handicap accessibility our facility will be able to handle any influx of patients,” Dubois Wellness stated in the application. “As well, after speaking with the city leaders and police department we felt that being located on the historic Main Street would insure security with added visibility and lighting.”
Riel said that facility has to be highly secure. A lot of construction will have to take place at the planned facility with the business space mainly located above street level, he said.
Dubois Wellness plans to temporarily bring in managers from other states to assist with hiring during initial construction.
“Thereafter, we will employ 100 percent local staff,” center officials said in its application. “One month before operations commence, employees will be sent to our Illinois affiliate dispensaries to train for a minimum of two weeks to learn operations. All jobs will be living wage with benefits including health care and retirement.”
Immediate needs call for 10-15 staff within the first six months of operations with anticipated expansion thereafter, the application stated.
State Sen. President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati, R-Brockway, also shared some insight into the dispensary permit announcement.
“Medical cannabis has been proven to provide help for many suffering children and adults,” he said in a statement. “With the recent announcement of grower permits and today’s announcement of dispensary permits, we have taken a great step forward toward providing Pennsylvania patients with access to this natural plant that could greatly improve their quality of life.”
The state Office of Medical Marijuana received 457 applications — 177 for growers and processors and 280 for dispensaries.
All told, there will be 52 dispensaries in Pennsylvania. Two dispensary applicants were eying Main Street, Andrews said. At least two applicants were looking to bring a dispensary to Foster Township, one in the Shops at Foster Brook plaza and the other at the plaza that houses the Hong Kong Buffet.
Dubois Wellness will also operate dispensaries in DuBois and Brookville.
“This has been a highly competitive process and the department received hundreds of quality applications,” said John Collins, director of the Office of Medical Marijuana. “Once this program is fully operational, patients with serious medical conditions will have locations throughout the commonwealth where they can purchase medication to help in their treatment. We remain on track to provide medication to patients in 2018.”
