Terrapin Care Station Part of Massive Medical Marijuana Growth in Pennsylvania
SOUTH AVIS – A near doubling of the size of the Terrapin Care Station facility along Harris Street is well underway as Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana program continues to prosper.
A recent story on Philly.com detailed the surge in medical marijuana sales, calling Pennsylvania one of the country’s fastest growing cannabis markets. The state’s medical marijuana program has seen visits to marijuana dispensaries increase by more than 70 percent since February, from some 70,000 a week to 120,000 current weekly visits.
The story attributes the growth to an anxiety-ridden population the result of COVID-19 and some lessening of state restrictions governing program participation. The report said that since February dispensaries across the state have sold as much marijuana as during the previous two years combined. Patients spent about $385 million at the state’s 89 dispensaries; these include dispensaries in both State College and Williamsport.
The upsurge comes as Terrapin Care Station is undertaking nearly a doubling of the size of its production facility in South Avis. As announced last month, Terrapin officials disclosed an additional $6 million infusion of capital to expand its medical marijuana grower/processor facility. Lock Haven contractor M&R Contracting, Inc. is expanding the 40,000 square foot facility by 35,000 square feet with a completion date slated for November. Terrapin currently employs about 75 and plans to add an estimated 30 new jobs in the areas of gardening, harvesting and production beginning this fall.
The Philly.com story quoted Terrapin Care Station CEO Chris Woods who noted that increased anxiety among the populace appears a factor in the increased demand for the product: “The program is doing really well. It’s hard not to draw a correlation with COVID-19. In unsettled times, cannabis is a medicine that seems to help people cope with anxiety.”
230,000 state residents have signed up for medical marijuana products so far and Woods said the state has done well in its implementation of the program: “Pennsylvania really has become the model for what medical marijuana programs should do across the country. Obviously, there have been a few problems. But the Department of Health and the governor have worked hand-in-hand to increase supply to patients, and increasing patient access has accelerated things.”
Philly.com said the problems have included a greater product demand than anticipated, leading to what is termed “flower droughts,” when consumers can’t find the smokable form they are seeking. Problems have also been blamed on state software programs tracking sales.
The state says chronic pain is the leading reason for a medical marijuana card, anxiety is second and post traumatic stress-disorder is third.
