City councilman, Pa. lawmaker call for medical pot-growing facility in Philly

A Philadelphia councilman is building an alliance to pressure Pennsylvania to grant a license for growing marijuana within the city limits.

The city of Philadelphia needs a pot-growing facility as part of a second round of growers and dispensaries that will soon be chosen under the state’s medical marijuana regulations, said Councilman Derek Green.

“When you have an opportunity to bring a new industry into our city and bring economic opportunities for all people — not only people of color, but other people who live in the city — is very important,” he said.

Last year, 12 permits were awarded, but Philadelphia was shut out.

State Rep. Jordan Harris, D-Philadelphia, said there is a way for the state to look favorably on an application for a city-based growing operation.

“I believe there is some flexibility in the scoring to see community benefit, those kind of things are in the scoring rubrics,” Harris said. “We clearly can see the community benefit of having a facility in a city of the first class.”

Philadelphia because of it’s population is the only first class city in the state.