Right on track for the 2018 deadline - according to estimates from the Pennsylvania government - the Department of Health has issued the state first 12 permits for medical marijuana growers.

According to Philadelphia Magazine, two permits were issued per region and the Southeastern region has two facilities: Franklin Labs LLC and Prime Wellness of Pennsylvania out of Berks County.

Franklin Labs is set to have a facility in Reading, an expansion of its empire, as the corporation currently has one of the largest cannabis operations in Colorado and is affiliated with Garden State Dispensary that is a major medical marijuana producer in New Jersey.

The other recipient, Prime Wellness of Pennsylvania, is looking to operate via an industrial park in Sinking Spring and reportedly has branches throughout the East Coast.

The Pa. Office of Medical Marijuana took in a total of  177 applications for growers/processors, and of those selected the recipients based on the recommendation of an evaluation team, disregarding recommendations.  

The state will also issue 27 dispensary permits to the 80 applicants, the recipients of which will be announced next week. Additional grower permits will be issued in the future, which will bring the total to 25.