Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana industry is booming, as evidenced by the expansion of marijuana cultivator Agri-Kind in Chester and other marijuana facilities around the state, writes Alex Rose for the Daily Times.

The overall market, with $1.3 billion in sales, has doubled since February.

Sales from growers and processors to dispensaries are at $528 million, and from dispensaries to patients, close to $800 million.

Pennsylvania allows marijuana use for 23 medical conditions, the top three of which are chronic pain, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

As of Aug. 14, 366,146 patients and 1,968 physicians have registered with the state.

“More than 120,000 patients are visiting a dispensary each week; this is up from 73,000 in February,” said Nate Wardle, press secretary for the Pennsylvania Department of Health. “Weekly purchases are close to 370,000 products, up from 178,000 in February.”

Growers and processors are expanding facilities to meet the demand.

Agri-Kind, part of Agronomed Pharmaceuticals in Exton, opened in June 2019 in Chester.

It expanded a few months after operations started, but has been hampered by the coronavirus.

Expansion is now underway and is expected to produce triple yields in the first quarter of 2021.

Read more about the region’s blossoming medical marijuana industry in the Daily Times here.