Rise Chambersburg, medical marijuana dispensary, opens in Chambersburg

Things will look a little greener in Chambersburg.

On June 8, 2020, Green Thumb Industries (GTI) Inc. opened Rise Chambersburg, located at 1640 Orchard Drive. GTI is a national cannabis consumer packaged goods company and owner of Rise™ and Essence retail stores.

Rise Chambersburg is the company’s 46th retail location, and the seventh store opened this year. GTI’s Pennsylvania Market President Tim Hawkins explained that medical marijuana was deemed essential regarding COVID-19 closures and restrictions.

“It’s a type of situation that people need medicine,” Hawkins said. “Medical marijuana is something people rely upon. Medical marijuana allows us to provide medicine to patients and the Chambersburg community.”

Profits from the first day of sales, totaling $7,000, were donated to the Last Prisoner Project (LPP). LPP is a coalition of cannabis industry leaders, executives and artists focused on bringing restorative justice to the cannabis industry.

“Their mission is similar and relatable to ours,” Hawkins said. “It’s bringing restorative justice to the cannabis industry.”

According to their website, LPP focuses on three key criminal justice reform initiatives: prisoner release, release and record cleaning and reentry programs.

More:Want a local job growing or selling medical marijuana?

More:Medical marijuana brings southcentral Pa. man more relief than any pill or treatment

Hawkins said the store will bring new jobs and revenue to the county.

In December 2019, the Pennsylvania Department of Health said that the state had 153,000 patients. There are 23 qualifying conditions that are applicable to the state’s medical marijuana program.

In addition to the Chambersburg store, Rise retail stores are across the state, including Cranberry, Erie, Hermitage, Latrobe, King of Prussia, Mechanicsburg, New Castle, Carlisle, Steelton and York. Hawkins said that they will be opening another store, in Duncansville, in three weeks.

Rise Chambersburg will offer online reservations and in-store pickup for registered Pennsylvania medical cannabis cardholders.

According to GTI, the medical marijuana industry employs 4,000 people across the state. Hawkins said that Rise Chambersburg will staff about 15 employees.

“We’re excited to be in the Chambersburg area,” Hawkins said.