Is a fifth medical marijuana dispensary coming to the State College area? What we know

Josh Moyer
·2 min read
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Hive Dispensary has plans to open a location on North Atherton Street.

A new medical marijuana dispensary has plans for opening a business in Ferguson Township — but it’s unclear how quickly those doors might open.

Hive Dispensary, formerly known as Keystone Center of Integrative Wellness, announced at least six months ago that it intended to take over the building at 1612 N. Atherton St., between Staples and Wendy’s. The township issued a zoning permit in February, which allowed for a change in use and for a dispensary to operate there.

But, since then, little information has been released. A fresh coat of paint was applied to the building over the summer, and the business is still listed as “Coming Soon” on Hive Dispensary’s website. But the company has not responded to repeated inquiries from the Centre Daily Times over the last month, and it has issued no updates publicly or to township officials.

Hive Dispensary has experienced construction delays elsewhere, but it’s unclear why. It currently boasts just one location, in Williamsport, but announced in February it would open a second location in Shamokin Dam the very next month.

The Shamokin Dam location has still not opened, despite later assurances it would open this summer.

When — or, perhaps, if — Hive Dispensary opens in Ferguson Township, it would become the fifth medical marijuana dispensary in Centre County. All five dispensaries would be located on Atherton Street in the State College area, and all would still be within five miles of one another.

The first medical marijuana dispensary in Centre County was AYR Wellness, then known as Nature’s Medicines, in summer 2018 at 2105 N. Atherton St. Then came three new dispensaries last year, from Curaleaf (1248 S. Atherton St.) in February to Verilife (1820 S. Atherton St.) in April to Vytal Options (1653 N. Atherton St.) in October.

Those looking to purchase medical marijuana in Pennsylvania — whether ointment, pills, vaporizers, flower (traditional), etc. — first need to register through the state’s Medical Marijuana Registry, and then have a physician certify they suffer from one of the qualifying medical conditions (e.g. anxiety, cancer, PTSD). Those approved must then pay $50 for a medical marijuana ID card, before being allowed entrance to a dispensary.

Former Gov. Tom Wolf signed the medical marijuana bill into law in 2016. By 2018, medical marijuana became available in the commonwealth and, by that summer, Centre County’s first dispensary opened.

For more information on Hive Dispensary, go to hivedispensary.com.