About 50 people came to learn about Pennsylvania’s new medical marijuana plan at a forum Tuesday held by the Keystone Shops, which is opening three dispensaries in the area.

Chief Operating Officer Skip Shuda, Jason Mitchell, general manager, and Dr. Louis van de Beek, chief medical officer, spoke and fielded questions. Keystone, which won a state license, will have shops in Devon, King of Prussia and Upper Darby. They hope the Devon shop will open its doors in early January, writes Linda Stein for the King of Prussia Courier.

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lthough there are many diverse conditions that may be treated with medical marijuana, patients are required to register with the state and also need to go to a doctor who has been certified by the state Department of Health to complete their registration. The required identification cards are $50. To find a doctor who has registered and been approved by the state, patients can go to: www.medicalmarijuna.pa.gov

Van de Beek explained the benefits of cannabis for several of the 17 conditions where marijuana treatment is permitted by the new Pennsylvania law.

“We truly believe that we can help people and we can move things forward,” said van de Beek. “Keystone Shops will be the people responsible for bringing medical marijuana to the therapeutic landscape…I think this tool will be extremely welcomed as part of our armamentarium.”

Some of the uses of medical marijuana include increasing appetite in cancer patients, controlling nerve pain, controlling seizures, helping those with autism, and patients with Parkinson’s disease, ALS and MS.In MS the insulation that surrounds the “wires” of the nerves burns off and the neurons fire randomly, he said.