GCSoM named a Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Academic Clinical Research Center

DANVILLE, Pa. – The Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine (GCSOM) has been certified as a Medical Marijuana Academic Clinical Research Center (ACRC) by the Pennsylvania Department of Health as part of the state’s medical marijuana research program. 

Through this state-certified program, Geisinger will partner with Story of PA CR, LLC and receive a minimum of $30 million to fund medical marijuana research over the next 10 years. Geisinger’s research expertise in addiction medicine, pharmacy, epidemiology, behavioral sciences, data science and genomics will support this research, and potential studies will focus on patient and provider perspectives and knowledge of medical marijuana, influence on traditional medication use and delivery, and patient outcomes. Geisinger will have full independent oversight of all research studies and publication of results.  

Pennsylvania was the first state to include research as part of its authorization of medical marijuana use, and GCSOM joins Pennsylvania’s eight other medical schools that were previously certified. Designation as an ACRC does not change Geisinger’s medical marijuana policy. Geisinger does not permit prescribing or dispensing of medical marijuana at any of its facilities and does not currently advocate its use for any medical condition. 

“As a healthcare system, Geisinger recognizes the changing landscape of the use of medical marijuana by our patients and has a responsibility to assess and understand the impact on our patients’ care,” said Julie Byerley, M.D., MPH, GCSOM president and dean. “As a Medical Marijuana Academic Clinical Research Center, the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine has the opportunity to contribute to the small but growing field of research on medical cannabis use and the potential outcomes for patients. This research partnership will enhance our curriculum to prepare the next generation of physicians to best care for their patients given the increasing number of patients using medical marijuana.”

“Geisinger’s Research Institute is committed to using scientific discovery to improve patient care,” said Christa Lese Martin, Ph.D., chief scientific officer at Geisinger. “Through this research collaboration, we will seek to better understand and measure the use of medical marijuana and how it may impact patient care and outcomes.”

For more information about research at Geisinger, visit geisinger.org/research. 

About Geisinger
Geisinger is among the nation’s leading providers of value-based care, serving 1.2 million people in urban and rural communities across Pennsylvania. Founded in 1915 by philanthropist Abigail Geisinger, the non-profit system generates $10 billion in annual revenues across 134 care sites - including 10 hospital campuses, and Geisinger Health Plan, with 600,000 members in commercial and government plans. The Geisinger College of Health Sciences educates more than 5,000 medical professionals annually and conducts more than 1,400 clinical research studies. With 26,000 employees, including 1,600 employed physicians, Geisinger is among Pennsylvania’s largest employers with an estimated economic impact of $14 billion to the state’s economy. On March 31, 2024, Geisinger became the first member of Risant Health, a new nonprofit charitable organization created to expand and accelerate value-based care across the country.  Learn more at geisinger.org or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.