A medical marijuana company, Goodblend Pennsylvania LLC, is closing its operations in the state, affecting 76 jobs.
The company has a facility on Beaver Avenue in Pittsburgh’s Chateau neighborhood, which is expected to shutter by Sept. 15.
It also has dispensaries along Baum Boulevard in Friendship and one in Erie, which opened in 2021.
“In connection with a strategic review, we have made the decision to withdraw from the Pennsylvania market in order to serve patients in our other, more established markets, where so many patients and customers rely on us for their cannabis products,” the company said in an emailed statement. “As such, Parallel/Goodblend is working with regulators to establish and execute a closure plan over the next 60 days. We are committed to providing our personnel here in Pennsylvania with support during this transition.”
Goodblends is owned by Parallel, a privately held, vertically integrated company with cannabis operations in Pennsylvania, Texas, Florida, Nevada and Massachusetts.
In 2020, Parallel partnered with the University of Pittsburgh on a clinical research program. Under that multi-year deal, Parallel, via Goodblend, would provide Pitt an initial $3 million in unrestricted grants to be used to study medical cannabis with an initial focus on treating sickle cell disease symptoms.
Parallel would also dispense cannabis formulations to research study participants. Subsequent research would address other chronic conditions, including anxiety disorders and chronic intractable pain.
The University of Pittsburgh said it will continue to conduct research with Goodblends regarding medical marijuana, part of an agreement that lasts until 2029.
Medical marijuana was legalized in Pennsylvania in 2016, and dispensaries began opening in 2018.
