CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. — Site work and construction preparation could start in the third week in August for a medical-marijuana dispensary on U.S. 30 east of Chambersburg.

KW Ventures Holdings LLC won one of Pennsylvania's first dispensary permits for a site at 1737 Lincoln Way East in Guilford Township, Pa. The parcel is across from Walmart and in front of Tractor Supply Co.

"We wanted to go some place in south-central Pennsylvania that would impact a lot of people," said Dr. Jonathan Gusdorff, medical director for KW Ventures Holdings LLC and one of its seven partners.

Like Chambersburg, additional dispensaries from the same group in Carlisle, Pa., and Steelton, Pa., will be marketed as Firefly Dispensary.

Brechbill and Helman Construction Co. Inc. of Chambersburg was retained to build all three dispensaries.

They must be completed by Dec. 31 due to requirements in Pennsylvania's new medical-marijuana program.

"That's the real crunch on this. That's coming from the state," said Gregg Thompson, director of marketing and business development for Brechbill and Helman.

The Chambersburg dispensary will be 2,500 square feet, with security cameras and an interior garage for vehicles handling products and cash.

"It really resembles a family doctor's office or traditional medical office," Thompson said.

"It's going to be a nicely appointed, comfortable setting," Gusdorff said.

Medical marijuana in oil, pill, gel, cream and similar nonsmokable forms is approved in Pennsylvania for 17 conditions such as cancer and epilepsy.

Those seeking the products must obtain a card from a physician who has completed a certification course.

Gusdorff, a neuroradiologist, said he is committed to using medical cannabis as an alternative to opioids.

He wants to work with patients to replace highly addictive prescription medications with nonaddictive ones.

Gusdorff described people coming into four urgent-care centers that he owns near the close of business recently to complain of lower back pain.

He said they carried their X-ray films and had sweat on their foreheads as a high concluded.

"They always knew what drug worked — Oxycontin, Percocet or Vicodin," Gusdorff said.

Fatal overdose rates are lower in states with legalized marijuana programs, he said.

Thompson said preliminary land-development plans will be submitted next week to Guilford Township officials.