Dispensary edibles, end to qualifying conditions highlight medical marijuana bills moving in Pa. Senate
Jun. 21—HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania State Senators signaled broad support for sweeping changes to the commonwealth's Medical Marijuana Program that would eliminate the list of qualifying conditions for patients, allow any doctor licensed to write prescriptions to also certify patients for marijuana, legalize edible medication and end patient registration renewal and the $50 annual fee.
The 11-member Senate Law & Justice Committee advanced three separate bills addressing medical marijuana during a meeting Wednesday. Two bills moved with just one negative vote while the third received unanimous support.
The measures are now closer to a vote by the full upper chamber that could ultimately send the proposals to the state House for further consideration.
Senate Bill 835 is a bipartisan measure co-sponsored by Sen. Mike Regan, R-Cumberland/York, and Sen. Jim Brewster, D-Allegheny. It's proposed as a comprehensive update to the Medical Marijuana Act of 2016.
Its most notable proposal would be the end to the list of qualifying medical conditions, which currently stands at 24. Instead, it would allow physicians, who would still need to register with the state, to determine if medical marijuana is appropriate to help their patients for any ailment.
Brewster said a set list of conditions creates inflexibility and is short-sighted.
"Nowhere else do we dictate to doctors what conditions a patient must have to prescribe medication," said Regan, a retired U.S. Marshal and proponent for legalization.
Additionally, the bill would remove smoking and retail edibles as unauthorized uses, authorize guidelines for child-safe labeling and packaging, ease restrictions to allow certain advertising and create the Office of Medical Marijuana within the Department of Health to oversee the program.
Under existing law, patients are permitted to use legal forms of marijuana like oils and flower to create their own edibles. Edibles like gummies aren't allowed to be sold at retail, and patients aren't currently permitted to smoke marijuana such as in a joint.
The reforms don't lift restrictions on homegrown marijuana; that'd remain illegal.
Senate Bill 538 from Sen. Dan Laughlin, R-Erie, would formally authorize edibles for medical marijuana. Advocates have long sought retail edibles as a safer, more effective way for patients to consume the medication.
While creating edibles at home is permitted, advocates have said it's difficult for patients to be assured of even distribution of cannabis in an edible cookie, for example, and not have a batch where some portions are far more potent, or less potent, than desired.
Language in the bill on packaging aligns with that of Regan's and Brewster's proposal: That it be child-safe and free of color and characters that might appeal to younger minds.
Senate Bill 773 from Sen. Chris Gebhard, R-Berks/Lancaster/Lebanon, looks to allow state-based marijuana grower/processor permit holders also receive permits to operate retail operations through a vertically integrated business model. The measure is intended to open the retail market to smaller, independent manufacturers.
