Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2019 - 2020 Regular Session

Posted:	May 13, 2019 04:32 PM
From:	Senator Lawrence M. Farnese, Jr.
To:	All Senate members
Subject:	Permiting policymakers the ability to tour Medical Marijuana Organizations

It has recently come to my attention that no one except staff, patients, caregivers, and regulators are permitted on premises of a medical marijuana organization once it is operational. This prohibition applies even after business hours and prevents tours given by the owners of the facility. As we were working on the passage of SB 3 in 2016, members and staff were able to tour dispensaries and grower/processors in surrounding states including New York, New Jersey, and Washington D.C. after hours or when otherwise closed to the public. While limitations on visitors is important during business hours to protect patient confidentiality, refusing access to policymakers inhibits our ability to evaluate how the program is functioning and our ability to allay the fears of local officials of communities contemplating opening facilities. Therefore, I am introducing legislation which will permit a defined class of policymakers to visit medical marijuana organizations after business hours or when the organization is otherwise closed to the public with notice to and the approval of the Department. All visitors will be required to conform to the same safety and security protocols as the staff and their visits will be logged. I hope you will join me in cosponsoring this legislation
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Memo Updated: May 13, 2019 04:33 PM