Share:
House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2021 - 2022
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | September 13, 2022 03:14 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Lynda Schlegel Culver and Rep. Ryan Warner, Rep. Patrick J. Harkins, Rep. Francis X. Ryan, Rep. Jim Rigby |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Update to Medical Marijuana Law |
| In the near future, we intend to introduce legislation to update our Medical Marijuana law and safeguard access to affordable therapies for certified patients in this Commonwealth. Over 414,000 patients are served by Pennsylvania’s medical program. Since the program’s inception, over 66 million products have been dispensed with total gross sales of $5.7 billion. The industry is a robust employer throughout the Commonwealth. For the past several years, the medical marijuana landscape has seen considerable consolidation of grower-processor and dispensary permit holders, resulting in out-of-state multi-operators controlling the Pennsylvania market. This is inconsistent with the intent of Act 16 of 2016 and has made it virtually impossible for independent grower-processors, to provide their products to the patients in the Commonwealth. This legislation seeks to provide a level playing field for products cultivated by Pennsylvania-based companies by providing an opportunity for them to secure a dispensary permit, thus ensuring patients have access to all products produced here in the Commonwealth. The realignment of this program will create a fair marketplace and ultimately expand access to needed medications, increase affordability, and stabilize the workforce of these Pennsylvania-based employers. Please consider co-sponsoring this important legislation. |