HARRISBURG — Sen. Dan Laughlin, (R-49) has introduced legislation with the goal of improving the oversight of Pennsylvania’s Medical Marijuana Program and the current unregulated products by establishing the Pennsylvania Cannabis Control Board.
Specifically, Senate Bill 49 would transfer regulatory control of the Medical Marijuana Program to the newly created Cannabis Control Board as well as establish uniform safety standards for untested and potentially harmful intoxicating hemp products currently available for purchase by the public.
“Since the 2016 legalization of medical marijuana in Pennsylvania, the state Department of Health’s oversight of the Medical Marijuana Program has been glaringly inconsistent, inefficient and lacking transparency,” said Laughlin. “That coupled with the concerning unregulated intoxicating hemp products being proliferated across our commonwealth warrants the need for a dedicated regulatory board to eliminate these inconsistencies, enhance transparency and provide the structure needed to responsibly manage this industry.”
This legislation comes in light of a recent hearing held by the Senate Law and Justice Committee, chaired by Laughlin, which brought attention to the massive public safety risk posed by intoxicating hemp products in Pennsylvania– products derived from hemp legalized under the 2018 Federal Farm Bill.
“One of the first tasks this board will tackle is regulating these intoxicating hemp products,” added Laughlin. “Without proper oversight of these products, they will continue to thrive in this legal gray area and be sold without proper age guidelines, labeling and without the collection of any tax revenue.”
CONTACT: Chris Carroll; 814-453-2515