Senator Dan Laughlin has proposed a bill aimed at enhancing the oversight of Pennsylvania’s Medical Marijuana Program and addressing issues related to unregulated hemp products. The legislation, known as Senate Bill 49, seeks to establish the Pennsylvania Cannabis Control Board, which would assume regulatory control over the state’s medical marijuana program.
The bill also aims to create uniform safety standards for untested and potentially harmful intoxicating hemp products currently available in the market. “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,” stated Laughlin. He further emphasized the need for a dedicated regulatory board due to concerns about unregulated intoxicating hemp products across Pennsylvania.
This legislative move follows a recent hearing by the Senate Law and Justice Committee, chaired by Laughlin, highlighting public safety risks associated with intoxicating hemp products derived from hemp legalized under the 2018 Federal Farm Bill. Laughlin remarked on the importance of regulating these products: “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.”
For further information, contact Chris Carroll at 814-453-2515.
