PA Seeks To Overhaul Expensive, Non-Local Medical Marijuana Program

HARRISBURG, PA — Legislation will soon be introduced in Pennsylvania aimed at overhauling the state's medical marijuana industry to make products more affordable and to give local, independent businesses a fair chance at success.

The growth of large, out of state medical marijuana growers, which has crowded out Pennsylvania-based operations, is "inconsistent with the intent" of the 2016 law which legalized medical cannabis in the state, supporters of a newly proposed bill say.

"The industry is a robust employer throughout the Commonwealth," a group of lawmakers supporting the measure wrote together in a co-sponsorship memorandum. "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."

More than 414,000 Pennsylvanians have medical marijuana cards. The state says that the program has resulted in 66 million products sold for a total of $5.7 billion in sales.

The proposed bill would provide Pennsylvania-based companies an opportunity to secure a dispneary permit, meaning all patients could have a chance to buy locally-produced — and potentially more affordable — products.

"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," the lawmakers added.

The bipartisan group of state representatives introducing the bill includes Republicans Lynda Schlegel Culver, Ryan Warner, Francis X. Ryan, Jim Rigby, as well as Democrat Patrick J. Harkins.