Pennsylvania lawmakers convened a second hearing on marijuana legalization. This time, the focus was on the industry’s perspective. Multiple stakeholders from cannabis-growing, dispensing, and testing businesses as well as clinical registration holders testified.
The House Health Subcommittee on Health Care held its third meeting in recent months focusing on marijuana legalization.
Participants included representatives of multi-state operators, such as Cresco Labs and Trulieve. PharmaCann, INSA, and Trulieve also participated. They provided lawmakers with information on regulatory issues, such as the need to balance expediency and equity in the legalization process as well as concerns over local opt-out laws.
At the start of the hearing, Rep. Dan Frankel, (D), Chair of the Health Committee, who had previously sponsored legislation for cannabis legalization, stated that his personal goal for adult use was to place health and safety first, and allow for a fair and meaningful opportunity, especially for those harmed in the war on drugs.
We’re only at the beginning of cannabis legislation. There’s a lot of uncertainty as to how federal actions will affect state markets in the future, but we do know they will,” said he. “We are trying to create a market which is sustainable, not just for the next 3 to 5 years but also for the following 10 to 20.”
Rep. Kathy Rapp, ranking member of the Subcommittee said, “From what I see across the country, I’m not one to jump on this bandwagon at this time.”
“I am very concerned, particularly for our students.” She said that mental health was a major crisis in Pennsylvania, and frankly, all across the country. “I am concerned about the impact of legalization on youth in Pennsylvania and Commonwealth.”
The stakeholder discussion revealed several themes. Industry representatives stressed the importance of avoiding the mistakes of New York, where legalization implementation has been delayed due to litigation and regulators trying to give priority to equity licensees.
The emphasis was on creating a competitive market, which included setting a tax on cannabis products to generate revenue without putting consumers off from switching over to the legal sector.
The stakeholders also expressed concern over the competition from companies currently selling hemp-based cannabinoids such as delta-8THC.
They do not create good jobs. Cresco’s John Sullivan argued that they do not build a lasting infrastructure and pay very little or no tax. The worst part of the unregulated market is that it’s virtually impossible to stop without regulation.
Sullivan told lawmakers that cannabis laws should not be passed before regulated sales for adults are launched. This was a statement that some activists reacted to, saying that it would continue criminalization.
Members of the @PaHouseDems or @PAHouseGOP need to be very clear about what Cresco has just told them. They are ok with arresting tens of thousands of customers to protect their profit. https://t.co/AWihMzvx8Z
Andy Hoover (@freedomsfriend February 5, 2020
A number of witnesses also called for a legalization plan that would allow existing medical cannabis dispensaries quickly to transition into hybrid retailers who can serve both adult and child consumers. Several said that New York was a bad model to follow, while others praised Maryland’s relatively quick market launch following the passage of legalization legislation.
Some lawmakers, however, expressed interest in creating a program to minimize the risk of corporate concentration and provide pathways for those from communities affected by the drug war to prosper in the industry.
Chris Ferguson, Vice President of Government Affairs for Verano, who testified for their Pennsylvania-based Agronomed Biologics affiliate, told the panel they should consider the medical cannabis program of the state as a “foundational frame work” for legalizing recreational marijuana.
The regulatory oversight is a significant factor to be considered. Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana program is governed by strict regulations. Extending these regulations to adult use would maintain consistency, while maintaining public safety standards.
Pennsylvania legislators have introduced legalization legislation in the past. However, it is not clear which bill will be used to reform the state this year. Frankel, full committee chair, stated that legalization was “inevitable” despite the opposition of some of his peers.
“It’s a fact that we have a cannabis market here… it won’t go anywhere.” He said that we would not eliminate the cannabis market. “Law enforcement over the years has been ineffective and marginalized many of our communities. “This hasn’t been working.”
The members of the subcommittee heard testimony from experts and asked questions regarding various aspects of marijuana oversight. These included promoting social equality and business opportunities, lab testing, and public or private operation of an industry that is legal in each state.
Frankel, during the first panel meeting held late last year said that state-run shops are “certainly” an option he is considering for Pennsylvania. This is similar to what New Hampshire Governor. Chris Sununu made a recommendation for the state last year . However, a state commission later rejected that plan.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, (D), has been a long-time advocate for marijuana legalization, and urged members of the divided Keystone State legislature to deliver a reform to his desk. He repeated that call after Ohio voters passed a legalization measure on the ballot in November.
A Republican member of Shapiro’s subcommittee said on Monday that Shapiro would push again for legalization in a budget proposal which he is expected to release on Tuesday.
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John Fetterman, a U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania (D), also complained recently that Pennsylvania was being “lapped”, on marijuana policy while other states in the area legalized it.
Pennsylvania legislators recently introduced a pair bills that would prohibit police from charging medical marijuana patients with impaired driving even without proof of intoxication.
The governor signed into law a bill in December that allows all licensed medical marijuana grower/processors to act as retailers, and sell their cannabis directly to patients. Independent dispensaries can also begin cultivating marijuana.
A recent poll found that approximately two thirds of Pennsylvania voters support marijuana legalization.
Bipartisan lawmakers push Attorney General to investigate link between state marijuana legalization and Chinese-owned illegal farms
Photo by Mike Latimer.
The post Pennsylvania Lawmakers Listen To Marijuana Industry’s Testimony At A Legalization Hearing first appeared on Marijuana Moment.
