Medical marijuana reintroduced

Sen. Mike Folmer, R-Lebanon County, speaks at a press conference Tuesday announcing the reintroduction of medical marijuana legislation.

(Wallace McKelvey)

Legislation that would allow medical marijuana in Pennsylvania has been reintroduced in the Senate after a similar measure died last year after it failed to make it to the House floor.

Senate Bill 3 is nearly identical to its predecessor, SB 1182, which passed the Senate in September by a vote of 43-7 but was never considered by the House.

Leadership changes leads to optimism for medical marijuana in 2015.

In all, the bill currently has 25 co-sponsors, including 14 Democrats and 11 Republicans. It also has the backing of Gov. Tom Wolf, who met with advocates Tuesday, and some support from key Republicans in the House.

At a press conference Tuesday, Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa, D-Allegheny County, called on the House to allow a vote on the issue after it passes the Senate.

"We know the support is there, but we just need to get it to the floor," he said.

Sen. Daylin Leach, D-Montgomery County, said the bill will probably go through significant changes by the time it reaches Wolf's desk.

However, Leach said, the state needs a comprehensive bill that doesn't needlessly limit what doctors can prescribe. He would like to see a doctors, not lawmakers, decide which conditions would qualify for the program.

"The way to do this is to try to do it thoughtfully, intelligently, making sure that it's regulated appropriately and we do everything we can to prevent it being abused," he said. "But, also, give people who are sick all the options they legitimately need."

In its current form, the bill would create a board of state officials and medical professionals that would be charged with implementing the state's medical marijuana law.

Anyone who grows, processes or dispenses medical cannabis or operates a testing lab would be required to by licensed and certified by that board. The licensing fee would be $50,000 with a $5,000 renewal fee every year.

Patients would would also have to be approved through the state Department of Health for an access card they could use to obtain the medicine. The application fee would be $100 with a $50 renewal fee.

The drugs themselves would have to be packaged with information about expiration dates, health warnings, recommended dosages and safety and storage instructions.

Initially, the state would limit the number of growers and processors to 65, respectively, and all employees would have to undergo background checks.

The cannabis board would oversee a combination of scheduled and unannounced inspections as well as ensuring standards for security to prevent theft. It would also create a system for investigating violations, holding hearing and suspending or revoking licenses.