Jacob Redmond
Well-Known Member
Proposals from state Rep. Ron Marsico of Dauphin County would limit the amount of THC, the main psychoactive ingredient in medical marijuana, and also reduce the number of producers and dispensers.
That's a disappointment to one of the leading Pennsylvania supporters of medical marijuana.
"We're still praying it doesn't make it through," Christy Billet, the founder and and executive director of Pennsylvanians For Safe Access, said about the amendment.
Her biggest concern involves the fact that the amendment by Marsico, a Republican, would allow up to 50 dispensaries. SB 3, the medical marijuana bill that was overwhelmingly passed by the state Senate earlier this year and which Marsico's amendment would alter, calls for 130.
Billet said she fears dispensaries will be few and far between in some parts of the state, resulting in some patients being "driven to the black market."
Marsico's bill calls for dividing the state up into at least three regions, and spreading out dispensaries based on population and the number of people with state issued cards needed to obtain medical marijuana.
Billet said Marsico's 44-page amendment seems to have the most support among 100 or so proposed amendments to SB 3. Capitolwire reported Marsico's amendment is the only one that has the support of House Majority Leader Dave Reed, R-Indiana.
The long-awaited and historic vote on whether to legalize medical marijuana in Pennsylvania could take place within the next two weeks.
SB 3, which passed 40-7, was authored by state Sen. Mike Folmer, R-Lebanon, and has strong support from advocates including parents of children with severe seizures which aren't well-controlled with currently approved medications.
Marsico's amendment, which would replace much of SB 3, is nearly identical to SB 3 regarding the illnesses that could be treated with medical marijuana.
They include: cancer; HIV and AIDS; ALS; Parkinson's disease; multiple sclerosis; spinal cord damage resulting in spasticity; epilepsy and seizures; glaucoma, chronic pain; inflammatory bowel disease; and Crohn's disease.
It would limit the amount of THC – the ingredient that causes a high – to ten percent or less per dose. SB 3 has no such limit.
Marsico's bill also calls for smaller numbers of growers, processors and dispensers, with his bill calling for growers-processors to operate under a single licensing, and initially allowing up to 25. A small number of growers/processors would also be allowed to operate as dispensers.
SB 3 would allow 65 growers, 65 processors and 130 dispensaries.
Much of Marsico's amendment reflects the recommendations of a 14-member working group that recently worked on coming up with a proposal that can pass the House.
Marsico's amendment, like SB 3, establishes application and licensing fees. For example, a grower-processor would pay a $200,000 registration fee and a $10,000 renewal fee, and a dispensary would pay a $30,000 registration fee and a $5,000 renewal fee.
Marsico's amendment would impose a 5 percent tax on growers-processors, which wouldn't be allowed to add the tax to invoices presented to dispensaries or patients. SB 3 calls for a 6 percent tax, and also calls for the tax to be paid before the product reaches the patient.
Patients, or their registered caregiver, would need a recommendation from a doctor and a state-issued card in order to buy medical marijuana.
Dispensaries would have to have a physician and other trained medical professionals on staff.
Marsico's amendment, as per the working group's recommendation, calls for the medical marijuana program to be run by the state Department of Health.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Medical Marijuana Amendment Would Limit THC, Distribution Points
Author: David Wenner
Contact: Email Author
Photo Credit: David Wenner, PennLive
Website: Pennsylvania Live
That's a disappointment to one of the leading Pennsylvania supporters of medical marijuana.
"We're still praying it doesn't make it through," Christy Billet, the founder and and executive director of Pennsylvanians For Safe Access, said about the amendment.
Her biggest concern involves the fact that the amendment by Marsico, a Republican, would allow up to 50 dispensaries. SB 3, the medical marijuana bill that was overwhelmingly passed by the state Senate earlier this year and which Marsico's amendment would alter, calls for 130.
Billet said she fears dispensaries will be few and far between in some parts of the state, resulting in some patients being "driven to the black market."
Marsico's bill calls for dividing the state up into at least three regions, and spreading out dispensaries based on population and the number of people with state issued cards needed to obtain medical marijuana.
Billet said Marsico's 44-page amendment seems to have the most support among 100 or so proposed amendments to SB 3. Capitolwire reported Marsico's amendment is the only one that has the support of House Majority Leader Dave Reed, R-Indiana.
The long-awaited and historic vote on whether to legalize medical marijuana in Pennsylvania could take place within the next two weeks.
SB 3, which passed 40-7, was authored by state Sen. Mike Folmer, R-Lebanon, and has strong support from advocates including parents of children with severe seizures which aren't well-controlled with currently approved medications.
Marsico's amendment, which would replace much of SB 3, is nearly identical to SB 3 regarding the illnesses that could be treated with medical marijuana.
They include: cancer; HIV and AIDS; ALS; Parkinson's disease; multiple sclerosis; spinal cord damage resulting in spasticity; epilepsy and seizures; glaucoma, chronic pain; inflammatory bowel disease; and Crohn's disease.
It would limit the amount of THC – the ingredient that causes a high – to ten percent or less per dose. SB 3 has no such limit.
Marsico's bill also calls for smaller numbers of growers, processors and dispensers, with his bill calling for growers-processors to operate under a single licensing, and initially allowing up to 25. A small number of growers/processors would also be allowed to operate as dispensers.
SB 3 would allow 65 growers, 65 processors and 130 dispensaries.
Much of Marsico's amendment reflects the recommendations of a 14-member working group that recently worked on coming up with a proposal that can pass the House.
Marsico's amendment, like SB 3, establishes application and licensing fees. For example, a grower-processor would pay a $200,000 registration fee and a $10,000 renewal fee, and a dispensary would pay a $30,000 registration fee and a $5,000 renewal fee.
Marsico's amendment would impose a 5 percent tax on growers-processors, which wouldn't be allowed to add the tax to invoices presented to dispensaries or patients. SB 3 calls for a 6 percent tax, and also calls for the tax to be paid before the product reaches the patient.
Patients, or their registered caregiver, would need a recommendation from a doctor and a state-issued card in order to buy medical marijuana.
Dispensaries would have to have a physician and other trained medical professionals on staff.
Marsico's amendment, as per the working group's recommendation, calls for the medical marijuana program to be run by the state Department of Health.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Medical Marijuana Amendment Would Limit THC, Distribution Points
Author: David Wenner
Contact: Email Author
Photo Credit: David Wenner, PennLive
Website: Pennsylvania Live
