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By Kevin Zwick HARRISBURG (April 12) – A medical marijuana bill is headed back to the House following some Senate-authored tweaks, but faces a tight deadline if the bill is to get to Gov. Tom Wolf’s desk before the House goes on a two-week break for the primary election. The Senate, voting 42-7, sent Senate Bill 3 to the House with the addition of two amendments. “There were a host of changes the House made to SB3 that I didn’t like and that made me uncomfortable,” said Sen. Mike Folmer, R-Lebanon, the lead proponent of the legislation. “However, rather than looking back, I would rather look forward.” He continued, “And this is my message to the House members who supported SB3 when it overwhelmingly passed the House: All the Senate amendments are doing is to ensure that SB3 will work. It is not a perfect bill, but it is one that will work to bring medical cannabis to Pennsylvania in a timely manner.” A chorus of supporters on Tuesday urged the House to support the Senate’s changes. The House is in session Wednesday, but then won’t return until early May. House Republicans plan to review the bill in caucus and can vote it as early as Wednesday, said House GOP spokesman Steve Miskin. “After reviewing it, [if] we see that it’s more substantive than we were originally told or thought, that might change how we feel about it,” said Miskin. The Senate on Monday approved what was characterized as a large technical amendment, and added more technical changes earlier Tuesday. The legislation, dubbed the Medical Marijuana Act, establishes a state program under the Department of Health that creates a network of growers, processors and dispensaries and allows doctors to certify a patient to receive medical marijuana for certain medical conditions. Folmer said the Senate amendments reorganized the House’s version of the bill to “make it easier to implement without delay.” He also said the language was changed to give dispensaries clearer authorization to operate, add stronger oversight for employees of medical marijuana organizations, and allow urban areas to waive requirements on the distance between dispensary locations and schools and day cares. Folmer, who has been the champion of medical marijuana legislation for the past few sessions, gained the praises of Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman, R-Centre, who credited Folmer with driving what Corman called a “historic” policy change to the forefront. Corman compared Folmer’s dedication to Jimmy Stewart’s depiction of Jefferson Smith, the idealist U.S. senator, in the 1939 film Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. “He ultimately changed minds and changed hearts,” Corman said, choking up. “Mr. Smith came to Harrisburg.” In a statement, Wolf urged the House to take “quick action” to send him the bill. “It is finally time to provide long overdue medical relief to patients and families who could benefit from the legalization of medical marijuana,” Wolf said. “We should not deny doctor-recommended treatment that could help people suffering from seizures or cancer patients affected by chemotherapy.” The Pennsylvania Medical Cannabis Society, a medical marijuana industry group, supports the Senate changes. “We thank the Senate for their diligent work, and are hopeful that the House of Representatives will concur on these technical changes made by the Senate in short order to get this legislation to the Governor’s desk,” said Tom Santanna, a lobbyist for the PAMCS, via email. -30- |
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