Marsico Makes Imperative Changes to Medical Marijuana Legislation
HARRISBURG – House Judiciary Committee Majority Chairman Rep. Ron Marsico (R-Dauphin) received overwhelming support for his changes to the medical marijuana legislation that passed through the House today.
“We have worked long and hard on coming to a consensus on a number of elements about Senate Bill 3, so that medical marijuana could become part of the therapeutic arsenal of physicians,” said Marsico. “This included an amendment to Senate Bill 3 that I sponsored that allows for change and growth of the medical marijuana program as we learn more about medical marijuana, which I felt was extremely important.”
Senate Bill 3, as amended by Marsico, does the following:
• Sets up a medical marijuana program for patients suffering from serious medical conditions that will be run by the Department of Health.
• Establishes an advisory board, to be comprised of medical experts and officials like the Secretary of Health and Physician General. The idea is that as Pennsylvania gains experience with medical marijuana, as research continues, the advisory committee will recommend changes to the law, which can be implemented by the Secretary of Health.
• Authorizes medical marijuana to be used to treat a broad variety of conditions and diseases, including post-traumatic stress disorder, severe or chronic pain, epilepsy, cancer, HIV/AIDS, neuropathies and inflammatory bowel disease, among others.
• Provides for the registration of 25 growers/processors of medical marijuana, as well as 50 dispensaries. The amendment allows each dispensary to operate up to three separate locations, for a total of up to 150 places that patients can obtain medical marijuana. Further, the Department of Health must create regions within the Commonwealth to help ensure that patients have access to medical marijuana.
• Creates a research component, so that hospitals and universities can team up to study the efficacy of medical marijuana on disease.
• Establishes a tax placed on growers/processors in order to help fund the research program created by the amendment and other research programs, and to help patients without economic means. The money will go into a separate fund in the State Treasury called the Medical Marijuana Program Fund. For those patients who cannot afford medical marijuana on their own, a portion of the fund is dedicated to them. Approximately 30 percent of the fund will be used to support research into the efficacy of medical marijuana on medical conditions and disease.
“My amendment earnestly and honestly attempts to get medical marijuana to those who need it most,” said Marsico.
The Marsico amendment largely reflects the thinking of the working group on medical marijuana assembled by House Majority Leader Dave Reed. Both Democratic and Republican members were invited to participate in the discussions. The group heard many different points of view from members representing rural and urban areas. There were members with a background in law enforcement and health care as well. Everyone involved was committed, honest, and had a real desire to fashion wise and fair public policy. There were questions asked about legislation in other states, and the group heard from Sen. Mike Folmer and Secretary of Health Dr. Karen Murphy. Rep. Kerry Benninghoff, as Policy Committee chairman, led the efforts.
Senate Bill 3, as amended by Marsico, will now go back to the Senate for concurrence.
Representative Ronald Marsico
105th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
RonMarsico.com
Media Contact: Autumn R. Southard, 717.652.3721
asouthar@pahousegop.com