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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | June 27, 2023 09:47 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Dave Madsen |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Independent Local Dispensary Permits |
| In 2016, Pennsylvania legalized the use of medical marijuana to support patients throughout the state who suffer daily from a wide array of ailments. The move to create this new medical industry in our state has proven to be a great benefit to many. However, like many new industries, we have seen some challenges to the evolution of the medical marijuana industry here in our state. While patient care was always the foundational principle of Act 16, we have seen far too many scenarios where access-to-care for patients has become a challenge. Underserved areas exist throughout the state, and some patients and caregivers need to drive significant distances to obtain their medicine. Additionally, the program’s goals of building a strong sense of diversity among license holders has fallen short. And while the many out-of-state entities that helped stand up the industry have done well, there needs to be a greater focus on locally-owned small business and diverse and disadvantaged businesses. These are entities who live in the communities in which they want to serve patients. With a growing discussion circulating in Harrisburg on the creation of new medical marijuana dispensary permits for existing permit holders, it is important that we also focus on creating new opportunities for those who want to compete for permits in their own community. With this in mind, I plan to soon introduce legislation that will create a new medical marijuana permit for Independent Local Dispensaries. This permit creates new opportunities for small businesses and those that qualify as diverse and disadvantaged businesses. Local entrepreneurs, women, minorities, veterans would now have access to their own permits in the medical marijuana industry here in Pennsylvania. These permits would be issued on a competitive basis under the same standards as Act 16. Additionally, they would focus care on underserved areas to uphold the goal of access and patient care. If expansion of medical marijuana permits is needed, then local entities need to be part of the process. Please consider joining me in sponsoring this legislation. |
Introduced as HB1942