A Review of the Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Bill by International Cannabis Consulting Firm Consultant Michael Mayes
Pennsylvania became the 24th state to allow for medical marijuana in the United States. The laws in the Pennsylvania medical marijuana bill are pretty fair. There are 17 approved medical conditions, including severe chronic or intractable pain, PTSD, inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease which should make a health patient base to support the industry. A total of 25 grower licenses and 50 dispensary licenses will support the potential 250,000- 500,000 patients.
Each dispensary license could open up to three locations, meaning there would be up to 150 dispensaries for patients to access medical cannabis with the restrictions that no more than five dispensary licenses and no more than one grower license can be owned by an applicant. Cannabis consulting firms and marijuana consultants are aligning with top investment companies and high net worth teams to prepare for the application process. After a review of the 167 pages of law Quantum 9 has listed 7 crazy things about the new Pennsylvania medical marijuana law.
Here is a link to the bill: Click Here
7 Crazy things about the New Pennsylvania Medical Cannabis Bill
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The bill does NOT allow for flower or edibles, which could undercut the market. This isn’t the first time we have seen this provision in cannabis law. The first was Minnesota, then New York now Pennsylvania.
Page 101 – (3) UNLESS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN REGULATIONS ADOPTED BY THE DEPARTMENT UNDER SECTION 1202, MEDICAL MARIJUANA MAY NOT BE DISPENSED TO A PATIENT OR A CAREGIVER IN DRY LEAF OR PLANT FORM. Page 102 – (B) UNLAWFUL USE DESCRIBED.–IT IS UNLAWFUL TO (1) SMOKE MEDICAL MARIJUANA. (2) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED UNDER SUBSECTION (C), INCORPORATE MEDICAL MARIJUANA INTO EDIBLE FORM. (C) EDIBLE MEDICAL MARIJUANA.–NOTHING IN THIS ACT SHALL BE CONSTRUED TO PRECLUDE THE INCORPORATION OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA INTO EDIBLE FORM BY A PATIENT OR A CAREGIVER IN ORDER TO AID INGESTION OF THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA BY THE PATIENT.
The bill DOES allow for the advisory board to overturn the edible and dry leaf consumption provision.
Page 142 – (F) GOVERNANCE.–THE ADVISORY BOARD SHALL HAVE THE POWER TO PRESCRIBE, AMEND AND REPEAL BYLAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE MANNER IN WHICH THE BUSINESS OF THE ADVISORY BOARD IS CONDUCTED AND THE MANNER IN WHICH THE DUTIES GRANTED TO IT ARE FULFILLED. Page 144 (VI) WHETHER TO PERMIT MEDICAL MARIJUANA TO BE DISPENSED IN DRY LEAF OR PLANT FORM, FOR ADMINISTRATION BY VAPORIZATION.
2. The bill DOES allow organizations to procure seed and starting material from outside the state. Wait what??? Yes, that’s right. The state is allowing organizations to get starting material from outside the state or inside the state against federal Schedule 1 narcotics laws.
Page 128 – (1) OBTAIN SEED FROM OUTSIDE THIS COMMONWEALTH TO INITIALLY GROW MEDICAL MARIJUANA. (2) OBTAIN SEED AND PLANT MATERIAL FROM ANOTHER GROWER/PROCESSOR WITHIN THIS COMMONWEALTH TO GROW MEDICAL MARIJUANA.
3. The way the current Pennsylvania Medical Cannabis Bill is written organizations can only cultivate within an indoor facility.
Page 128 – (3) A GROWER/PROCESSOR MAY ONLY GROW, STORE, HARVEST OR PROCESS MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN AN INDOOR, ENCLOSED, SECURE FACILITY WHICH: (I) INCLUDES ELECTRONIC LOCKING SYSTEMS, ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE AND OTHER FEATURES REQUIRED BY THE DEPARTMENT; AND (II) IS LOCATED WITHIN THIS COMMONWEALTH.
The State DOES reserve section (2) to further clarify the rules.
4. Transportation of medical cannabis must have GPS tracking.
Page 129 – THE DEPARTMENT SHALL DEVELOP REGULATIONS RELATING TO THE STORAGE AND TRANSPORTATION OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA AMONG GROWER/PROCESSORS, TESTING LABORATORIES AND DISPENSARIES WHICH ENSURE ADEQUATE SECURITY TO GUARD AGAINST IN-TRANSIT LOSSES. THE TRACKING SYSTEM DEVELOPED BY THE DEPARTMENT SHALL INCLUDE ALL TRANSPORTATION AND STORAGE OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA. THE REGULATIONS SHALL PROVIDE FOR THE FOLLOWING: (5) USE OF GPS SYSTEMS.
5. The Pennsylvania Bill states that if prices are too high per unit price, the State can establish a cap on the unit price of medical marijuana. This reminds me of gas prices when 9/11 hit; price gouging will not be applicable in Pennsylvania.
Page 130 – THE DEPARTMENT AND THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE SHALL MONITOR THE PRICE OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA SOLD BY GROWER/PROCESSORS AND BY DISPENSARIES, INCLUDING A PER-DOSE PRICE. IF THE DEPARTMENT AND THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE DETERMINE THAT THE PRICES ARE UNREASONABLE OR EXCESSIVE, THE DEPARTMENT MAY IMPLEMENT A CAP ON THE PRICE OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA BEING SOLD FOR A PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS.
6. The state requires a Pharmacist or Physician to be onsite at the dispensary at all times.
Page 100 – (B) REQUIREMENTS.–A DISPENSARY SHALL HAVE A PHYSICIAN OR A PHARMACIST ONSITE AT ALL TIMES DURING THE HOURS THE DISPENSARY IS OPEN TO RECEIVE PATIENTS AND CAREGIVERS. IF A DISPENSARY HAS MORE THAN ONE SEPARATE LOCATION, A PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT OR A CERTIFIED REGISTERED NURSE PRACTITIONER MAY BE ONSITE AT EACH OF THE OTHER LOCATIONS IN LIEU OF THE PHYSICIAN OR PHARMACIST. A PHYSICIAN, A PHARMACIST, A PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT OR A CERTIFIED REGISTERED NURSE PRACTITIONER SHALL, PRIOR TO ASSUMING DUTIES UNDER THIS PARAGRAPH, SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE THE COURSE ESTABLISHED IN SECTION 301(A)(6). A PHYSICIAN MAY NOT ISSUE A CERTIFICATION TO AUTHORIZE PATIENTS TO RECEIVE MEDICAL MARIJUANA OR OTHERWISE TREAT PATIENTS AT THE DISPENSARY.
7. Dispensaries must place a SAFETY INSERT with each patient order.
Page 132 – (H) SAFETY INSERT.–WHEN A DISPENSARY DISPENSES MEDICAL MARIJUANA TO A PATIENT OR CAREGIVER, THE DISPENSARY SHALL PROVIDE TO THAT PATIENT OR CAREGIVER, AS APPROPRIATE, A SAFETY INSERT. THE INSERT SHALL BE DEVELOPED AND APPROVED BY THE DEPARTMENT. THE INSERT SHALL PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION: (1) LAWFUL METHODS FOR ADMINISTERING MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN INDIVIDUAL DOSES. (2) ANY POTENTIAL DANGERS STEMMING FROM THE USE OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA. (3) HOW TO RECOGNIZE WHAT MAY BE PROBLEMATIC USAGE OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA AND HOW TO OBTAIN APPROPRIATE SERVICES OR TREATMENT FOR PROBLEMATIC USAGE. (4) HOW TO PREVENT OR DETER THE MISUSE OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA BY MINORS OR OTHERS. (5) ANY OTHER INFORMATION AS DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT.
Quantum 9 is one of the top international cannabis and marijuana consulting firm in the world. Their track record is currently 91.6% having acquired 22 out of 24 license submissions in merit-based states and countries including Colorado, California, Canada, Massachusetts, Washington, Nevada, and Illinois. The firm is lead by top cannabis consultant Michael Mayes, which works as a project manager on all submissions. Michael is an expert grant writer pulling structure and knowledge from his grant writing in the government information technology sector. Michael draws expertise in proposal submissions with his work with Microsoft Sharepoint Partner of the Year. Quantum 9 has been recommended by Senator Perry Clark, Senator Michael Jacobs, and the German Ministry. Quantum 9 will only take one client per territory. The state divided the state into three territories. To work with Quantum 9, please e-mail info@quantum9.net or call 888-716-0404.
NEED LAST MINUTE GROWER/PROCESSOR AND/OR DISPENSARY HELP?
Are you stressing to complete your Pennsylvania Medical Cannabis Grower/Processor and/or Dispensary Application and want some last minute help from a top Pennsylvania Cannabis Consulting Firm? Contact Quantum 9 for last-minute assistance on your PA Grower/Processor and/or Dispensary Application submission for assistance on Grower/Processor questions 10-22 and Dispensary questions 10-17. It’s not too late to strengthen your submission, but don’t delay and call your Pennsylvania Dispensary Marijuana Consultants today.
A terrific post Michael. It’s not easy keeping up with who’s doing what in the cannabis industry, so great to be able to read about Pennsylvania along with explanation! I’m following both Canada and the US at the moment (several info sources – print and live) and have been wondering about written information for patients on same — it seems to be missing in quite a few locations! As a health professional (MSc Clin Pharm for one) and medical writer [and soon to be very part time in a Cannabinoid Medical Clinic (Canada) to get a hands on feel] that is definately something I’ll explore. Any thoughts? (I certainly am aware any such writings would have to be tailored to the State.) Thanks and Good luck!
The above comments were meant to go with the Pennsylvania article…… Sorry!