Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Advisory Board approves changes to the availability, form and uses of medical marijuana
April 19, 2018
On April 9, 2018, the Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Advisory Board voted to approve numerous, wide-reaching changes to the availability, form and uses of medical marijuana within the Commonwealth. Pennsylvania Health Secretary, Rachel Levine, also recently approved the Board’s recommendations. Revised Department regulations will follow in the next several months.
Most importantly, the Board voted to approve the availability of dry flower/leaf to patients in Pennsylvania. The availability of dry leaf is expected to make more product available to patients because it has the shortest production time and the lowest cost to produce and process. With supply of medical marijuana already struggling to keep up with the ever-growing number of patients within the Commonwealth, it is expected that the availability of dry flower will facilitate patients being able to receive their prescribed medicine more efficiently.
Patient use of dried leaf will still be restricted to vaporization. But, once the patient receives the dried leaf marijuana they could presumably take the medication in any manner best suited for them.
The Advisory Board also voted to permit physicians to work within the medical marijuana program but retain the ability to opt out of having their names included in the public registry. Providing doctors with the freedom to choose whether they will be publicly associated with the program will help to de-stigmatize association with the program and permit doctors to treat patients without fear of exposure.
The list of qualifying medical conditions was also expanded from 17 to 21 and the Board recommended the review and approval of additional conditions continue on a rolling basis as research within the medical marijuana field supported the expansion of use into different areas. By also approving the additional use of medical marijuana for opioid reduction therapy and authorizing the expansion of research done to determine the effect of medical marijuana for addiction treatment, Pennsylvania becomes the first state to formally attempt to use medical marijuana to combat the deadly effects of the opioid epidemic sweeping the country.
The Regulated Substances Blog is intended to keep readers current on developments regarding medical cannabis legalization and regulation and is not intended to be legal advice. If you have any questions, please contact Dan Clearfield at dclearfield@eckertseamans.com or any other member of our Regulated Substances Group.