Sen. Mike Folmer (R-Lebanon) hailed the historic Senate vote Wednesday in passing his Senate Bill 1182 to allow the use of medical cannabis in the Commonwealth 43-7. Sen. Folmer’s legislation would allow thousands of ill and suffering Pennsylvanians the ability to utilize cannabis, a natural plant from God, to treat their ailments.
“It’s been a long road to this point and we have a long road ahead of us – but, with 85 percent of Pennsylvanians supporting the use of medical cannabis to treat our most vulnerable – I am optimistic we can get this done,” said Sen. Folmer, “This would have never happened without ‘the Moms’, a special group of people who have demonstrated the very best of citizen lobbying.”
Senate Bill 1182 provides access to regulated medical cannabis for patients with certain qualified medical conditions and establishes the State Board of Medical Cannabis Licensing under the Department of State to provide regulatory oversight and licensing.
The bill allows growers to supply medical processors to transform the cannabis plant into oil, lotions, tinctures, ointments and cannabis infused products. Only licensed medical cannabis dispensers can dispense medical cannabis to a patient with a medical cannabis access card issued by the Department of Health. Smoking is also prohibited.
“We’ve come a long way from where we started, but we can help people with this bill – people who previously had no hope,” said Sen. Folmer. “This is not a CBD only bill. The list of diseases can be expanded. This is a work in progress to help as many as we can. We have momentum and can build on the firm foundation we’ve laid,” he continued.
The bill now goes to the House for further consideration.
