Pennsylvania medical cannabis patients currently have access to tinctures, pills, oils, topicals, and dry leaf to vaporize. A new bill will soon be introduced by state Sen. Dan Laughlin, R-Erie, to possibly expand those options and allow patients to purchase medical cannabis edibles.

Launglin said that 25 other states already allow patents to buy edibles — which are typically foods like cookies, candies, gummies, and other baked goods infused with cannabis. He said edibles have the benefit of gradual disbursement of cannabis, and Pennsylvania should join those other states in permitting their sale.

“For many patients, their medical conditions require gradual relief over an extended period of time,” said Laughlin in a press release. “Consuming medical cannabis in edible form is among the best ways to achieve the time-release effect that these patients need.”

Current law prohibits growers and processors from producing medical cannabis in the form of food products, and medical marijuana dispensaries in Pennsylvania can’t sell these food products.

Laughlin wants to allow licensed growers and processors to produce edibles, and dispensaries to sell them. Pennsylvania marijuana patients and caregivers are only allowed to incorporate medical marijuana into edible form in order to aid in a patient’s ingestion of the prescribed cannabis. [Read more at Trib Live]