It marks the first time any Pa. Republican senator has endorsed a plan to end the prohibition on cannabis. For years, Democrats in Pennsylvania’s legislature have introduced bills to legalize marijuana for adult recreational use. But without any Republican support, those bills were dead on arrival. On Wednesday, the landscape shifted. State Sen. Dan Laughlin, […]
Pennsylvania
Recreational Marijuana Legalized by New Jersey Voters
Voters approved a constitutional amendment to legalize cannabis in New Jersey, putting pressure on neighboring states like New York. After years of legislative failures, New Jersey voters on Tuesday authorized the legal use of recreational marijuana in a year when supporters rallied around the disproportionate number of arrests for the drug in minority communities. The […]
New to medical marijuana? Curious? Here’s what experts say you should know.
Getting medical marijuana has never been easier in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Telemedicine, online ordering, and home delivery — innovations spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic — have streamlined the process and encouraged more people than ever to explore whether cannabis might be a good health choice for them. But patients new to the program […]
Pot politics: Some Northeast states regroup on legalization
NEW YORK — A year ago, marijuana legalization looked like it was on a roll in the Northeast — it had already passed in three of the region’s states and was a priority for governors in three more, including the populous New York. Now, after legislative efforts stalled and a vaping sickness stirred new concerns, […]
Pennsylvania Proceeds With Medical Cannabis Implementation
Governor Tom Wolf of Pennsylvania signed medical cannabis legislation into law on April 17, and the program has continued to be developed at a steady pace by the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH). On October 25, DOH Secretary Karen Murphy provided updates on the implementation of Pennsylvania’s medical cannabis program at a press conference in the […]
Will Pennsylvania Decriminalize Marijuana?
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf made statements this week indicating his support for policies that would decriminalize use and small amounts of cannabis possession. “There are too many people who are going to prison because of the use of very modest amounts or carry modest amounts of marijuana, and that is clogging up our prisons, it’s […]
Pennsylvania Reveals First Medical Marijuana Program Guidelines
Now that Pennsylvania’s Medical Marijuana Program has officially been signed into state law, officials are rolling out the details, rules and regulations of how the program will work. Pennsylvania’s Department of Health recently released the first draft of the new medical marijuana program guidelines, which explain how state-approved growers and processors can cultivate cannabis as […]
Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Program To Arrive In 2018
The state Health Department’s medical marijuana program is expected to launch by early 2018, state health officials said Tuesday. “The department is being very thoughtful and thorough in our approach to developing and implementing a medically focused program that will benefit patients with serious medical conditions,” said Dr. Karen Murphy, the state’s health secretary, in […]
Pennsylvania Passes Bill To Legalize Industrial Hemp
Industrial hemp will soon become legal in Pennsylvania. House Bill 967 passed the state House and Senate this week and allows for pilot programs to begin industrial hemp research under the oversight of the Department of Agriculture. A spokesman for Gov. Tom Wolf said Tuesday he would sign the bill into law. Hemp can be […]
Will Pennsylvania Really be the Template for All Medical Marijuana States?
Harrisburg’s decision in early April to legalize medical marijuana in the state of Pennsylvania has set several wheels in motion, including those at the Department of Health, which has six months, beginning on May 17, to craft the necessary regulations. Leaping into the fray is U.S. Cannabis Pharmaceutical Research and Development, which hosted two business […]