As Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana program continues to grow, the Pennsylvania legislature is now turning its attention towards marijuana legalization. Despite growing state support of regulated marijuana programs and mounting research in support of its medicinal benefits, marijuana’s status under federal law continues to create uncertainty for state-legal marijuana entities and create roadblocks for medical researchers. While states individually address the question of marijuana legalization, federal lawmakers have proposed a number of bills aimed decriminalization and reconciling the state and federal conflict over marijuana laws.
Continue reading to find out more about pending marijuana legislation recently introduced in Pennsylvania and the United States Congress that Cannabis Law PA is following, and don’t forget to subscribe to our blog and follow us on Twitter to receive up to the minute updates as these bills travel through Congress:
Pennsylvania Legislation
House Bill 2600
On September 26, 2018, Representative Wheatley introduced a bill to permit adults over 21 to grow, buy and consume marijuana, as well as wipe clean any prior convictions for marijuana crimes.
Last Action: Referred to HEALTH, Sept. 26, 2018 [House]
Memo: Co-sponsorship of Legislation – Legalization of Marijuana
House Resolution 1037
On September 10, 2018, Representative Wheatley introduced a Resolution directing the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a study of the Commonwealth’s statutes and policies regarding marijuana in light of the legalization of medical marijuana.
Last Action: Referred to HEALTH, Sept. 10, 2018 [House]
Memo: Co-sponsorship of Resolution – Medical Marijuana Study
Federal Legislation
The Marijuana Data Collection Act
This bill introduced by Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) and a bipartisan group of cosponsors on July 24, 2018 would direct the Department of Health and Human Services to partner with other federal and state government agencies to study “the effects of State legalized marijuana programs on the economy, public health, criminal justice and employment.”
Latest Action: House – Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations on October 1, 2018
S.3174 – Marijuana Freedom and Opportunity Act
Introduced by Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) on June 27, 2018, this sweeping marijuana decriminalization bill would remove cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act and leave regulation in the hands of the states.
Latest Action: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary on June 28, 2018
H.R.6152 – Marijuana in Federally Assisted Housing Parity Act of 2018
On June 19, 2018, Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) introduced a bill mandating that an individual who uses cannabis in compliance with state law cannot be denied federal housing.
Latest Action: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services on June 19, 2018.