717-703-0804
House of Representatives
Session of 2025 – 2026 Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
Posted: March 5, 2025 03:57 PM
From: Representative Christopher M. Rabb
To: All House members
Subject: Protecting responsible drivers who are authorized users of medical cannabis
In 2016, the PA General Assembly voted to legalize medical use of cannabis. Sadly, 8 years after this statute took effect, our legislature has yet to provide nearly 500,000 Pennsylvanians with medical cannabis cards the same privileges afforded to others who have legal prescriptions for a scheduled medication.
Since then, many medical cannabis patients have shared their horror stories about being arrested and convicted of driving under the influence of cannabis (DUI) without any proof of impairment. Further, a 2022 PA Superior Court ruling affirmed that singling out unimpaired drivers with cannabis in their systems violates equal protection provisions contained in our state’s Medical Marijuana Act of 2016.
That is why this legislation (formerly HB 983) is being introduced yet again, as the current law must be amended to allow responsible drivers who are also medical cannabis patients to operate a motor vehicle legally.
While this legislation protects medical cannabis patients, it does not extend to any illegal cannabis use – nor does it protect impaired drivers. It applies to approved patients with a non-commercial driver’s license who use medical cannabis legally — and are not impaired – the same as with any other prescription medication.
Presently, over 30 states allow for some form of cannabis use, and many have updated their DUI laws to correspond with this. Unfortunately, Pennsylvania remains a state with a zero-tolerance policy on this matter, needlessly imperiling hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvania drivers who are also medical cannabis patients.
Please support this necessary legislation toward fixing this antiquated law and keeping all drivers safe and protected.
