HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — A bill to create a cannabis control board in Pennsylvania seemed all but certain to pass, until it didn’t.
Sen. Dan Laughlin’s (R-Erie) Senate Bill 49 was not a legalization measure, but it would have transferred oversight of the state’s medical marijuana program from the Department of Health to the newly created board.
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It had nine Democratic co-sponsors and support from GOP leadership, yet it failed Wednesday in a 27-23 vote. Seven of the nine Democrats who initially supported it did an about-face and voted against it.
“I think to say I’m a little disappointed today in the vote taking place in the Senate on Senate Bill 49 would be an understatement,” Laughlin said.
The senator blamed the bill’s failure on Gov. Josh Shapiro (D), who he said asked Democrats to vote against the bill. “I think it’s pretty clear that politics means more than children’s safety,” Laughlin said.
Shapiro’s spokeswoman denied he urged no votes but said the governor wants comprehensive adult-use regulations and this bill did not advance those goals.
One Democrat who pulled his support, Sen. James Malone (D-Lancaster), said he wants to support local hemp growers through a more comprehensive approach with the governor and the House.
Sen. Sharif Street (D-Philadelphia) was one of the rare Democrats who initially backed the bill to still support it.
“A wise man said we should not let the perfect be the enemy of the good,” Street said. “My colleague has outlined many really good things that are addressed in this bill.”
The state’s hemp industry feels otherwise. Tucked in the 60-page bill is language that would ban intoxicating hemp products in an attempt to shut down bad actors.
Jake Sitler, co-owner of Endo Cafe and president of the Pennsylvania Hemp and Cannabis Guild, said the bill would’ve closed businesses like his that make hemp-infused drinks and other products.
“Do there need to be guardrails? One hundred percent. Do we need to put regulations on these products? One hundred percent. But you weren’t even giving us a framework to operate. You were eradicating all of us. You were eradicating the small businessmen, the hemp farmer, everybody,” Sitler said.
With the failure of his bill, Laughlin said intoxicating hemp products will continue to be available to young children across the state.
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Sitler said he understands that concern as a dad, but insists it can be fixed with age limits, regulating sellers and inspecting farmers.
“Let’s address that issue and have a conversation about it,” Sitler said. “But on the flip side of that, it’s a catch-22 because hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians would have lost access to products that they currently rely on.”
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