Pa. regulators must offer clear medical marijuana guidelines

Regulators must offer clear medical marijuana guidelines for workers

Since 2016, Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana program has provided more than 600,000 patients and caregivers with lifesaving medicine. Each day Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana patients responsibly use their medicine to treat one of 23 serious medical conditions. Unfortunately, many patients fear that their employment could be affected given the failure of regulators to explain and enforce current law.

The commonwealth’s regulators have failed the Pennsylvania workforce by remaining silent when it comes to employment matters. Now big employers are lobbying for SB 749, legislation that will punish working patients for accessing lifesaving medicine. At a time when employers are struggling to hire, it is unimaginable that Pennsylvania would even consider legislation to further restrict the workforce.

Instead of “opening” a complex, bipartisan piece of legislation, our representatives should call on the Pennsylvania secretary of health and secretary of labor to issue clear guidance for existing law. Guidance would provide clarity and certainty for all parties.

If you or someone you love is a Pennsylvania medical marijuana patient, please call your senator and tell them to oppose SB 749.

Meredith Buettner, executive director of Pennsylvania Cannabis Coalition

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Letter: Pa. regulators must offer clear medical marijuana guidelines