Pennsylvania Bill Filed to Create Cannabis Control Board, Overhaul Medical Marijuana Oversight

Filed as Senate Bill 49 and referred to the Senate Law and Justice Committee, the measure would centralize regulatory functions, establish new permit categories, and broaden oversight of cannabis-related activities. The bill, known as the Cannabis Control Board Act, is sponsored by Senators Dan Laughlin (R) and Sharif Street (D), along with 15 other lawmakers from both sides of the aisle.

The proposed legislation would establish an independent Cannabis Control Board tasked with regulating cannabis operations, issuing permits, conducting investigations, and enforcing compliance. The board would consist of seven voting members—three appointed by the governor and one each by the four top legislative leaders. The secretaries of agriculture and health, the attorney general, and the State Police commissioner (or their designees) would serve as nonvoting ex officio members.

In addition to creating the board, the bill outlines the formation of a Cannabis Regulation Fund to collect fees and fund operations, enforcement, and patient support programs. It also sets forth strict conflict-of-interest rules for board members and employees and establishes new guidelines for patient access and product distribution.

SB 49 includes provisions to allow the board to adopt emergency regulations within 90 days of the bill becoming law, with broader regulatory authority to follow. The legislation explicitly allows for the regulation of products with THC concentrations exceeding current medical marijuana limits, potentially setting the stage for broader reforms in the future.

The filing of the bill signals a growing bipartisan consensus in Pennsylvania around modernizing the state’s marijuana laws and improving transparency, efficiency, and equity in the regulated market.