As a result of investigative findings that highlight oversight shortcomings within Pennsylvania’s Medical Marijuana Program, lawmakers in the state are advancing legislation to strengthen the Department of Health’s authority when it comes to physicians who certify patients for medical cannabis.
Proposed Legislative Action
The bill proposes that the Department of Health be granted explicit powers:
• Impose ProbationPut doctors on probation for their certification practice.
• Limitation of CertificationLimit the number of certifications that a physician can give.
• Mandate SupervisionRequire that some physicians operate under supervision by another practitioner.
• Force ReportingImplementing specific reporting requirements to ensure transparency and compliance.
This is to ensure the safety of patients and integrity of the certification process for medical marijuana.
Background and Rationale
The investigation revealed that there was a very small number of doctors who issued the majority of medical marijuana certificates, which raised questions about patient safety and possible exploitation. It was also found that practitioners who had been disciplined in the past were rarely banned from the program by the Department of Health.
Tim Twardzik of the State Representative Tim Twardzik stressed that the Department of Health must be given clear powers to oversee the proper care of patients within the medical marijuana program. This bill is bipartisan, demonstrating a commitment by both parties to improve regulatory oversight of the medical marijuana industry in Pennsylvania.