Final votes may be close on medical marijuana bill
HARRISBURG — Senate backers said Monday they hope medical marijuana legislation will get to Gov. Tom Wolf’s desk this week and start what could be a two-year process of setting up regulations for growers, dispensaries and physicians.
A Senate committee approved changes to a bill that passed the House last month.
Backers said they expect a final Senate vote today, followed by a final House vote Wednesday. The Democratic governor supports the bill.
The changes were designed to eliminate potential glitches in how the set up and regulation of the industry is supposed to work, Senate officials said.
“I want to send something to (Wolf’s) desk that will work and get set up even sooner,” said Sen. Mike Folmer, R-Lebanon, a chief sponsor of the bill.
The Senate overwhelmingly passed a similar version last May.
However, a House Republican spokesman gave no assurances the chamber would quickly pass the bill.
“If the Senate chooses to send us an amended bill, then we will have to review those changes and determine what to do,” said Stephen Miskin, a spokesman for House Majority Leader David Reed, R-Indiana.
