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HB 2254

An Act amending the act of April 17, 2016 (P.L.84, No.16), known as the Medical Marijuana Act, providing for compassionate access to medical marijuana; and imposing a penalty.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Lisa Borowski and 20 co-sponsors

HB 2254 aims to expand compassionate access to Pennsylvania medical marijuana, easing patient barriers while adding penalties for noncompliance within the program.

Referred to Law & Justice
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 2254

Summary of HB 2254 (Session 2025-2026) – Pennsylvania

Purpose and Intent

HB 2254 proposes amendments to the Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Act (Act of April 17, 2016, P.L. 84, No. 16) to establish or expand “compassionate access” to medical marijuana. The bill aims to modify existing medical cannabis provisions to improve access for patients, potentially streamline processes, and address situations where patients face barriers to therapy. The exact text of the amendments is not provided here, but the title indicates a focus on compassionate access and related penalties.

Key Provisions and Changes (as suggested by the bill title and file status)

  • Compassionate Access Provisions: The bill would introduce or expand mechanisms to facilitate access to medical marijuana for patients in need. This could include:
    • Expanded patient eligibility criteria or reduced barriers to obtaining medical cannabis.
    • Expanded or clarified roles for physicians, caregivers, or patients in the prescribing/dispensing process.
    • Procedural changes to physician-patient interactions or approval processes within the medical marijuana program.
  • Penalties: The title indicates the act would “impose a penalty,” suggesting new or adjusted penalties related to noncompliance or certain offenses within the compassionate access framework. This could involve penalties for misuse, diversion, or failure to maintain required program standards, though the precise nature of penalties is not specified in the summary.
  • Program Administration Adjustments: Potential modifications to how the medical marijuana program is administered at the state level, including regulatory oversight, reporting requirements, or administrative procedures to support compassionate access.

Who Is Affected

  • Patients: Individuals enrolled in Pennsylvania’s Medical Marijuana Program who may benefit from increased access or streamlined processes.
  • Caregivers and Physicians: Those involved in certification, dispensing, and oversight of medical cannabis use.
  • Medical Marijuana Program Administrators: State regulatory bodies overseeing licensure, compliance, and enforcement.
  • General Public/Compliance: Individuals and entities subject to penalties or enforcement provisions introduced by the bill.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Legislative Action History:
    • Referred to Health Committee on March 2, 2026.
    • Reported as amended and with first consideration on April 14, 2026.
    • Laid on the table on the same day (likely a procedural step before further floor action or voting).
  • Sponsors: A broad list of co-sponsors from both chambers, including Kyle Donahue, Carol Kazeem, Mary Jo Daley, Melissa Shusterman, Pat Gallagher, La'Tasha Mayes, Nikki Rivera, Missy Cerrato, Joe Webster, Tarik Khan, Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz, Maureen Madden, Dan Frankel, Joe Hohenstein, Ben Sanchez, Carol Hill-Evans, Heather Boyd, Lisa Borowski, and Jeanne McNeill. This indicates cross-party and diverse support within the General Assembly.

Potential Impact

  • Access and Equity: If enacted, the bill could reduce barriers to medical marijuana for eligible patients and potentially improve equitable access for those with serious medical conditions.
  • Regulatory Oversight: Adjustments to compassionate access would require careful coordination between patients, physicians, caregivers, and state regulators, with attention to safety, quality control, and program integrity.
  • Enforcement and Compliance: Introduction or modification of penalties could affect how violations are handled, potentially improving compliance but also raising questions about due process and proportional penalties.

Notes

  • The precise statutory changes (wording, definitions, specific penalties, eligibility criteria, implementation timelines) are not provided in this summary. For a complete understanding, the bill’s full text and any fiscal impact statements, committee reports, and amendments should be consulted.

If you’d like, I can extract and explain the exact language from the bill text once available, or compare it to the current Medical Marijuana Act to highlight specific changes.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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