Pennsylvania Rep. Melissa Shusterman introduced a plan to permit small businesses and farmers a chance to contribute and compete in the medical marijuana market. The legislation allows small businesses and farmers to participate in the cultivation of cannabis for medical reasons.
Shusterman, D-Paoli will offer Pennsylvania’s small businesses and farmers a piece of the $1 billion sectors that are monopolized by large corporations in the state.
However, the various rules restricting the number of growers in the one zone have offered big businesses an opportunity while being on price increase, supply shortage, and leaving customers without prescription medication.
However, she also said to resolve the obstructions in the supply chain resulting from the limits on the number of cultivators that can operate in a given geographic zone.
Shusterman highlighted the first issue in a co-sponsored memo back in March with colleagues. The proposal was filed with 14 initial co-sponsors and has been referred to the House Health Committee. However, a new definition has to be added to the state medical cannabis law for farmer growers pertaining to who can get the license for marijuana businesses.
The farmer growers are restricted on cultivating cannabis on a single site that is more than 2 acres of land, but that product will be taxed less than others. However, under the existing system, the producers suffer from a gross received tax of 5% on sale to dispensaries that are expected to be set as 1% for farmer growers under the bill.
Furthermore, the current cultivators are required to satisfy municipal zoning and land utilization techniques for production, processing, and manufacturing facilities. Farmer growers will have to meet certain requirements and eligibility for agricultural operations.
It is expected that such a landscape will create a new category and empower small farmers to grow cannabis that is expected to reduce the prices for consumers and, in addition, will unlock opportunities for small businesses.
However, the legislation has still not permitted medical cannabis patients to cultivate and produce their own medicine. The new bill is introduced as Pennsylvania lawmakers work to advance adult-use legalization and other drug policy reforms.
The bipartition Senate bill was a much-anticipated bill to legalize marijuana in Pennsylvania. This bill has been on still for months but was finally introduced earlier this month. Sens. Sharif Street and Dan Laughlin revealed around 240-page legislation months later, its first outline along with some key details back in February.
It is expected that the bill will lessen the burden on consumers and also alleviate the supply-chain situation.