HARRISBURG, Penn. — Pennsylvania Cannabis Coalition (PCC) Executive Director Meredith Buettner today issued a statement encouraging state regulators and patient advocates to ‘find common ground’ as the Department of Health’s (DOH) sudden February recall of certain vaporized medical marijuana products was proved to be unfounded yesterday. The PCC is a nonprofit advocacy organization that collaborates with medical marijuana operators, and industry professionals to protect and preserve the state’s emerging marijuana market.
“The purpose of regulating medical marijuana is to ensure its safety and this ruling verifies what we already know – operators’ products are rigorously tested, approved, and safe. As the state’s program surpasses its five-year mark, it’s my hope that state regulators and advocates find common ground outside of the courtroom. Together, we can continue to grow this burgeoning industry by meeting more patient needs.”
The DOH’s February recall of vaporized medical marijuana products was successfully challenged in a decision issued by the Commonwealth Court yesterday. Medical Marijuana Access and Patient Safety, Inc.’s (MMAPS) – a coalition of patients, caregivers, doctors, industry members and advocates – argued that the recall was not based on factual concerns related to patient safety after the DOH failed to provide one example of the state’s 400,000-plus patients being harmed during the last five years of the state-run program. The Court issued an injunctive relief on behalf of the cannabis community, after finding that the DOH had no basis to justify the recall or allow it to remain in effect. Dispensaries may immediately restock the recalled medical marijuana products, which represent about a quarter of vaporized products containing added terpenes. Vaporizers, commonly known as “vape pens” comprise approximately 50 percent of the state’s market.
