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Gov. Wolf signs medical marijuana legislation
The rotunda of the state capitol was crowded with legislators, families and advocates of medical marijuana.
Lenay Ruhl//April 17, 2016
Gov. Wolf signs medical marijuana legislation
The rotunda of the state capitol was crowded with legislators, families and advocates of medical marijuana.
Lenay Ruhl//April 17, 2016
A historic moment in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania joined 23 other states in legalizing the medical use of marijuana.
The rotunda of the state capitol was crowded with legislators, families and advocates of medical marijuana, who gathered in the afternoon to witness Gov. Wolf formally sign S.B. 3 into law – an action that was followed by applause and some tears from the crowd.
The original sponsors of the bill, Sen. Mike Folmer (R-Lebanon) and Sen. Daylin Leach (D-Delaware, Montgomery), were two of many to speak on the impact of the law – Leach stating that it is the most significant piece of legislation to pass in generations.
“Let us pause to actually reflect on what happened here in this place, because it doesn’t happen often enough,” Leach said.
It will be 30 days until the law officially goes into effect, and experts predict it will be January 2018 until patients can obtain medical cannabis.
Yet, on Sunday the focus was not on the long road ahead, but on celebrating the beginning of new possibilities in Pennsylvania.
“I am proud to sign this bill that will provide long overdue medical relief to patients and families who could benefit from this treatment,” Wolf said. “I applaud members of both parties in the House and Senate who have come together to help patients who have run out of medical options and want to thank the thousands of advocates who have fought tirelessly for this cause.”
