PRINTER'S NO. 1700
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
373
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY COHEN, BARRAR, BROWNLEE, CALTAGIRONE, McNEILL,
ROZZI, SCHLOSSBERG AND THOMAS, JUNE 5, 2015
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, JUNE 5, 2015
A RESOLUTION
Petitioning the Pennsylvania Secretary of Health and the United
States Drug Enforcement Administration to reschedule cannabis
from a Schedule I to a Schedule II controlled substance
within their respective jurisdictions.
WHEREAS, Cannabis, more commonly referred to as marijuana,
was legal in the United States until 1937 when Congress passed
the Marijuana Tax Act; and
WHEREAS, The United States Pharmacopeia had cannabis on its
list of pharmaceuticals from 1850 until 1942 for the treatment
of pain, nausea and rheumatism; and
WHEREAS, At the same time, hemp was being cultivated and used
for clothing, rope, oils and paper; and
WHEREAS, In 1972, the Shafer Commission, established by
President Nixon at the direction of Congress, studied laws
regarding cannabis and determined that personal use of cannabis
should be decriminalized; and
WHEREAS, President Nixon rejected the recommendation, but
throughout the 1970s, states began to decriminalize cannabis and
reduce penalties; and
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
WHEREAS, Currently, 23 states and the District of Columbia
have legalized cannabis in some form; and
WHEREAS, There is currently no regulated and safe system to
supply patients in need with medical cannabis in Pennsylvania;
and
WHEREAS, It is relatively simple to determine the beneficial
compounds contained in cannabis with modern deoxyribonucleic
acid (DNA) analysis; and
WHEREAS, A compounding pharmacist could quantify the
appropriate level of cannabinoids and use an appropriate
cannabis blend to create a customized medication for a patient;
and
WHEREAS, It is clear, and studies support, the long-standing
classification of medical use of cannabis as an illegal Schedule
I controlled substance is fundamentally flawed and should be
changed at both the Federal and State level; and
WHEREAS, If cannabis were reclassified as a Schedule II
controlled substance, it could be prescribed and dispensed
safely and legally to patients in need; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania petition the Secretary of Health of
the Commonwealth and the United States Drug Enforcement
Administration to reschedule cannabis from a Schedule I to a
Schedule II controlled substance within their respective
jurisdictions; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania urge the Pennsylvania Drug, Device
and Cosmetic Board to hold hearings on rescheduling cannabis
from a Schedule I to a Schedule II controlled substance for
medical purposes; and be it further
20150HR0373PN1700 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania urge the Drug Enforcement
Administration to initiate rulemaking proceedings for the
reclassification of cannabis from a Schedule I to a Schedule II
controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act; and be
it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
the Governor of Pennsylvania, the Secretary of Health of the
Commonwealth, the President of the United States, the
Administrator of the United States Drug Enforcement
Administration, the President of the United States Senate, the
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and each
member of Congress from Pennsylvania.
20150HR0373PN1700 - 3 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13