Letter to the Editor (Credit: Tony Di Domizio)
Pennsylvania is at a critical point in how to regulate intoxicating, often synthetic, hemp derived products, and with the recent amendment to Senate Bill 49, we’re seeing a meaningful step in the right direction. By creating a centralized Cannabis Control Board and aligning Pennsylvania’s state laws with the new federal law clearly banning intoxicating hemp, lawmakers are beginning to close dangerous loopholes that have allowed intoxicating hemp-derived products to flood the marketplace in vape shops and gas stations with no oversight.
For too long, cannabis products masquerading as hemp have been sold in gas stations, convenience stores, and online, without age restrictions, testing, proper labeling, and with packaging that appeals to children. The state is aware this is unacceptable, and lawmakers are rightfully acknowledging the need to protect the health and safety of the Pennsylvania public by prohibiting these products.
Establishing a dedicated cannabis regulatory body and updating definitions to hemp is important and needed, but it does not solve the problem solely on its own. The next step must be enforcement. We already know these products are widely available across the state. If we are serious about protecting the health and safety of the Pennsylvania public, particularly when it comes to children, then we must ensure that the laws on the books are actively and consistently enforced. That means giving law enforcement the resources, clarity, and authority they need to remove illicit and unregulated hemp products from store shelves in the immediate, not in months or years from now.
This is especially urgent when we consider the real-world consequences of procrastination. Across Pennsylvania, there have been troubling reports of children accidentally consuming intoxicating products that are packaged and marketed in ways that clearly appeal to them – bright colors, familiar shapes, and candy-like formulations. Too often, these incidents are broadly labeled as “cannabis-related,” when in reality, the source may be unregulated hemp-derived products with unknown potency or synthetic ingredients. This not only creates confusion, but it also unfairly stigmatizes Pennsylvania’s highly regulated medical cannabis program, which operates under strict safety, testing, and packaging standards like child resistant packaging and branding that does not appeal to children.
If we truly want to protect the youth, we need to draw a line between regulated cannabis products and the unregulated hemp market that has operated in the shadows. Senate Bill 49 helps establish that line, but it must be backed by real accountability. Retailers who continue to sell illegal products should face meaningful consequences. Products that do not meet safety standards should be removed immediately. And consumers, especially parents, deserve clear, transparent information about what is and is not safe.
Senate Bill 49 shows that Pennsylvania is ready to take the challenges posed by unregulated hemp seriously. Now, we must follow through. By pairing smart policy with strong enforcement, we can protect our communities, safeguard our children, and create a cannabis framework that works for everyone.
Steve Reilly
Head of Government Relations
Insa,
Insa is a vertically-integrated, independent adult-use and medical marijuana company founded in 2013 in Springfield, Massachusetts by Pete Gallagher and Pat Gottschlicht. Insa operates retail stores in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Florida, with extensive wholesale distribution across Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. For more information visit www.insa.com
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