Pennsylvania Senators Amend Cannabis Regulation Bill with New Provisions to Ban Most Hemp THC Products
A Pennsylvania Senate committee has amended a cannabis regulation bill (Senate Bill 49) to add provisions that would effectively ban the sale of most intoxicating hemp THC products. The move is designed to align state law with a pending federal policy change set to take effect in November.
Sen. Dan Laughlin (R), chair of the Senate Law and Justice Committee, announced the revision on Monday. The amended bill, which passed the committee with a 10-1 vote, seeks to create a Cannabis Control Board (CCB) to oversee both the state’s medical cannabis program and the now-fragmented hemp market.
Closing the "Hemp Loophole"
The amendment targets products like Delta-8, Delta-10, and THCA, which have proliferated under "gray areas" in the 2018 Farm Bill. Laughlin noted that the current system has struggled to keep pace with the rapidly evolving market, allowing intoxicating products to reach store shelves with little oversight.
“Amending Senate Bill 49 to mirror these federal changes helps close the same loopholes that allowed intoxicating hemp products to flood the marketplace,” Laughlin said. “A cannabis control board would provide clear oversight... and give law enforcement the tools they need to get illegal and potentially harmful products off store shelves.”
Preparing for Adult-Use
While SB 49 does not legalize adult-use marijuana on its own, it establishes the regulatory framework—the CCB—that would eventually manage a recreational market if it is enacted. The bill would transfer control of the Medical Marijuana Program from the Department of Health to the new CCB to ensure "continuity, efficiency, and improved oversight."
Aligning with Federal Standards
The state-level push mirrors a significant pivot in federal law under a bill signed by President Donald Trump last year. Starting later this year:
Total THC Limit: The 0.3% THC limit will apply to total THC (including Delta-8 and other isomers), rather than just Delta-9.
Synthetic Ban: Cannabinoids that are synthesized or manufactured outside of the plant will be prohibited.
Milligram Caps: Legal hemp products will be limited to 0.4 milligrams of total THC per container.
The Political Landscape
This regulatory adjustment comes as Governor Josh Shapiro (D) pushes for full adult-use legalization in his latest budget. According to the Independent Fiscal Office, legalization could bring in up to $432 million in annual tax revenue by 2030. However, while a majority of Pennsylvania voters favor legalization, the reform remains stalled in the GOP-controlled Senate.
Laughlin, who also sponsors bipartisan legalization legislation, believes that establishing the CCB now is a vital first step to ensure Pennsylvania is "ready to act" when prohibition finally ends.
