As Pennsylvania Democrats ramp up pressure to Republicans to allow a vote on marijuana legalization in the state Senate, a group of House members have filed a new bill that would prioritize issuing licenses to small, diverse and disadvantaged businesses through the state’s existing medical cannabis program.
The legislation, from Rep. Nathan Davidson (D) and seven cosponsors, would expand the medical marijuana program by adding an additional dispensary permit in each geographic region of the state to a disadvantaged, diverse or small business.
It would also require regulators to publish an annual list of surrendered or revoked medical cannabis business licenses and then accept applications from disadvantaged, diverse or small businesses to re-award those licenses.
A “disadvantaged business” would be defined under the legislation as being owned or controlled by a majority of people, not limited to members of minority groups, who are subject to racial or ethnic prejudice or cultural bias.
A “diverse business” means a disadvantaged business, minority-owned or women-owned business or service-disabled veteran-owned or veteran-owned small business that has been certified by a third party certifying organization.
A “small business” under the bill means an independently owned and operated for-profit business that employs 100 or fewer employees and
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