Medical Marijuana

On today’s episode of The Confluence: State Rep. Dan Frankel has renewed calls to expand the state’s Hate Crimes law after criticizing gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano for giving money to Gab, a right-wing social media site where others have posted antisemitic speech; an organization serving unhoused people has found an increasing need in Pittsburgh as pandemic eviction protections have been rolled back; and an investigation into how although marijuana is permitted for medical use, lawmakers have not clarified the protections workers when it comes to using the substance, even on personal time.Today’s guests include: State Rep. Dan Frankel; Dan Palka, administrative director with Allegheny Health Network’s Reaching Out on the Streets (R.O.O.T.S.); and Ed Mahon, investigative reporter with Spotlight PA

Fired workers and frustrated employers are facing off in court battles over Pennsylvania’s vague safeguards for marijuana patients, and those on both sides are asking for a legislative fix.

On today’s episode of The Confluence: Physicians in Pennsylvania can’t advertise their ability to prescribe marijuana, but marijuana certification businesses are making millions of dollars connecting patients to physicians; the State Small Business Credit Initiative Program will soon be distributing $584 million to businesses in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware; and Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s president and CEO is retiring after two decades at the helm. Today’s guests include: Ed Mahon, investigative reporter with Spotlight PA; Steve D’Ettorre, state deputy secretary of technology and innovation; and J. Kevin McMahon, president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.

With millions of dollars at stake, certification businesses buy radio ads, dominate Google searches, and even offer Groupons. But if doctors do the same, they risk their license.

Outgoing director John Collins says prices are a ‘red flag'

The leader of a state agency that failed to clarify rules around addiction treatment and medical marijuana — an action that had serious consequences — continued to deny blame while speaking before state lawmakers this month.

The federal government allows just four companies in the country to sell marijuana for medical research. One of them is located in York County, and in February it completed the process to sell its first harvest to major universities, chemical companies, and other customers.

On today’s episode of The Confluence: Timothy Tomson, a pastor at St. Mary's Ukrainian Orthodox Church in McKees Rocks, shares how his parish is feeling and reacting to Russia’s invasion; and Spotlight PA’s Ed Mahon explains his latest investigation into misleading and possibly dangerous claims some Pennsylvania dispensaries are making about the ability to treat opioid use disorder with cannabis.

On today’s program: Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs Secretary Jen Smith reflects on how the pandemic and end to Gov. Tom Wolf’s opioid disaster declaration has affected the department’s work; Spotlight PA reporter Ed Mahon explains why an investigation into exactly how many people are using medical marijuana to treat opioid addiction in the commonwealth has been stalled by state agencies; and a listener asks why trolley tracks continue to exist on Chestnut Street, as part of our Good Question series.

The Office of Open Records ruled in favor of Spotlight PA and ordered the health department to disclose how many patients are certified for cannabis under each of the state’s qualifying conditions.