This week, Representatives in Harrisburg voted for more transparency in lab testing for the state’s medical marijuana program.

Across the United States, states with medical marijuana programs often require lab testing before products can be labeled, put on shelves, and prescribed. However, recent research and investigations have shown these testing facilities can go corrupt.

“The very labs meant to ensure safety can be the problem,” Rep. Dan Frankel (D-Allegheny) said, the Democrat Chair for the House Health Committee.

In a co-sponsorship memo, Frankel said some labs have been caught turning a blind eye to mold, metals and pesticide contamination— or falsely reporting a higher THC level.

“A medical marijuana business is basically finding a compliant testing laboratory that's going to give them a clean bill of health,” Frankel said.

While these issues have been confirmed in other states, Pennsylvania lacks the authority to investigative or confirm any of those issues in our own borders. The Department of Health oversees the whole medical marijuana program; but right now, they have little authority to audit and report on lab results.

Frankel sponsored House Bill 33 to change that status quo.

“We know that they have the resources to do this. They just need the authority,” Frankel said.

He said the legislation has received support from many medical marijuana companies as well.

“They want to make sure that everybody is playing by the same rules,” Frankel said.

The bill passed in the House on Monday with broad bipartisan support—194 in favor with only 8 opposed.

“Pennsylvania's putting its stamp of approval on a medical product,” Rep. Kathy Rapp (R-Warren) said, Republican Chair of the House Health Committee. "We need to make sure that the product is safe.”

Rapp says if signed into law, better lab testing could lead to better data in a controversial policy area.

“I think there needs to be more research,” Rapp said, "but the lab testing, I think might drive that for the industry."

The bill was sent to the Law & Justice Committee in the Senate, chaired by the pro-cannabis Sen. Dan Laughlin (R-Erie). Republican Senators at large remain cautious on anything dealing with cannabis.