Senate Republicans split on a vote to create a cannabis control board in Pennsylvania, and the measure failed 23-27 as most Democrats also voted no.

Currently, Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana program is operated by the Department of Health. The state has no regulations on the commercial industry of hemp (federally legal cannabis that has less than .3% of the intoxicating chemical THC). Adult use cannabis legalization remains a continued policy conversation.

Sen. Dan Laughlin, an Erie Republican, proposed a cannabis control board to let all aspects of the controversial plant be organized through a single government entity for the present and future.

Specifically, Laughlin saw the board as a way to put age restrictions and other rules on intoxicating hemp.

“At the end of the day then, I think its pretty clear that politics means more than children’s safety,” Laughlin said at a press conference following the vote.

The legislation was brought for a final vote today- where six Republicans opposed the measure. A source familiar with the topic said some had concerns that passing the board would lead to full legalization.

Laughlin’s office says the senator is strict that the bill won’t link to legalization framework, but would only oversee existing cannabis programs or products in the state.

The legislation had multiple senate Democrat co-sponsors, enough to outweigh negative votes from Republicans. However, most senate Democrats voted against the bill today after Gov. Josh Shapiro’s office asked the minority party to vote no.

In the past, Shapiro’s administration has proposed the Department of Agriculture as the agency to oversee future legal cannabis programs.

In a follow up vote, the negative vote result on the bill was “reconsidered”, which means it could be brought to the floor again in the future.

If the bill were to pass the Senate, the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus in the House expressed initial support of the legislation as a chance for some criminal justice reforms around cannabis.

Thomas Bobrowicz, a hemp business owner, says the legislature could propose age limits and other restrictions on intoxicating hemp separate from a cannabis control board if public safety concerns persist.