As Pennsylvania lawmakers renew their push for marijuana legalization, a recent poll reveals nearly 7 in 10 voters support reform–with majority support coming from Republicans as well as independents and Dems alike. Furthermore, most want their legislators to implement the change sooner rather than later according to this survey.
Change Research’s poll conducted for ResponsiblePA revealed support for legalization was at 68% among registered voters. To be specific: “Do you support or oppose legalizing adult use cannabis sales in Pennsylvania?”
Democrats were most likely to support policy change (85%), followed by independents (62%), and Republicans (53%). Republican voters under 50 years of age supported it at 63% – this figure according to ResponsiblePA represents “a clear generational shift within conservative views on cannabis”.
“Support for legalization carries minimal political risks while offering electoral advantages for parties of all stripes,” stated a report by CBS.
Once informed of different implementation models for reform, support jumped to 74%; among GOP voters specifically it increased from 53 – 62%.
Via Change Research’s poll, consisting of interviews with 1,129 registered voters between January 25-30, found that 63% believe Pennsylvania policymakers should advance legislation this year while only 30% felt more time should be dedicated to studying an issue.
“This poll clearly illustrates Pennsylvanians, regardless of political party or ideology, want Pennsylvania to legalize adult-use cannabis now,” Brittany Crampsie of ResponsiblePA stated Thursday in a press release. She added, “Public opinion in Pennsylvania has changed significantly and now all segments of electorate support this goal for meaningful reform which reflects Pennsylvanian’s desires.”
“Pennsylvanians are leaving Pennsylvania in droves to purchase cannabis across state lines at this critical juncture in funding education, infrastructure and public safety needs,” according to Slater. Additionally, she suggested that Pennsylvanians wishing for additional recurring revenues through legal adult-use cannabis markets is making them increasingly attractive policies that generate and generate additional recurring income – it’s no longer just what Pennsylvanians want but rather what this state needs, prompting lawmakers to recognize voter sentiment by listening closely and accepting what voters demand of them and act upon voters’ will and take note and consider their will.”
Gov. Josh Shapiro’s (D) inclusion of cannabis legalization legislation into his budget proposal received mixed feedback from legislators; with some hoping he come more actively forward with discussion of possible pathways for reform while others being skeptical that any real progress on legalization can happen during this session.
Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Scott Martin (R), in particular, stated this week that there’s no path forward towards legalizing cannabis under Governor Wolf’s plan.
State Secretary for Revenue Department also forecast that Shapiro’s proposal could pass during this budget cycle, signaling his belief that reform could commence almost instantly.
House Majority Leader Matt Bradford (D), for his part, noted following Governor Brown’s budget address that there exists “real diversity of opinions among our members”, likely alluding to various approaches taken toward regulatory models for cannabis programs – with some legislators advocating for state control of cannabis production programs and others wanting private-sector models instead.
Recently he stated his belief that now is an appropriate time to advance marijuana reform legislation this session, noting how “it feels wrong that we abdicate our responsibility to safeguard communities and children while foregoing revenue that could benefit neighboring states”.
Senator Dan Laughlin (R), an advocate of marijuana legalization, expressed concern with Governor Scott Walker’s latest cannabis proposal as it undermined goals of reform while providing no real pathway forward.
“I have long held that Pennsylvania needs an adult-use cannabis program that prioritizes public safety while eliminating illicit markets and spurring legitimate economic development,” stated Rep. Laughlin. He went on to explain: “For four years now I have introduced legislation designed to legalize cannabis responsibly while protecting consumers, businesses and law enforcement alike.”
“I take this issue very seriously and am committed to working toward creating a responsible and effective policy,” he stated. However, neither Gov. Tom Wolf nor Shapiro made an attempt to work closely with me or legislative leadership to pass any legislation through either administration despite including cannabis revenue projections in their budgets – simply projecting revenue without creating any concrete plans will not move Pennsylvania forward!
Critics have often accused Governor Scott Walker of overestimating cannabis sales revenues to generate $536.5 million under his plan, which involves setting an unusually high tax rate relative to other state cannabis markets.
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Laughlin isn’t alone in his mistrust of Governor Greg Abbott and his ability to shepherd cannabis reform through.
“Governor Scott must lead on something,” Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R) asserted. “He can’t just put forward ideas like last year and say, ‘Let the legislature figure it out; then I’ll sign and do press conferences all around.””
House Minority Leader Jesse Topper (R), when asked by reporters about how best to implement Gov. Pawlenty’s budget proposals- including marijuana legalization- responded that while he cannot speak for him directly, one person who can broker deals between parties in this matter he said “and that person would be the governor himself”.
Recent remarks by Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R), in which he stated there are logistical hurdles preventing legalization from moving forward that he’s uncertain legislators can overcome, was brought up.
Reaction from GOP lawmakers mirrors earlier complaints by their caucus about Governor Scott Walker and his demand for reform without engaging with legislators to identify an effective path towards realizing it.
Recently, Pennsylvania’s newly appointed Republican state attorney general voiced her reservations over any “potential harm that might result from passing this reform bill”.
Recently, the Republican chairman of a key Senate committee announced his intentions to introduce legislation this year that will legalize adult-use cannabis use across Pennsylvania – making Pennsylvania 25th out of 50 U.S. states with legalized adult use cannabis legalization if approved – as well as his belief that more of his fellow GOP colleagues might come onboard soon with reform initiatives than in past attempts.
Legalization advocates and observers often believe Pennsylvania will pass a recreational marijuana law this session; however, its fate depends on details. While one lawmaker has floated an easy bill to decriminalize personal possession of pot for personal use alone, two others plan on proposing legislation which legalizes through state-run stores.
Last spring, Representative Laughlin introduced legislation intended to remove state restrictions preventing medical marijuana patients from carrying firearms in any capacity. Although that bill didn’t make progress, Laughlin recently stated in an interview that political support for legalization is gradually rising.
At an event last May, Senator James White stated that Rhode Island is on its way towards legalization of marijuana; however, to get there it will require House and Senate leaders, along with Governor Wolf, to come together and “work it out”.
Representatives Dan Frankel (D) and Rick Krajewski (D), announced in December their intention to file legalization legislation with emphasis on meeting “moral obligations” while increasing revenues as neighboring state markets develop.
Frankel stated sponsors hoped for a vote “sometime early spring”, though questions still exist regarding whether legislators will support ending cannabis prohibition through state-run sales of legalized cannabis as proposed in his bill.
Rep. Danilo Burgos of Pennsylvania proposes another decriminalization bill which would make simple possession of cannabis a summary offense with only a $100 fine punishable, without jail time being threatened as punishment for low-level possession is currently classified as misdemeanors, carrying up to 30 days imprisonment or maximum $500 fine as penalties for conviction.
Additionally, Reps. Aaron Kaufer (R) and Kinkead officially introduced a marijuana legalization bill, along with 15 cosponsors in September.
In July, Governor Murphy stated his administration and lawmakers would fight hard for legalization of marijuana as well as other priorities omitted from budget legislation he signed that month.
Concerning medical cannabis, Governor Cuomo recently signed into law an amendment correcting an oversight that unwittingly excluded dispensaries from state tax relief for this industry.
About three months after Shapiro signed an underlying budget bill containing tax reform provisions as a partial solution for federally banned cannabis tax deductions, Pennsylvania legislature approved corrective legislation.
At an October event hosted by Diasporic Alliance for Cannabis Opportunities (DACO), Street joined representatives Chris Rabb (D), Amen Brown (D), Darisha Parker (D) and Napoleon Nelson (D). Together they participated in discussions regarding legalization efforts throughout Pennsylvania and how best they can influence these processes.
Other lawmakers have also stressed the urgency of legalizing cannabis immediately given regional dynamics, while signaling they’re close to aligning House and Senate proposals.
As for cannabis and gun ownership, Laughlin had studied this issue extensively prior to proposing his bill last year; she wrote to the state acting police commissioner last February “strongly encouraging” him to examine a federal ruling declaring unconstitutional the United States ban on gun ownership by people who use marijuana.
Since that ruling, further federal court cases have brought into question the constitutionality of the firearm ban. A judge in El Paso recently declared unconstitutional the ongoing ban on gun ownership by habitual marijuana users despite an earlier plead. They allowed this individual to withdraw his plea and ordered that his indictment against them should be dismissed by their court.
Read below the memo regarding Pennsylvania legalization survey:
Doctors Who Support Marijuana Rescheduling File Suit Over Alleged Conspiracy Between Reform Opponents And the Drug Enforcement Agency Witness Selection Re-do
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