The Trump administration secured the release of an American who spent years in Russian prison for marijuana possession. He will speak at this weekend’s Pennsylvania Cannabis Festival.
The organizers announced that Marc Fogel “will make his first public appearance advocating legalization at the Pennsylvania CannFest 2025 as state reform continues to heat up” in the legislative, they said. They have invited both Gov. Josh Shaprio (D), a supporter of legalization who attends, is also invited.
Prior to his incarceration in Russia, Fogel was a registered Pennsylvania medical cannabis patient—a point repeatedly highlighted by bipartisan congressional lawmakers as they urged executive action to ensure his safe return to the U.S.
After initially resisting, the State Department of former president Joe Biden finally designated Fogel as an “injustly detained” person towards the end his term. After being found guilty of drug smuggling for possession of half an ounce of marijuana, the American teacher received a 14 year sentence.
Fogel had been repeatedly urged to change his diplomatic status, and a group of over 12 members of Congress sent a message to Biden’s administration stating that marijuana access was necessary to relieve his suffering.
Trish J. Johnson, CFO, Zick Productions (which organizes CannFest) said, “Marc’s ordeal serves as a powerful reminder that Pennsylvania’s laws must be modernized.” The leadership of Governor Shapiro is crucial to ensure no one else suffers such injustice when using a drug that’s legal here for medicinal purposes, and in neighboring States for recreational use.
From October 4 to 5, the event will feature “Marc Fogel lounge” where guests can sample the festival’s products.
Zick Productions reported that the event is now in its 11th year. The festival is “a space for cannabis to be accepted as a way to connect, empower, heal, and create a compassionate, more open future.”
“The event brings together an ever-growing movement of small businesses, big brands, and visionaries who are reshaping how we understand health and personal freedom—reminding us that progress requires people standing together for something better,” the company said. We hope that this event will bring these people to Berks County and support the local economy by providing lodging, shopping, and dining.
Reminiscent of Fogel’s experience, Brittney Griner—a U.S. professional basketball player who was previously incarcerated in Russia over possession of marijuana—was also set to attend a cannabis advocacy event earlier this year. But she ultimately pulled out after discovering what she felt was a threatening message in her hotel room.
Pennsylvania’s legislature continues to debate the legalization of adult use. This has been a long-running issue for many years.
Recently, a top aide to the governor said lawmakers should stop introducing new competing marijuana legalization bills and instead focus on building consensus on the issue—but emphasized that any measure that advances needs to contain equity provisions if Shapiro is going to sign it into law.
Sen. Dan Laughlin (R), who serves as chair of the Senate Law and Justice Committee, said last month that the House “needs to pass the language in my [legalization] Bill and send it back to my committee”, after which he could “negotiate” with the Senate or the Governor.
The Democratic-controlled House, however, has already advanced a legalization proposal this session that called for a state-run sales model. The measure was soon quashed by Laughlin’s Senate Committee, as the GOP legislator and others insisted that a traditional licensing approach would be better.
Laughlin separately said recently that supporters are “picking up votes” to enact the reform this session.
Shapiro, for his part, said last month that he won’t “concede” on his plan to legalize adult-use cannabis through the budget.
Meanwhile, the leading Republican candidate in the race to become the next governor of Pennsylvania dodged a question about her stance on legalizing marijuana—saying she doesn’t have a “policy position” on the issue and arguing that the sitting governor’s proposal for reform “way, way overstated” potential revenue.
Stacy Garrity, candidate for Pennsylvania Treasurer (R), cited Ohio as a neighboring state that launched their own market in adult cannabis use this year. “They generated around $115 million of revenue,” Garrity said. And while the populations of both states are relatively comparable, Shapiro’s budget projected $536.5 million in cannabis revenue in the first fiscal year of implementation.
The governor did state, though, that she would “make certain that the money is banked correctly” if Pennsylvania were to implement this reform.
Meanwhile, a Pennsylvania Democratic senator recently said that federal marijuana rescheduling—which Trump said he’d be making a decision on imminently—would be “very influential” in advancing legalization in his state, giving “political cover” to GOP members on the fence about reform.
Sen. Sharif Street (D) discussed the status of cannabis legalization efforts in the Keystone State, including a bipartisan proposal to end prohibition that he filed alongside Laughlin in July.
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Despite the fact that the House passed a bill legalizing cannabis with a model of state-run retail, it is not dead. The measure can be a tool to help advance reform. And Democrats in the chamber recently called on voters to pressure state senators to sign off on the cannabis measure, arguing that it would benefit health and safety and bring in billions of dollars in revenue for the commonwealth.
The reform in the state legislature has been stalled for years due to the GOP’s opposition. But not all Republican members are against the policy change—and one recently said she felt her party should seize the “opportunity to snatch” the issue from Democrats.
Scott Martin, the powerful Appropriations Chair, a Republican who is also opposed to adult use legalization, has said that he will not be moving forward with any bills.
Separately, just days after Laughlin and Street filed their measure, Reps. Emily Kinkead (D) and Abby Major (R)—alongside eight other cosponsors—filed legislation in the House to enact the reform. The pair have previously championed other proposals to end prohibition.
Laughlin and 16 other lawmakers also recently filed a separate bill to create a new regulatory body in the state that would begin overseeing medical cannabis while preparing to eventually handle the adult-use market as well.
Separately, a recent poll found that Pennsylvania voters say they favor a model where cannabis is sold by licensed private businesses rather than through a system of state-run stores.
Meanwhile, a Democratic lawmaker recently filed a bill that seeks to require employers to cover the costs of medical cannabis for qualifying patients receiving workers’ compensation.
Philip Steffan provided the photo.
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