A Democratic legislator behind an upcoming reform bill claims that legalizing marijuana will allow Pennsylvania to mitigate the public safety and health concerns related to the illicit market. This includes the possibility of unregulated products being laced with toxic substances like fentanyl.
The project will provide an important revenue source and generate tens thousands of jobs.
Kinkead, who spoke to WHTM-TV in an exclusive interview on Sunday about her proposal almost a week ago after she and Abby Major circulated a memo asking for co-sponsorship of their cannabis legalization bill that will be filed soon.
“Everybody is recognizing that legalizing cannabis is not an ‘if’ question anymore. It’s a ‘when’ and a ‘how,'” she said.
“We are seeing more and more drugs on the illicit market—not just cannabis or not just opioids—that are laced with fentanyl and other drugs that are not what people think that they are buying,” she said. Legalizing cannabis will allow us to be able to inform people of what they’re buying, and they can trust that.
The sponsors’ memorandum says that while the actual text hasn’t been published, it is designed to combat the illegal marketplace, offer relief for people who have been affected by criminalization and create an industry inclusive of all, as well as support the creation of jobs and boost the agriculture economy in the state.
Kinkead had introduced, with 15 co-sponsors in September last year, a bipartisan bill on marijuana legalization. However, it did not move forward. She stated that the latest revision “includes some updated from stakeholders” without revealing any details.
She said, “We must find new revenue sources.” said. “This legalization could create upwards of 30,000 jobs—and good, family-sustaining jobs.”
Kinkead stated that the sponsors at this time are trying “to make sure we have all the information we need to be able to talk seriously about legalizing cannabis in Pennsylvania.”
Despite the bipartisan nature of the measure, it remains to be seen whether the legislature will actually move forward with any proposal to enact legalization—including one put forward by Gov. Josh Shapiro (D)—this session.
Meanwhile, a Republican Pennsylvania senator recently called for the creation of a state “legacy” fund, using tax revenue from adult-use marijuana sales and gaming to make long-term investments in the Commonwealth’s economy.
Senator Zhang argues that state tax dollars should be used to create a “sustainable source of prosperity” that will last for many generations, rather than being spent on day-to-day services and projects.
Pennsylvania House Speaker Joanna McClinton (D) recently said that Democrats are ready to pass a marijuana legalization bill this session, but that the party “will need Republican support” to get the job done—adding that it will be a “heavy lift.”
Another Democratic lawmaker said legislature is “substantially closer” to reaching a deal on marijuana legalization, and an initial vote on a bipartisan cannabis reform bill could come as early as this month.
The reform is stalled, in part, because of GOP 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.
Rep. Rick Krajewski (D)—who announced in December his intent to file a legalization measure alongside House Health Committee Chair Dan Frankel (D)—also recently said the policy would provide for “more responsible usage” of cannabis, compared to the status quo that’s left adults either buying from the illicit market or traveling across state lines to get regulated products.
Separately last month, the Pennsylvania House approved a bill sponsored by Frankel that’s meant to strengthen safety standards and oversight of the state’s medical marijuana program as lawmakers work to advance adult-use legalization.
Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana program has been in place for nearly 10 years. However, legislators say that the bill, now headed to the Senate to be voted on, will improve compliance with testing, audits of products, and laboratory inspections amongst other industry aspects.
Meanwhile, Pennsylvania Democratic lawmakers recently introduced a bill that would allow farmers and other small agriculture operators to sell marijuana they cultivate to existing growers and and processors if the state moves to legalize adult-use cannabis.
Separately, an independent Pennsylvania agency is projecting more tax dollars to be generated from adult-use marijuana sales compared to what the governor’s office has estimated, although it expects significantly less overall revenue from cannabis legalization due to differing views on licensing fees.
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Also, in a video interview released last month, the governor emphasized that the state is “losing out” to others that have already enacted adult-use legalization, while maintaining a policy that’s enriched the illicit market.
“I believe it is an issue of freedom, and I support that.” “I mean, people should be allowed to smoke in a legal and safe way if they want to,” said he. “We should shut down the black market—and, by the way, every state around us is doing it. Pennsylvanians drive to other states, and pay taxes there.
Pennsylvania’s Republican attorney general recently said he wants to be a “voice for potential public safety risks” of enacting the governor’s proposal—though he said his office would be ready to enforce the new law if lawmakers did vote to pass it.
The state’s agriculture secretary separately told lawmakers that he’s fully confident that his department is in a “really good” position to oversee an adult-use marijuana program if lawmakers act.
Meanwhile, in February, top Pennsylvania police and health officials told lawmakers they are prepared to implement marijuana legalization if the legislature moves forward with the reform—and that they stand ready to work together as the details of legislation to achieve it are crafted.
Amid the growing calls for marijuana legalization in Pennsylvania, a GOP state senator said prohibition has been a “disaster,” and a regulated sales model for cannabis—similar to how alcohol and tobacco are handled—could serve as an effective alternative.
A Republican Pennsylvania senator also recently defended the push to legalize and regulate marijuana, calling it “the most conservative stance” on the issue.
Separately, a recent poll shows 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 as some legislators have promoted.
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Mike Latimer provided the photo.
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