Pennsylvania’s bipartisan lawmakers have asked their colleagues to support a bill they are drafting to legalize the use of marijuana by adults in Pennsylvania.
In a cosponsorship memo that was circulated on Monday, Reps. Emily Kinkead (D) and Abby Major (R) touted the state’s “robust” medical cannabis program—but pointed out that “all but one of our neighboring states have legalized recreational adult-use cannabis.”
The lawmakers pointed out that Ohio is one of the states where cannabis retail has flourished, with many stores located along their border.
The lawmakers said that it was time to take Pennsylvania in the same direction. “Our proposed legislation establishes strong principles for an adult use market,” according to them. The bill also aims to create a market with a high level of regulation that protects the public from harm, fosters social justice and promotes economic opportunities.
In the memo, it is stated that adult-use legalization would “not only create jobs for up to 30 000 people in our local communities, but create new revenues in our state allowing us the opportunity to reinvest into essential services, such as healthcare, education and infrastructure.”
The bipartisan legislators wrote: “This bill also ends the criminalization of cannabis users in general, especially in communities of colour that are disproportionately affected by arrests related to marijuana, and provides a pathway for these individuals and communities, as well as their communities, to benefit and participate in the legal market.”
The industry can be controlled by legalizing marijuana under this framework, which ensures products are tested to determine their potency, safety and purity. The legalization of marijuana allows for public education and prevention through regulation and responsible marketing. It also ensures that the marketing is not targeted at children and age verification procedures are in place. “This regulation is necessary because we’re seeing synthetic Delta products being sold to children daily without them knowing what they contain.”
Although the text of legislation has not yet been released, the sponsors have described the core principles of their proposal.
According to them, the purpose of this measure is to combat the illicit market, help those who are affected by criminalization, create an inclusive industry, promote job creation and boost agriculture in the state.
This memo states: “This bipartisan law reflects the support from all stakeholders for the legalization of cannabis in Pennsylvania and their input at every level.” Please join us as co-sponsors of this important legislation, while we strive to advance cannabis legalization in Pennsylvania.
Kinkead – the Democratic sponsor – had introduced, with 15 cosponsors in September last year, a bipartisan bill on marijuana legalization. The bill did not progress, though.
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.
The Senator argues that the State should not only use the tax revenue for day-today services and projects but also for the creation of a permanent source of wealth that can last generations.
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.
Even though polls show bipartisan support among voters for legalization, the legislation has stalled repeatedly in the state legislature due to GOP resistance. 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.
In Pennsylvania, however, an independent agency estimates that tax revenues from the sale of adult-use marijuana will be higher than those estimated by Governor Tom Corbett’s office, despite expecting a significantly lower total revenue as a result of cannabis legalization. This is due to differences in views regarding 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.
Florida lawmakers unanimously approve bill to make medical marijuana cards free for military veterans
Brian Shamblen provided the photo.
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