A Democratic legislator says the Pennsylvania Legislature is “substantially” closer to reaching an agreement on legalizing marijuana. An initial vote on bipartisan cannabis reform legislation could be held as soon as this month.
The Philadelphia Citizen published an interview on Wednesday with Rep. Emily Kinkead, who is the sponsor of adult-use marijuana legislation. She spoke about the state of negotiations in this area.
Kinkead stated that “we are getting closer to the point where we will be able to have an open conversation with everyone and bring this issue into the light.”
“We’re substantially closer to passing a cannabis bill than we were even six months or a full year ago,” said the congresswoman, who added that it is possible for her marijuana bill to pass a House panel within weeks. The reality is, if this bill passes through the House committee in a few weeks everyone will be slightly disappointed.
The lawmaker also said that discussions around cannabis reform might show divides within the legislature, where GOP resistance has stalled past legalization proposals, but even those who’ve voiced opposition to various marijuana measures aren’t “saying ‘no’ to the idea [of legalization] In and of themselves”
She added, “It’s great that so many people have talked about it and even made negative comments.” “They’re saying the proposal isn’t what they want it to be, but they’re not saying ‘no’ in any of it.”
She added, “We need to ensure that these shops are realistically able to open.” She added, “We have to also make sure people who were harmed because of the criminalization and prohibition of cannabis will be able to access the market in order to reap the benefits from its legalization.”
In the meantime, a Republican Pennsylvania Senate is calling for a “legacy” state fund that will use the tax revenue generated by adult-use pot sales and casino gaming to invest long-term in the Commonwealth’s economy.
Leadership in the legislative body has sent a mixed message about how much support there is for legalization. Gov. Josh Shapiro, (D), also included this policy change in the latest budget request.
Last week, Pennsylvania House Speaker Joanna McClinton (D) 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.”
The reform is stalled in part because of GOP opposition. Polls show that legalization has bipartisan support among voters. 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 cannabis program, adopted nearly a decade earlier, has now been sent to the Senate. Lawmakers say it is needed to improve the testing compliance, the product audits, the lab inspections, as well as other aspects of this industry.
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.
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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,” 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.
Meanwhile, a new 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.
Pennsylvania Governor to Include Marijuana Legalization in Budget but Top Republican Senator is Still Skeptical
Philip Steffan provided the photo.
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