Key Pennsylvania lawmakers are at odds on the path forward for marijuana legalization—while a top Republican senator is dismissing the idea that the reform is achievable at all this session.
Legalization advocates are divided on whether Pennsylvania should adopt a new regulatory model for cannabis, such as the one proposed by House Health Committee chair Dan Frankel.
Frankel—who released a cosponsorship memo for his state-run marijuana proposal late last year alongside Rep. Rick Krajewski (D)—said in an interview with New Castle News that “this will be the bill that we will see,” adding that he’s worked “hand-in-hand” with Democratic leadership.
It is not intended that the measure would be based solely on a government-run system. Instead, a hybrid model will incorporate private businesses in to the cannabis supply chain. The sponsors of the separate bipartisan bill on legalization are opposed to the idea of the state controlling adult-use marijuana.
Abby Major told Axios, “There is zero support for the state store model within the Republican caucus.” Frankel’s remarks were not in line with Major’s opinion, but she still believes that “we have never been closer to legalizing marijuana” than we are now.
Rep. Emily Kinkead, the Democratic leader who sponsored the bill for legalization alongside Major, responded more diplomatically to the current situation, stating that, “we must have all options available.”
The bill that is being presented now will not be the final one. She added that “we need to start those conversations as soon as possible.” Major and she will have to make a decision in early May.
Even though Democrats have control of the House, Governor’s Office and Senate, they still must reach an agreement with Republicans to bring about change. In addition to conflicting viewpoints among pro-legalization lawmakers, this political dynamic could be another barrier to reform.
Senate Majority leader Joe Pittman said that he does not see a consensus among the four caucuses, the Governor and themselves on a separate reform of gaming. [marijuana legalization] “Priority should be given to this.”
Regardless of which direction Pennsylvania lawmakers do—or don’t—go on marijuana legalization session, a survey released last week shows a majority of adults in the state support the reform—and opposition to the policy change has fallen by nearly 50 percent over the last decade.
Kinkead has made the case in another recent interview that legalizing cannabis in Pennsylvania will help the state mitigate public health and safety concerns associated with the illicit market, including the fact that unregulated products can be laced with fentanyl.
The lawmaker previously introduced a separate bipartisan marijuana legalization bill, alongside 15 other cosponsors, last September. However, it did not move forward.
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 said that a large portion of the tax money should be allocated to a fund that will “provide sustainable prosperity for future generations” in lieu of using it to pay for 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 every time it comes up in the legislative chamber, in part because of 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.
Krajewski who plans to submit legalization legislation to Frankel in this session also said recently that the policy will provide “more responsible use” of cannabis compared to current status which has adults buying illicitly or travelling across state borders to obtain regulated products.
Separately in March, 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.
Pennsylvania officials launched an online survey asking legal marijuana companies across the nation to submit information on the operations of their businesses. The aim is to better help Pennsylvania understand the cannabis business as it considers adult use legalization in this session.
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In a March video interview, the Governor also stated that his state was “losing” out to other states that had already legalized adult use, and that he maintained a policy which enriched the illegal market.
I think this is a matter of liberty and freedom. He said that if people want to smoke they should have the option to do it in a way that is safe and legal. “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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Side Pocket Images. Image courtesy Chris Wallis.
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