The Republican senator from Pennsylvania who is in favor of marijuana legalization has suggested that the lawmakers put a halt to the reforms within their caucus, and pass legislation to establish a regulatory agency that will oversee medical cannabis as well as hemp and prepare to handle adult-use markets.
A Democratic lawmaker who was the sponsor of a bill that passed the House to legalize pot with state-run shops, but that the Senate rejected this week, is now slamming cannabis industry. He claims that big businesses put their corporate profits before the end to prohibition.
Dan Laughlin, a Republican senator in the Senate has been a long-time supporter of legalizing marijuana and has sponsored reform legislation to establish regulated sales. He said in an op-ed that was published on Friday by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that Pennsylvania should take immediate steps to “be ready to act” when the legalization of cannabis becomes law by creating a Cannabis Control Board.
It is not “if” but rather “when” that Pennsylvania will legalize adult-use marijuana. “When that day arrives, Pennsylvania should not have to scramble to create a regulatory framework from scratch,” he added. “A transparent and efficient framework must be already in place to ensure a well-regulated, safe cannabis industry right from the start.”
Rather than move forward on broad legislation to enact legalization this session—a proposal that could face the same fate at the House-passed bill in the Republican-controlled Senate—Laughlin says lawmakers should pass a bill to create a Cannabis Control Board that could also more immediately take over regulatory control of the existing medical marijuana program that’s currently run by the Department of Health and also oversee the intoxicating hemp product market.
“Pennsylvania must be ready for action once legalization is passed,” said he. The board will regulate adult-use marijuana in a manner that promotes equity, innovation and economic growth and does not stifle industry by bureaucracy.
The idea is based on the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board but should not be an exact copy, he added. It was apparent that he was referring to a House bill proposing state-run shops for cannabis similar to those where alcohol is currently sold. “The central model of alcohol sales is not without its advantages but it also has significant disadvantages.”
A Cannabis Control Board allows the state to set up an agency that is specifically designed for this. The Cannabis Control Board could be responsible for licensing, enforcing compliance, monitoring testing and safety standards and managing tax revenues transparently. It could also act as the central contact point for municipalities, businesses and the general public. This would eliminate confusion and ensure consistency.
According to him, the establishment of a liquor board would mitigate risks such as “delays in licensing, excessively complex rules, and centralized rigid control that have caused problems both within and outside of our state’s system.”
The proactive approach provides everyone with the tools and time to plan, whether it’s law enforcement or local officials to health officials. This allows for clear guidelines on product safety, advertising, packaging, and other aspects of the industry. It allows for public education focused on responsible use and youth prevention. Businesses have time to adopt a clear, fair and consistent system.
It is practical and forward-looking to establish a Cannabis Control Board. The Commonwealth could then act with purpose, develop a system reflecting Pennsylvania values and be better prepared for the smoother, more equitably distributed legalization. This is the time to seize this opportunity. Start planning now.
Laughlin has not directly blamed his Republican caucus but it is apparent that he believes in comprehensive reform but does not see a clear path to success within the GOP Senate. The House Bill passed by a single vote on partisan lines in the Democratic chamber before it was defeated in the Senate Committee that Laughlin heads.
Laughlin announced the creation of a Cannabis Control Board by co-sponsoring a memo in March. He argued that “by consolidating the oversight under a regulatory board we can eliminate inconsistent practices, increase transparency and provide the necessary structure to manage the industry responsibly.”
The Pennsylvania Senate GOP released a statement after the House committee voted on the bill. In the release, the Senator said that “he has repeatedly stated that the Senate will not approve a model of state stores for cannabis adult use.”
“That’s no opinion; it’s the truth,” he declared. “The House moving HB1200 forward and sending the bill to Senate was not a genuine effort to legitimize cannabis. The move was political, a way to try to deflect blame from inaction. I still haven’t received a call to discuss this concept with the House Leadership or Bill Sponsors.
“There are grave challenges that we should and can address immediately,” said he. Our medical marijuana program requires critical reforms. Hemp-derived THC is being openly sold in tobacco and gas stations without regulation or testing. “The continued use of black markets poses serious risks to public health.”
“I am still committed to crafting cannabis legislation that can be passed by the Senate and signed into law for all Pennsylvanians.” That starts with honest dialogue from everyone involved, including House leadership and the governor, to develop a realistic approach–not political theater.”
Dan Frankel is the Democratic chairman of the House Health Committee. He is criticizing both the inaction taken by lawmakers on the legalization issue and the greater corporate industry, who he says is causing the discussion to be hijacked for profit reasons.
Last week in Harrisburg, there was something strange. A Senate Republican committee chair brought up the cannabis legalization bill I introduced with Rep. Rick Krajewski (D)—just to vote it down,” he said in an op-ed for TribLive. It was just a show. The House passed HB 1200 as the basis for any negotiation. Why put on a show? We’ve struck a chord.”
“HB1200 is not following the same model as other states when it comes to legalizing marijuana. “That’s why big cannabis companies worry,” said he. “Make no mistake: the industry would rather keep cannabis illegal in Pennsylvania than see it legalized in a way that doesn’t boost their stock prices–just ask the ‘ResponsiblePA Coalition,’ their audaciously named new industry group. They want to be in control. They want control. “We think Pennsylvania deserves more.”
MEDCAN24 contacted ResponsiblePA to get a response to this statement. However, a spokesperson did not respond immediately.
“Legalization shouldn’t be limited to opening dispensaries. The goal should be to repair the damage that has been done, and build something better. This is what HB1200 achieves. It’s about putting Pennsylvanians first—whether they use cannabis or not,” Frankel said.
“One hundred and two House Democrats have already said loud and clear: this is the kind of legalization Pennsylvania needs — one that prioritizes public health, racial justice, and real economic opportunity. The Senate Republicans’ plan for achieving these goals is something we are willing to consider. Pennsylvania still has time to make it right. We shouldn’t give it to the highest-bidder.”
The governor of Pennsylvania has criticized the GOP-controlled Senate, accusing them of “ignoring” voters’ will after the Senate killed the House-passed marijuana legalization bill.
Gov. Gov.
Shapiro said, “Clearly, people want it,” after including legalization as part of his budget request, for the third year in a row. It’s clear from poll after survey.
Following Tuesday’s Senate committee vote, lawmakers from both chambers who support legalization have been trading criticisms about each other’s roles in the stalled push to end prohibition.
Prior to the Senate panel’s vote this week, Pennsylvania’s Republican attorney general said that while he doesn’t currently support the House-passed marijuana legalization bill, he’s open to changing his mind about the policy change after continuing to review the details.
For what it’s worth, 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.
Governor has repeatedly called for legalization of adult-use marijuana. He has not endorsed a specific state-controlled marijuana model.
Rep. Abby Major (R)—who is sponsoring another forthcoming legalization bill that envisions a traditional private sales model alongside Rep. Emily Kinkead (D)—said during the House floor debate on HB 1200 that she stands opposed to the competing bill, emphasizing that she disagrees with the state-run stores proposal.
To effect change, Democrats will need to work with Republicans who control the Senate. In addition to conflicting viewpoints among pro-legalization lawmakers, this political dynamic could be another barrier to reform.
Senate Majority Speaker Joe Pittman, a Republican from the Senate majority leader said he saw a “path to reform” in gaming regulations. “I am not seeing… unified consensus by the four caucuses as well as the governor that this is the right thing for us. [marijuana legalization] Priority is important.”
Regardless of which direction Pennsylvania lawmakers do—or don’t—go on marijuana legalization this session, a survey released in April 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, Laughlin 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, instead of using the tax money to pay for day-to-day services and projects, a certain portion should be set aside for “a source of sustainable prosperity for future generations.”
Another GOP Pennsylvania senator, Sen. Gene Yaw (R), is backing the push to legalize marijuana in the commonwealth, pointing out that, historically, prohibition “has not turned out well,” noting the country’s experience with alcohol criminalization.
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.”
In polls, there is bipartisan support among voters for legalization, but it has been stalled by the GOP in the legislative branch, in large part due to their 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.
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 cannabis program, which was implemented 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 and 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.
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 also have launched a survey inviting legal marijuana businesses in the United States to share information on their business operations. This will help Pennsylvania better understand the cannabis market as legislators consider adult-use legalization during this legislative session.
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Also, in a video interview released in March, 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 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 pay their taxes and drive into other states.
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.
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