Ohio is the latest state in the nation to legalize marijuana. The neighboring Pennsylvania has a renewed urgency to adopt reforms.
Pennsylvania has now been surrounded by more states that have legalized marijuana. Five of the six states bordering Pennsylvania, namely Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and New York, have all ended prohibition. Residents now have a wide range of options for purchasing cannabis from other states.
Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat who ran for office in Pennsylvania on the legalization issue, has been working with bipartisans to move this issue forward. A recent House subcommittee was formed to hold meetings to inform future legislation. The reform in Pennsylvania has been stalled for years. The legislature is divided, with Democrats in control of the House and Republicans in the Senate.
Ohio’s decision to legalize marijuana on the ballot Tuesday may help grease the wheels. The governor’s office, as well as a senator who has been a strong advocate for legalization, say that it is time to move forward.
Manuel Bonder is a spokesperson for Governor Tom Corbett. He told PennLive, “Ohio is another reminder that this is something that we should do in Pennsylvania.” The governor wants legislation that considers decriminalization and economic opportunities as well as law enforcement perspectives, public safety, and the perspective of the state.
Sen. Sharif Street, who is co-sponsoring a bill to legalize marijuana with Sen. Dan Laughlin this session, said he was “cautiously hopeful” that Pennsylvania would get the job done by 2024.
“Now, almost every area of Pennsylvania is near an area where recreational adult use of cannabis is already legal,” said. “I think this will be convincing because it shows that we are not increasing accessibility. “We are doing this to increase the revenue potential and to allow Pennsylvania businesses to participate in.”
Laughlin said he knew there was private support for legalization in his caucus but that “they are still afraid to support because they believe it will harm them politically.” He added, “I do not know how long Pennsylvania can ignore what I think is obvious.”
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The chances of legalization in Pennsylvania increased this session , thanks to a narrow Democratic majority and the support of the Governor who had proposed legalizing and taxing adult-use marijuana in his budget request for 2023-2024. The question remains as to how the GOP-controlled Senate would respond if the other chamber presented a reform bill.
Last week, the House Health Subcommittee on Health Care had its first meeting to start charting a course forward. Members are now considering various options including creating a regulatory model run by the state.
Dan Frankel, a Democrat who is the chair of the full Health Committee, has sponsored cannabis legalization legislation in previous years and circulated an earlier co-sponsorship memorandum previewing upcoming plans to introduce another reform bill this session.
Frankel, speaking to PennLive, said: “As Pennsylvania enters this conversation and develops a proposal for adults use, [Ohio’s vote to legalize] gives us more momentum to do something.” “So, we should join in the celebration because Pennsylvanians will access it anyhow.”
Rep. Kathy Rapp, the ranking GOP member on the Health Committee is one of those who are still opposed to legalization. She told PennLive, “Ohio’s vote ending prohibition does not sway my opinion.”
She said, “This is bad for Pennsylvanians regardless of revenue because rehabbing mental issues especially with our youth in relation to marijuana can be a downside.” We cannot protect our children, or our communities from the criminal activities of the marijuana industry. “We don’t have sufficient law enforcement.”
The Senate Law and Justice Committee conducted a series hearings last year on marijuana legalization. These hearings were intended to inform the legislation being drafted by the Republican Chairman of the committee, Sen. Mike Regan.
He said, “I believe states are tired of funding “Evil, Incorporated”, which is the drug cartels. They realize that billions in potential revenue dollars leave their state. Their residents are exposed to a potentially toxic, unsafe product that is not regulated.
House members have filed separate bills that would legalize the sale of marijuana through state-run shops, and provide permits to farmers and small agricultural businesses to grow cannabis after adult-use sales become legal.
Last month, the House passed a massive tax reform bill that contains language that provides state-level relief for medical marijuana businesses, as they continue struggling under federal financial barriers. Republicans, who normally support tax cuts, were outraged by the reform. They viewed it as a Democratic giveaway of money to the cannabis industry.
The Senate passed a measure in September that would allow licensed medical marijuana grower/processors to directly sell cannabis products to patients. On Monday , the House Health Committee advanced the bill.
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At a conference held last month, black lawmakers discussed separately the need to make equity considerations the core of any marijuana legalization plans.
Laughlin also wrote a letter in February to the state’s law enforcement, urging them to take action to protect the gun rights of cannabis users and medical marijuana patients in light of a recent federal court ruling.
Advocates see a path to legalizing marijuana sales with Democrats in control of Virginia’s legislature
The post Pennsylvania Governor’s Office: Ohio Marijuana Legalization is ‘Another reminder’ of the need to reform as lawmakers tout ‘Momentum’ first appeared on Marijuana Moment.
