Senators from both parties in Pennsylvania have introduced a bill that would legalize marijuana within the state.
Sens. Sens.
In a press statement, Laughlin stated that “Legalized use of adult marijuana is supported an overwhelming majority in Pennsylvania and this legislation achieves that while also ensuring social equity and safety.”
He said: “With New Jersey and New York, our neighboring states, implementing adult-use marijuana, we have an obligation to Pennsylvania taxpayers. We must legalize adult-use cannabis to avoid missing out on hundreds and millions of dollars in new tax revenue as well as thousands of jobs.”
The two senators had previously sponsored a bill for legalization that was never enacted in the last session. However, they claim that their newly submitted proposal is a significant improvement and that they are hoping to promote.
Street stated. “We have an opportunity to correct decades’ worth of mass incarceration and disproportionate enforcement of marginalized communities. We can also correct the criminalization and perpetuation of violence that has resulted from the failed drug war.”
He added that legalizing adult cannabis use would help fund education more equitably, reduce property taxes and meet a wide range of community needs in Pennsylvania.
What would SB 846 accomplish?
Adults over 21 can purchase, possess and give up to 30 grams cannabis.
The law would allow patients with medical cannabis to grow five plants at home for their own therapeutic purposes, but consumers of adult-use cannabis would not be able to do so.
Cannabis products sold by retailers will be subject to a sales tax of eight percent.
The revenue from the tax would be deposited in a Cannabis Regulation Fund, which is under the control of state treasury. Tax dollars will cover administrative costs, and then be distributed between municipalities that allow cannabis business to operate within their jurisdiction and the general fund of the state to “provide economic assistance to this Commonwealth.”
According to the press release, marketing that targets children would be prohibited. “Workplace requirements regarding marijuana usage for all those who operate in good faith” would also be required.
Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts will work with the police to identify people who have prior cannabis convictions, and facilitate automatic expulsion.
Social and economic equity licenses would be available to people who have been disproportionately affected by criminalization, and also meet the income requirements.
The measure prioritizes public safety by giving law enforcement authorities the power to “adjudicate impaired driving” and “eradicate the illicit market”.
The federal law prohibits marijuana users from owning or buying firearms. However, this bill protects state gun rights against being taken away.
Parents or guardians cannot be held responsible for the adverse custody of their children solely because they possess or use marijuana.
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In a memo requesting co-sponsorship from their colleagues, the Senators highlighted that polling showed adult use legalization was “supported by two thirds of Pennsylvanians, and has majority support within rural, suburban and urban legislative districts.”
The state is expected to receive between $400 and $1 billion in taxes from legalization.
In May, Pennsylvania House legislators filed separate bills to allow marijuana sales in state-run stores, and to permit farmers and small agricultural businesses to grow cannabis after adult-use sales become legal.
Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat from Massachusetts, supports cannabis reform. He proposed in March to tax and legalize adult-use marijuana.
After the election of last year, Democrats gained control of the House. Republicans still control the Senate but some Republicans, like Laughlin, and Sen. Mike Regan, have backed reform.
In February, Laughlin sent a similar letter to the state’s law enforcement officials, urging them to take action to safeguard gun rights of cannabis consumers and medical marijuana patients in light of a recent federal court ruling.
Street, the sponsor of the newly-filed legalization bill surprised some advocates recently when he joined other senators to urge a federal court to not authorize an overdose prevention center site for Philadelphia while supporting a proposed ban on harm reduction centers in the state.
German Top Officials Reveal Draft Marijuana Legalization Bill
Photo by Brian Shamblen.
The original post Pennsylvania Senators unveil new marijuana legalization bill first appeared on Marijuana Moment.
