One issue that complicates legalization is the Second Amendment. The Justice Department continues to argue in federal court that medical marijuana patients should be barred from possessing firearms because it is “dangerous to trust regular marijuana users to exercise sound judgment,” a recent filing in Florida showed. Despite the ongoing problems, state leaders have expressed support for legalization. Ward agrees, saying there`s a caveat about not moving traditional operators into the legal system, as in California, where the underground market makes twice as much money as the legal market. Dear LJ; If you had any idea of the lies and other unhealthy thoughts and actions that led to the prohibition of legal cannabis in the early 20th century, you might reconsider your position. I`m 100% with Regan. Non-medical marijuana is not only still illegal in the state, but it is also heavily criminalized. About 13,000 Pennsylvanians were arrested last year for marijuana possession. Among those arrested, black residents were five times more likely to be arrested for property than white residents, according to police records.
In places like Allegheny or Philadelphia Counties, where marijuana is decriminalized, sentences for possession of small amounts are typically between $25 and $100, but people on probation or probation are still at risk of being incarcerated for marijuana-related offences. Governor Tom Wolf supports the legalization of recreational marijuana. “You want #LegalizeIt. I said I would sign it,” Wolf tweeted in August. “But first we need the legislature to have a bill on my desk. “We have the opportunity to be the leading state for cannabis legalization, but we`re really going to have to bring everyone together,” said Kristal Bush, a Philadelphia entrepreneur and founder of Stay Lyfted and Free My Weedman. Before embarking on an entrepreneurial venture in the cannabis industry, she ran Bridging the Gap Transportation, a company that helped her loved ones connect with people in regional prisons via shuttle service — a period in Bush`s life that turned it into an award-winning documentary. Yes. While sentences vary and a juvenile goes through the juvenile justice system, it`s still illegal and can result in some form of probation or community service — depending on which county you`re in (teens are often eligible for diversion programs instead of conditional sentences for marijuana possession in Philadelphia). We spoke with a state policymaker, cannabis advocates, entrepreneurs, and legal experts to understand where Pennsylvania stands when it comes to legalizing adult marijuana. There would be far fewer cases of domestic violence if it were legal for Achol to kill more people every day than Covid n cancer — I think in 2023 the discussions will take place,” said DeVaughn Ward, chief legal officer for the Marijuana Policy Project.
“Whether the political will is there or not, that certainly remains to be discussed, but the conversation about legalization will certainly take place in the 2023 session.” However, a major step toward legalization came on October 6, when President Joe Biden announced his intention to pardon all previous federal offenses for simple possession of marijuana and called on federal authorities to review marijuana planning under federal law. If you have a medical marijuana card, you have access to legal weed in the Commonwealth. In addition, medical marijuana patients must consume their own marijuana. That is, patients are only allowed to purchase and consume purchased marijuana at licensed dispensaries in Pennsylvania. Buying or consuming weed bought elsewhere, such as in New Jersey or the traditional underground market – now called the “legacy market” – is still illegal (and you face the same penalties as non-patients). Senator Mike Regan, R-Dillsburg, was a strong advocate of legalization. “In the simplest case, we have a choice between safe and dangerous; tested or untested; by age or accessible to all; and tax revenues or criminal gains,” Regan, who chairs the Senate Law and Justice Committee, wrote in a commentary. And that`s why I`ve come to my current belief that we need to legalize adult marijuana, also known as cannabis, to protect our communities. On October 13, 2020, Wolf held a press conference in Monroe County to issue a third call for legalization in the state. [32] [33] He was accompanied to the press conference by a local hemp producer and MP Maureen Madden.
[34] [35] In December 2018, during a question-and-answer session with voters on Twitter, the governor said. Wolf tweeted, “I think it`s time for Pennsylvania to take a serious and honest look at the legalization of recreational marijuana.” A month later, Wolf announced a national tour by Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman to gather public comment on the idea.[17] [18] Wolf said, “We could choose to ignore what`s going on in the world and pretend that nothing happened, that nothing has changed, or we can actually open our eyes and ears and say, `Let`s go out and ask, let`s find out.` The 70-stop tour (covering all 67 counties in the state) began in Harrisburg on February 11 and ended in Philadelphia on May 19. [20] [21] Through these social impact brands and hosting live cannabis events, Bush wants policymakers to bring traditional marijuana operators “the people who sold cannabis for decades before it was legal” to the table when it comes to discussing legalization efforts. Like Wolf, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Josh Shapiro supports the legalization of marijuana. However, Republican candidate Doug Mastriano called it a “stupid idea.” Here are five takeaways about marijuana legalization efforts in the state. No. Marijuana is still illegal in Pennsylvania. State Police Director of Communications Lt. Adam Reed told the Inquirer, “Marijuana is a Schedule I controlled substance in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Under current law in Pennsylvania, a person can be charged by any law enforcement agency in Pennsylvania with illegal possession of marijuana. As New York and New Jersey legalize adult-use cannabis and voters in Maryland and Ohio decide whether to legalize marijuana in November, Pennsylvania could be watching how much potential taxpayer money goes out of the state.
16. In September 2020, Wolf, Fetterman and a representative of NORML held a press conference to further urge legislators to act. [29] [30] Wolf stated, “The citizens of New Jersey will vote [on a referendum on cannabis legalization], and if they vote for legalization, we have given up the opportunity to generate the revenue that will certainly cross the New Jersey border. [31] Fetterman added that “40% of our population will be living off legal marijuana within a 30-minute drive or less,” and that Pennsylvania should reap the economic benefits of these users, “not New Jersey.” [31] Whether people buy marijuana legally in New Jersey or illegally on the underground market, it is a crime for them to possess, consume, cultivate, or sell marijuana in Pennsylvania. Only medical marijuana patients can legally purchase and consume cannabis at state-licensed dispensaries. On September 3, 2020, Wolf and Fetterman held a press conference to reiterate their call for lawmakers to pass legislation to legalize cannabis. [25] [26] Wolf said, “Now more than ever, especially in the midst of a pandemic, we desperately need the economic boost that cannabis legalization could bring. [27] Fetterman added, “I would present this as an employment bill like anything else. Legalizing marijuana would create tens of thousands of jobs that would require no subsidies, no kind of advice other than rewriting the law and allowing this business to thrive in Pennsylvania. [27] At the press conference, Senator Sharif Street also spoke out in favour of legalization.
[28] On 28. September 2021, Rep. Jake Wheatley (D) and Rep. Dan Frankel (D) introduced HB2050. Details of the bill were outlined in the co-sponsorship memo distributed to lawmakers. Under the proposal, adults aged 21 and older would be able to purchase and possess up to one ounce of cannabis. People could get a permit to grow their own crops to grow up to three mature and three immature plants. Those convicted of marijuana would have their criminal records automatically expunged and those currently imprisoned for cannabis-related offences legalized under the measure would be released. A 13% excise tax would be levied on marijuana sales, with 15% of revenues going to community reinvestment, 15% to drug treatment programs and 70% to the general state fund.
People from communities most affected by cannabis criminalization, as well as veterans, would be prioritized for commercial licensing. The state ministries of revenue, agriculture and health, as well as the attorney general`s office, would be responsible for overseeing and regulating certain aspects of the program. What keeps weed legal in Pennsylvania? Legalization would require the support of both parties. On January 20, 2015, Constable Ed Quiggle, Jr. of Sunbury signed the Compassionate Medical Cannabis Reform Resolution, which makes it official policy for the City`s 9th District Officer`s Office not to enforce or cooperate with any action prohibiting the possession, cultivation or use of medical cannabis, hemp, prohibit, punish or criminalize cannabinoids and other illegal or experimental drugs. It became the first law enforcement agency in Pennsylvania, and perhaps the first in the United States, to adopt such a policy. [53] [54] [55] “As we move toward legalizing cannabis, we really need to reduce the cost of admission,” Bush said.