The Pennsylvania government is urging lawmakers to stop stopping legalization, but will it help?
A major point of conflict for lawmakers is whether tax revenues should go to the restorative judiciary or to law enforcement
In late December, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf took to Twitter to start a fire under the state legislature to end the nationwide cannabis ban.
“Pennsylvania residents have spoken and want us to legalize recreational marijuana,” wrote Governor Wolf on his official social media account. But it’s the “how” of the matter that divided Keystone State lawmakers.
Wolf has consistently urged “efforts to restore justice to Pennsylvanians who have been overpunished for marijuana offenses.” And his most recent tweet contained a signal to local residents that he’s not the one holding back the advancement of leisure activity sales. “I’m for it – I just want to make sure we also take action to restore justice to those harmed by the war on drugs,” he added before saying, “Legislators, let’s do this for the PA . “
Pennsylvanians have spoken and want us to legalize recreational marijuana.
I am for it – I just want to make sure we include measures to restore justice to those harmed by the war on drugs.
Legislators, let’s do this for PA. pic.twitter.com/FianC3GN1R
– Governor Tom Wolf (@GovernorTomWolf) December 21, 2021
So what’s the stalemate in Harrisburg?
Lawmakers in PA largely agree that weed should be legal. They just can’t agree on how to structure a leisure market. The biggest disagreement revolves around the sharing of tax revenue that recreational grass will generate.
At the moment there are three separate frameworks for legalization, with six different agents paving the way to the same goal.
First there were individual co-sponsorship memoranda presented by Senator Mike Regan (R), a former U.S. Marshal. While serving in the state’s House of Representatives, Rep. Regan helped develop the state’s medical marijuana program. Regan, now Senator for the state, will work closely with MP Amen Brown (D), who wants to make cannabis reform a reality for all citizens of the state, not just for businesses and consumers. Brown represents Philadelphia and is committed to ensuring that comprehensive cannabis reform addresses the damage drug laws have done in his and other cities.
In September 2021, another pair of state lawmakers – Reps. Jake Wheatley (D) and Dan Frankel (D) – revealed HB 2050. According to Wheatley, HB 2050’s approach to legalization aims to “facilitate direct participation in the cannabis industry by individuals in communities disproportionate to the criminalization of Marijuana are affected ”. , as well as small diversified and disadvantaged businesses that are laying the groundwork for improving social and economic justice for individuals and communities adversely affected by the criminalization of marijuana. “
A highly anticipated bipartisan bill was also officially tabled in October 2021. After months of preparation, Sens. Dan Laughlin (R) and Sharif Street (D) presented an almost 240-page invoice months after the key details were first laid out in February 2021.
But is it possible that all of this intelligence could be better summarized on one bill? Is this divided approach the reason why even bipartisan legalization efforts have stalled on the way to ratification?
Keeping up with the neighbors
Neighboring states like New York and New Jersey are among the pioneers in legalization on the east coast. Both Pennsylvania’s eastern neighbors prioritize access and protection for medical and recreational users as they introduce their adult markets. In fact, New York has gone so far as to make it illegal for most employers to take drug tests for marijuana. In New Jersey, Governor Phil Murphy has already signed three separate bills outlining the state’s legal framework for adult use.
Pennsylvania, on the other hand, has yet to take one final step towards legalizing marijuana, in part because of its Republican-dominated General Assembly.
Should Police Officers Get Cannabis Tax Money?
Sens. Laughlin (R) and Street (D) suggested SB 473 with a focus on safety and social justice. They ensured that the state would lose between $ 400 million and one billion dollars in new tax revenue if the General Assembly failed to do so.
But tax revenues are insufficient for some conservative lawmakers to support the idea of the release, forgiveness and recruitment of former cannabis offenders.
Sen. Street, Rep. Brown and Gov. Wolf everyone wants robust social justice measures to be included in the law from day one. However, right-wing lawmakers are more likely to endorse Sen. Regan’s (R) approach. While Regan wants a law that will send money from legalization to law enforcement agencies, Brown wants to make sure that the money that comes from legalization is used for social programs.
Some hope the inclusion of Sen. Brown will make Sen. Regan’s plan more balanced. Since the two members of the General Assembly come from very different perspectives, they could strike an honest middle ground moving the state towards a cohesive and effective legal cannabis market. But it is also possible that the tax allocation dispute could be a long-term obstacle blocking all three of the proposed approaches.
So what’s the next step for cannabis users in Pennsylvania?
If you live in Pennsylvania you have the right to contact your local representative to remind them why this is such an important topic.
It is exciting to read news about these legislative proposals, but the Laughlin and Street SB 473 has not moved at all since it was referred to the Law and Justice Committee on October 18.
With a Democratic governor and a Republican-dominated General Assembly dominated, the odds of ratifying progressive laws that uphold social justice seem slim. And with Governor Wolf on the way out of his final term, the state could revert to a Republican executive, which could also tarnish chances of legalization. However, there is always the potential for the members of the General Assembly of State to shift on this matter.
With more information from neighboring markets and 420-friendly voter data popping up, the decision to legalize it seems like a no-brainer. But it clearly takes more than a few keen legislators to come up with a bill that will do justice to all citizens of the state.
Fortunately, the Pennsylvanians have at least one governor and six lawmakers currently working on it. The question is: can they find a way to legalize access nationwide while paying fees to the citizens who have been most harmed by the failed war on drugs?
Sarah Gethers
Sarah Gethers is currently an Au Pair in Milan, Italy. Gethers applied for local public office in Harrisburg, PA and worked for the state government. She holds a BA in Corporate Communications from Duquesne University.
View article by Sarah Gethers
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