Criminalizing weed is a waste of resources, Pennsylvania AG says ahead of upcoming election

Through Jelena Martinovic

As the midterms approach, cannabis is often in the spotlight of debate. Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidate Attorney General Josh Shapiro, who previously expressed support for a change in cannabis policy, reiterated his support for marijuana legalization.

“The continued criminalization of adult-use marijuana is a waste of limited law enforcement resources and taxpayer dollars, disproportionately impacts minority communities and does not make our communities safer — which is why I support legalization under key conditions,” Shapiro told Broad and Liberty earlier this week when he was asked if he would support legislation legalizing recreational marijuana.

As part of Broad + Liberty’s Candidate Spotlight series, Shapiro’s opponent Doug Mastriano (R) was asked the same question. However, Mastriano’s campaign has remained silent, despite the gubernatorial nominee previously calling legalizing cannabis a “stupid idea.”

Photo by Baris-Ozer/Getty Images

Meanwhile, Shapiro laid out what legalization of marijuana should encompass and highlighted a criminal component. “The files of individuals convicted of the nonviolent possession of small amounts of marijuana must be erased,” he said.

Second, Shapiro emphasized that the cannabis industry “needs to be responsibly regulated and taxed.” He concluded by saying that attracting business to Pennsylvania is essential to creating “good-paying jobs” and boosting the Commonwealth’s economy.

RELATED: Biden weighs cannabis during meeting with PA Senate nominee Fetterman

“I’m not interested in subsidizing foreign companies so they can make a quick buck on the backs of Pennsylvanians,” Shapiro continued. “If we do that, legalizing marijuana can lead to a fairer criminal justice system and a stronger economy for Pennsylvania.”

Democrats push for legalization of marijuana

Interestingly, as the interim period approaches, the number of Democratic politicians who are vocal in favor of marijuana policy reform is increasing.

Pennsylvania Lt. gov. John Fetterman recently called on President Joe Biden to remove marijuana from a Schedule I drug and work to decriminalize it. Shortly thereafter, the two politicians crossed paths in Pittsburgh and discussed possible changes to the status of cannabis under the Controlled Substances Act before his speech in a union hall on Labor Day.

RELATED: Racism persists in states with criminal sanctions for cannabis possession

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters at a news conference last week that she had “nothing to announce at this time” in response to Fetterman’s request that Biden delay cannabis ahead of his visit to Pittsburgh.

Still, Jean-Pierre emphasized that Biden “believes there are too many people serving unreasonably long sentences for nonviolent drug offenses, a disproportionate number of whom are black and brown.”

This article originally appeared on Benzinga and has been republished with permission.