Politics
Pennsylvania’s GOP Senate Majority Leader Throws Cold Water Marijuana Legalization Plan
“I do not see a prevailing view for legalization of recreational marijuana within our caucus as part of the current budget.”
By Ian Karbal, Penn Capital-Star
Another proposal that would legalize recreational cannabis in Pennsylvania was introduced at the state Capitol Thursday, this time by a bipartisan pair of senators.
But the measure from Senator Dan Laughlin (R-Erie) and Democrat Sharif Street (D-Philadelphia) seems unlikely to pass any time soon.
The bill comes as state budget negotiations push nearly two weeks past the June 30 deadline. Republican and Democratic negotiators have struggled to agree on how to curb the state’s budget deficit while funding their parties’ priorities.
Posting on Facebook after the new bill was introduced, Laughlin warned, “We’re at the point where tax increases are being discussed in Harrisburg to balance the budget.” Revenue from a tax on legal cannabis, he said, could provide an alternative solution.
But the leader of his own party in the Senate, Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-Indiana), has already thrown cold water on the proposal.
“Discussions surrounding the state budget continue to progress, and we remain committed to a final agreement, which will help to address the structural deficit facing our commonwealth,” Pittman said in a statement provided to the Capital-Star. “However, I do not see a prevailing view for legalization of recreational marijuana within our caucus as part of the current budget.”
The latest bill would legalize cannabis use for Pennsylvanians age 21 and over, and allow possession of up to 30 grams of flower, five grams of concentrate and 1,000 milligrams of THC contained in marijuana-infused products like edibles. It would also impose a 6 percent sales tax and an 8 percent excise tax on all cannabis products.
Non-violent cannabis convictions would be automatically expunged. Eligible inmates would be released from incarceration.
Recreational cannabis is already legal in 24 states, including five of the six that border Pennsylvania—West Virginia being the exception.
Democrats in Harrisburg have broadly supported recreational marijuana legalization for some time, and Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) has repeatedly called on lawmakers to act. But the idea has struggled to gain traction in the GOP-controlled Senate.
Earlier this year, senators shot down another cannabis bill backed by Democrats that passed the House on partisan lines.
Unlike Laughlin and Street’s measure, it would have seen cannabis sold in state stores, like liquor, which was a nonstarter for Republicans and some Democrats.
Following the bill’s rejection, Pittman called the House’s approach “unserious” and said it “took that issue five steps back.”
The state store model was staunchly opposed by the cannabis lobby, which represents many of Pennsylvania’s medical dispensaries, as well as some of the largest players in the industry nationally.
This story was first published by Penn Capital-Star.
Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.
