**Why it matters:** Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro is urging state lawmakers to legalize and regulate recreational marijuana. He argues that the state should catch up with neighboring states that have already taken this step, and that legalization would bring in significant tax revenue and help address social justice issues related to marijuana prohibition.
**What they are saying:** Governor Shapiro called on state lawmakers to pass a bill legalizing marijuana and ensuring responsible regulation and taxation of the industry. His budget proposal includes a 20% tax on recreational marijuana, with an estimated $14.8 million in tax revenue during the first year. He expects the tax revenue to increase to $250 million per year once the regulated industry is established. Shapiro also emphasized the need for restorative justice initiatives to expunge the records of those convicted of possessing small amounts of marijuana.
**The big picture:** Legalizing adult-use cannabis is supported by a majority of Pennsylvania voters, and five out of six neighboring states have already legalized marijuana. The governor’s plan to legalize recreational marijuana has been praised by Green Thumb Industries, a cannabis company with operations in Pennsylvania. The state already has a medical marijuana program in place since 2016, and there are currently 134 licensed dispensaries serving over 1.3 million patients in the state.
**What to watch:** It remains to be seen if the bill to legalize recreational marijuana will receive support in the Pennsylvania Senate. The Senate majority leader has expressed that she will not support legalization until federal cannabis prohibition ends.
**My take:** Governor Shapiro’s push to legalize and regulate recreational marijuana in Pennsylvania aligns with the growing trend towards legalization and the potential economic benefits of the cannabis industry. Additionally, addressing social justice issues through restorative justice initiatives is an important step towards rectifying the disproportionate impact of marijuana prohibition on certain communities. It will be interesting to see if Pennsylvania joins its neighboring states in legalizing adult-use cannabis and how the issue progresses in the state legislature.
