Gov. Tom Wolf and Lt. Gov. John Fetterman called on the legislature to take up the legalization of adult-use cannabis to help with the state’s economic recovery amid COVID-19. Legalization, they said, “would create more outlets for important restorative justice programs in the commonwealth.”
“Now more than ever, we see a desperate need for the economic boost cannabis legalization can provide. So today I am proposing we legalize adult-use cannabis here in Pennsylvania with a portion of the revenue going toward existing small business grants,” said Wolf. “Half of these grants would be earmarked for historically disadvantaged businesses, many of which have had difficulties attaining other assistance because of systemic issues.
“The other portion of the revenue will go toward restorative justice programs that give priority to repairing the harm done to crime victims and communities as a result of cannabis criminalization.”
Fetterman elaborated on the need for legislative action to provide for much-needed restorative justice.
“It has been nearly a year since Governor Wolf and I urged the legislature to act on immediate decriminalization and start the discussion about legalization,” said Fetterman. “Now more than ever, we must stop prosecuting people for doing something that most Pennsylvanians don’t even think should be illegal.”
The governor also mentioned the economic benefits states with legal adult-use cannabis have realized. There are now 11 states, plus the District of Columbia, with legalized cannabis.
“Some states that have legalized adult-use cannabis have received millions in additional revenue,” said Wolf. “In Washington state, adult-use cannabis brought in $319 million in tax revenue in 2018. In Colorado, that figure topped $266 million, and provided the city of Aurora with $900,000 to open a space for people experiencing homelessness. And these figures don’t count the secondary economic benefits of new businesses opening.”
The governor, since standing up a legalized adult-use cannabis program will take time, called on the legislature to take immediate action to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana, changing the charge from a misdemeanor of the third degree, which can result in jail time, to a summary offense, which does not.
Wolf and Fetterman first called on the legislature to consider adult-use cannabis legalization in September 2019 after Fetterman completed a statewide listening tour and a report back to the governor summarizing public opinion on both the tour and from tens of thousands of online submissions from Pennsylvanians. Fetterman said the majority of Pennsylvanians favor legalization and from his report, three actions were outlined – a referendum on legalization, decriminalization and expungement of small possession convictions.
Since that report was released nothing has moved forward in the legislature.
With the onset and continued effects of COVID on the commonwealth, Wolf called for adult-use cannabis as part of his broad fall legislative agenda on Aug. 25.
Along with the call to the General Assembly to pass legislation legalizing the sale and use of adult-use cannabis, Wolf proposed that a portion of the revenue be used to further restorative justice programs that give priority to repairing the harm done to crime victims and communities as a result of marijuana criminalization.
In October 2019, Wolf, Fetterman and Board of Pardons Secretary Brandon Flood outlined how the then-recent expedited pardons process could benefit those who have low-level marijuana convictions by asking the board to expedite those pardons.
“The time has come to legalize adult-use cannabis in Pennsylvania,” Wolf said. “It will help our economic recovery, it will help Pennsylvania families and it will help make our criminal justice system fairer.”
