A proposed bill to legalize recreational marijuana in Pennsylvania has stalled in the state Senate. The Senate Law and Justice Committee voted against the bill with a tally of 7 to 3, effectively halting its progress toward a vote by the full Senate and preventing it from being signed into law by Governor Josh Shapiro.
This bill had previously passed the Pennsylvania House, marking a significant legislative step as it was the first time a recreational marijuana proposal gained approval in either chamber of the Pennsylvania legislature. The bill would have allowed adults aged 21 and over to purchase marijuana legally.
Democratic Representative Rick Krajewski of Philadelphia, the bill’s primary sponsor, described it as a “balanced, responsible, and robust framework” for marijuana legalization. However, opposition from Republicans in the House contributed to the bill’s challenges.
Governor Shapiro had included marijuana legalization in his budget proposal, projecting that the state could generate approximately $500 million in revenue from legal sales. The plan outlined state-managed sales of marijuana through a new retail system, distinct from the existing liquor store framework, meaning that Pennsylvania’s Fine Wine & Good Spirits locations would not serve as marijuana dispensaries.
Representative Dan Frankel, also a sponsor of the bill, anticipated that legalization could generate up to $600 million in state revenue. He highlighted the urgency of regulating the marijuana market, warning that the longer Pennsylvania delays legalization, the more likely it is that illegal or unregulated sales will proliferate. “You go right next door, you’ll see a sign on the street with a big marijuana leaf saying no medical card needed here. We need to regulate that. That’s a public health hazard,” Rep. Frankel stated.
As the bill is now stalled, it remains uncertain what steps advocates for legalization will take next or if another attempt will be made to pass a marijuana legalization bill in the near future.
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