Pennsylvania Lawmakers Revive Efforts to Legalize Recreational Marijuana
A renewed push is underway in the Pennsylvania General Assembly to legalize recreational marijuana, with three separate bills currently active in the House and Senate. The move comes as lawmakers seek to balance the state budget and create new revenue streams.
Mike Toigo, CEO of Toigo Farms and Organic Remedies, a medical cannabis company, believes legalization would have a significant impact on the state’s economy and workforce. He estimates that legalizing recreational marijuana could lead to a three- to four-fold increase in employment opportunities and generate billions of dollars in revenue.
The proposed legislation has bipartisan support, with Republican State Senator Dan Laughlin and Democratic State Senator Sharif Street co-authoring a bill that would allow adults to use and purchase recreational marijuana. Laughlin believes that collecting revenue from legal cannabis is a more practical solution to balancing the state budget than raising taxes.
A second bill, introduced by Democratic Representative Amen Brown, mirrors the text of the Laughlin/Street bill, while a third bill, introduced by Representatives Emily Kinkead and Abby Major, provides more specific details on how revenue would be spent.
The bills contrast with a state-run store model that was previously rejected by the Senate Law and Justice Committee. Toigo argues that Pennsylvania is falling behind its neighbors, where recreational marijuana is already legal in all but one bordering state.
“I think both sides of the party can come together and do what they’re supposed to do and get this bill passed,” Toigo said.
The renewed push to legalize recreational marijuana in Pennsylvania comes as the state faces a budget crunch and lawmakers search for new ways to generate revenue. With three separate bills currently active in the House and Senate, the prospects for legalization appear promising.
