Action Alert – Have you weighed in on recreational marijuana yet?

AFA of PA ACTION ALERT

March 28, 2019

Issue

Recreational Marijuana – Have You Weighed in Yet?

Details

As of this writing, Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman has visited 26 counties on his “listening tour” regarding the legalization of recreational marijuana.  HB 50 has been introduced in the State House and the bill currently sits in the Committee on Health. 

Rep. Jake Wheatley, D-Allegheny, is the prime sponsor.  He states his bill will incentivize manufacturers to partner with Pennsylvania farmers who would have the option of converting their farms to produce marijuana. Wheatley also said his legislation expunges criminal records, exonerating anyone incarcerated for marijuana charges, and returns driver’s and professional licenses who lost them due to such charges.

As one article notes:  “Wheatley claims taxing marijuana could generate hundreds of millions of dollars, revenue that could then be used for such things as affordable housing, afterschool programs and student debt forgiveness. Claims of fiscal benefits have noticeably avoided discussion of the social costs of legalized recreational marijuana . . . .”

Action Steps Governor Wolf wants Pennsylvanians to weigh in on the issue.  As of mid-March, over 21,000 have submitted comments.   You can do so by filling out the online feedback page here