Push To Legalize PA Recreational Marijuana Resuming

HARRISBURG, PA — Twenty-four states have legalized recreational marijuana, including five of the six states bordering Pennsylvania. Two Democratic lawmakers want the state to join that group.

State representatives Dan Frankel of Allegheny County and Rick Kajewski of Philadelphia said Monday they plan to introduce the latest legislation that would decriminalize and regulate recreational cannabis consumption in Pennsylvania.

“We have a moral obligation to not only legalize but also to work to repair the damage caused by decades of marijuana arrests,” Frankel said in a statement. “Our bill will deliver a market that protects the public health, benefits our taxpayers and uplifts those communities that were disproportionately harmed by prohibition policies.”

Added Kajewski: “Prohibition was a reckless and racist policy which deliberately targeted and destroyed Black and Brown communities. I’m fighting to ensure that we reinvest revenue generated from the cannabis industry into areas most impacted by the War on Drugs and ensure that those who are still dealing with criminal sentences and records are able to finally move on.”

Gov. Josh Shapiro favors the legalization of recreational marijuana. He included potential revenue from a cannabis sales tax in his 2024 proposed budget, but no legislation approving legalization was approved.

Shapiro’s predecessor, Tom Wolf, voiced support for the idea in 2019 and unsuccessfully advocated for it during his final years in office.

In a memo to colleagues, Frankel and Kajewski said their bill would emphasize:

The memo did not say when the legislation would be introduced.