Recreational marijuana may still be far from becoming legal in Pennsylvania, but state lawmakers are once again taking a look at the issue, writes Gillian McGoldrick for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
In May, the state House passed a proposal allowing state-owned stores to operate a legal marijuana market, bringing adult-use cannabis closer to legalization in Pennsylvania than ever before. However, a state Senate committee quickly rejected the bill, opposing the state-store model.
Lawmakers are now returning with the bill but pursuing a different approach.
Last week, Republican state Senator Dan Laughlin and Democratic state Senator Sharif Street introduced a proposal to legalize recreational marijuana by relying on existing medical marijuana retailers to lead the market’s expansion, while also adding 15 licenses for small businesses to enter the industry.
The two lawmakers, who have worked together on adult-use cannabis legislation in the past, introduced a bill that was “years in the making,” said Laughlin.
The bill would make it legal for Pennsylvania residents who are at least 21 years old to buy, use, carry, or possess recreational cannabis. The proposal has gained bipartisan backing in both chambers, though significant resistance remains, particularly from Senate Republicans.
Read more about the bill to legalize recreational marijuana in The Philadelphia Inquirer.
