Pennsylvanians are using cannabis.
 
Some of that cannabis is sold legally to patients through the medical cannabis program. Those products are regulated for safety and producers pay for the costs of managing the program.
 
Cannabis is also sold illegally in Pennsylvania. We have no idea what’s in it, how it was produced or where it comes from. We do know that it gets into the hands of young people, and we get no tax benefit to support our communities; meanwhile, the enforcement of our cannabis laws has not affected all communities equally – far from it. Although white people and people of color use cannabis about equally, black Pennsylvanians are about 3.5 times as likely to be arrested for cannabis use as their white counterparts,  according to Pennsylvania State Police data compiled by NORML
 
It’s time to regulate and tax this major crop product in service of the health and well-being of Pennsylvanians.
 
Soon we will be introducing legislation to do just that.
 
Our proposal will create a legal and regulatory framework structured to control and regulate the cultivation, processing, transportation, distribution, delivery and sale at retail of cannabis and cannabis products with the following central goals in mind:
 
          Consumer Safety
          Social Justice
          Economic Equity
          Prevention of Substance Use Disorder
          Revenue
 
 
According to the most recent publication of The Behavioral Health Barometer, almost 35 percent of young adults, aged 18-25 used cannabis in the past year. Our neighboring states New Jersey, New York and Maryland have already put in place structures to regulate the adult-use of cannabis.  Refusing to address the widespread sale and use of cannabis is simply irresponsible in 2022.
 
Please join us in sponsoring legislation to provide appropriate oversight of this massive industry.