A bipartisan bill to legalize cannabis in Pennsylvania was filed on Monday – the first day after lawmakers returned from recess, the Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports. The bill, sponsored by Reps. Aaron Kaufer (R) and Emily Kinkead (D), is the latest of the session, during which none have been considered in either legislative chamber.
The measure includes a 5% excise tax paid by cannabis sellers and an 8% sales tax on retail products. Cannabis-derived tax revenues would be distributed among municipalities that have cannabis dispensaries, a cannabis business establishment fund, and toward addiction prevention, recovery, and treatment services. The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency would also receive funds and distribute them to local law enforcement across the state and to indigent defense funds. Cannabis industry regulation would fall mostly under the Department of Agriculture.
The bill also includes expungement provisions and would allow those currently incarcerated for non-violent cannabis charges to apply for resentencing and commutations. Additionally, the proposal includes social equity provisions that would allow qualifying individuals to apply for state-sponsored grants and low-interest loans to start cannabis businesses. Majority-minority-owned businesses, women-owned businesses, and veteran-owned businesses would be given priority under the legislation.
Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) has signaled support for the reforms, going so far as to include potential revenue from cannabis sales taxes in his 2024 proposed budget.
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