The Pennsylvania House of Representatives on Tuesday gave initial approval to an adult-use cannabis legalization proposal that includes state-run dispensaries, Marijuana Moment reports.
The proposal was just introduced on Sunday and advanced from the House Health Committee on Monday. House lawmakers then narrowly voted to pass the proposal on a 102-101 party-line vote, with all Democrats voting in favor of the bill and all Republicans voting in opposition. Lawmakers are expected to hold another vote on the proposal soon, and if approved again, the bill will move next to the Senate for consideration.
The bill would legalize cannabis possession for adults aged 21+ and create a regulated framework for the commercial cultivation and distribution of cannabis. Retail sales would be taxed at 12%, and all dispensaries would be operated by the state — however, the industry’s cultivators, processors, transporters, and potential consumption sites could be privately owned, the report said. Home grows would be allowed, but only with an annual $100 home cultivation permit issued by the state Liquor Control Board, which would be tasked with overseeing the industry. The bill also includes THC concentration caps for both cannabis edibles and flower products.
Health Committee member Rep. Charity Grimm Krupa (R) noted during Monday’s hearing that “it’s no secret that I stand in opposition to broadly legalized adult-use marijuana — but frankly, I’m appalled by the manner in which it’s being rammed through the committee and the legislature.”
The Committee Chair and co-sponsor of the bill, Rep. Dan Frankel (D), responded that “this has been a transparent process.”
“My door has been open to all those stakeholders on an ongoing basis for the past two years — the six hearings we had, and an opportunity for the minority party to have, to have a meeting to talk about this.” — Frankel, via Marijuana Moment
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro supports legalizing cannabis, and nearly all of Pennsylvania’s neighboring states have already passed legalization policies.
Meanwhile, a report last year found the state could generate over $1 billion in cannabis tax revenue over five years of legal sales.
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