Pennsylvania House Passes Cannabis Legalization Bill

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.