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Gov. Shapiro asks lawmakers to legalize cannabis in the Commonwealth

In Tuesday's budget address, the Governor said "it's time to catch up," as recreational marijuana is legal in almost every neighboring state.

HARRISBURG, Pa. — At Tuesday’s budget address, Governor Josh Shapiro once again sparked the conversation about recreational adult-use marijuana.

"I ask you to come together and send to my desk a bill that legalizes marijuana," Governor Shapiro said while addressing members of the state legislature.

It's an issue that's been debated in Pennsylvania for years and one supported by Meredith Buettner, the executive director of the Pennsylvania Cannabis Coalition.

"I think with the momentum that we have now and the leadership of the governor on this issue, we can legalize cannabis by July 1," Buettner said.

She believes it's time for Pennsylvania to get on board, with other states across the country, adding regulations and safeguards to the industry.

"Pennsylvanians are already consuming cannabis," Buettner said. "What we can do by regulating cannabis for use by adults 21 and over is ensure their safety.”

Marijuana is also seen as a money maker.

Nearly all of Pennsylvania’s neighboring states have legalized marijuana, with West Virginia being the only exception. It became recreational just across the Mason-Dixon Line on July 1 of last year. 

The Maryland Cannabis Administration estimates sales generated nearly $30 million in tax revenue for the state in just the first six months of the relaxed law.

Opponents of legalization like John Daviau, the director of state affairs for the nonprofit Smart Approaches to Marijuana, pointed to several concerns.

"You're going to see a 17% increase in substance abuse disorders. You're going to see a 35% increase in chronic homelessness," Daviau said. "And a 13% increase in arrests across the state."

Plus, an NIH study published last year also linked recreational marijuana legalization to increases in impaired driving and negative mental health effects on younger adults.

"Legalizing marijuana isn’t going to stop that, it’s not going to stop the harms. In fact, it’s going to increase that."

However, there is common ground in the Commonwealth on one aspect of the Governor’s proposal. Both Daviau and Buettner support the governor's plans to wipe Pennsylvanians' criminal records for minor marijuana offenses.

"The expungement of records, that can work and we support that for low-level offenses," Daviau said.

"We often talk about some of those goals as part of a package," Buettner said. "That doesn’t mean they shouldn’t exist outside of that package."

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