HARRISBURG, Pa. — With just over one month left in the legislative session, political activists are in the final push to get their issues passed into law--including marijuana activist and executive director of Lehigh Valley NORML Jeff Riedy.
“It’s very important that it’s legalized so we can properly regulate it and so people have access to a safe product,” Riedy said, warning of the dangers of consumers purchasing marijuana off the street. Which is why he spends his days encouraging education among lawmakers.
The Lehigh Valley chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws planned to host a rally on the steps of the Pennsylvania State Capitol building on Tuesday before it was canceled due to rain. But Riedy says the event wasn’t a total wash.
“All of my guests came inside, grabbed lobbying packets, and spoke with their lawmakers which has much more influence,” he said, adding that hearing constituent concerns is the best way to make lawmakers who may have never used marijuana understand the importance of this bill.
"Before they write a law that's supposed to affect us and provide us opportunities it's very important that they understand the mindset of the consumer,” said Riedy, who is a long-time consumer.
“I’ve been smoking cannabis since I was 13 years old,” Riedy said. He explained that a lack of education and understanding of the topic led to being criminalized and marginalized in his own community.
“I was alienated by my parents, my church, my school friends,” he said. It's an effect that he hopes to eliminate for others.
“I continued to do this because I thought it was right,” Riedy said.
However, despite working to educate lawmakers and the community, Riedy doesn’t believe marijuana will be legalized this session due to the short turnaround time from when the bill was introduced to Congress in September and the end of the session in mid-November.
And with fewer than 10 meeting days left for the general assembly during the 2023-2024 legislative session, if the bill is not passed activists and political supporters will have to start from scratch when a new session starts in January.
But Riedy says he won’t give up the fight until marijuana is a legal option for all.
“I can’t stop until we finish this, I’m 66 years old and I need to change this law because it’s important to me,” Riedy asserted.
