Pennsylvania cannabis coalition says there’s still a path for adult-use legalization

Despite earlier reports that recreational cannabis legalization in Pennsylvania may have to wait until next year after being left out of the state budget, the spokeswoman of a pro-marijuana coalition said there’s still a window this coming fall for a bill to get through to Gov. Josh Shapiro’s desk.

“The pieces are aligned and teed up right now in a way that makes a fall session passage of adult use very likely,” said Brit Crampsie, spokeswoman for Responsible PA.

Crampsie said that although it was a bit of a setback with adult-use cannabis legalization being left out of the budget, there are still two active bills in both the Republican-controlled Senate and the Democratic-controlled House – and there will be at least three weeks in September when lawmakers reconvene from the summer break in which they could pass either of the measures.

“The conversations that are being had now in the debates are not what we saw about medical marijuana, about even considering the idea. We’re debating the technical aspects: the type of stores, not should we do this at all,” Crampsie said. “It’s become very much a when and how. We’re so far past the ‘if’ conversation.”

That technical debate is possibly the biggest stumbling block, with one stalled proposal from Democratic Rep. Dan Frankel that the industry should be composed of only state-run dispensaries, the same as the Pennsylvania liquor industry.

That was a nonstarter politically with the Black Legislative Caucus, Crampsie said.

But, she noted, there are two other measures – Senate Bill 846, by Republican Sen. Dan Laughlin and a House proposal by Democratic Rep. Emily Kinkead and Republican Rep. Aaron Kaufer – that are still active as well.

“Pennsylvania is uniquely divided right now, but as of June, and for the first time ever, there are bipartisan and bicameral (marijuana legalization) bills in both chambers,” Crampsie said. “We have legislation sponsored by House Republican and House Dem, and Senate legislation by both parties, and a governor who is outspokenly supportive.”

She also believes there’s enough consensus that one of the two bills will go to Shapiro before the end of the year.

“I would say within a year the adult use market will be up and running in Pennsylvania. I feel very strongly about that. Every caucus is supportive. The governor is supportive,” Crampsie said. “We need recurring revenue. There’s always opposition to raising taxes, and there are major funding needs that are certainly not going away. This is one of the only ways that we can raise revenue.”