Tim Balch: Marijuana legalization is a no-brainer for Pennsylvania

On Thursday, two Pennsylvania state senators introduced a bipartisan bill that would not only legalize marijuana in the state, but effectively lay the groundwork for private industries to sell it for adult use. Senators Dan Laughin (R-Erie) and Sharif Street (D-Philadelphia) have collaborated before on marijuana legalization efforts, and this time they’ve included in their proposal an independent control board that would oversee products and implementation.  

Governor Josh Shapiro (D) had proposed a legalization measure as part of his overall budget back in February, but that part of the proposal had fizzled out during subsequent negotiations with Republicans. Back in May, further proposals for legalization had been outright rejected for myriad reasons, most of them stemming from concerns about state-run stores stepping on the toes of already established medical dispensaries. (This new bill excludes that provision). 

During negotiations, another issue arose regarding those same dispensaries having an unfair advantage if weed were to be legalized, while smaller start-up businesses would be left playing catch-up in a rocketing new industry. Equity programs were proposed to fill that gap and level the playing field, but nothing substantial materialized, and the entire conversation got placed on the proverbial backburner.

Street and Laughin’s bill stands as the latest and greatest official attempt to legalize weed in Pennsylvania. “This bill is smart, fair and realistic,” Laughlin said, “it’s time Pennsylvania joined the growing number of states that are getting cannabis policy right.”

Marijuana legalization is long overdue in Pennsylvania. With the exception of West Virginia, all states bordering Pennsylvania have legalized recreational marijuana use. (All but three U.S. states – Kansas, Nebraska, and Idaho – have a public medical program available).

In a previous column, I mentioned a concern raised by Republicans that Shapiro’s budget proposal needed further deliberation due to the state’s negative cash-flow, or lack of revenue. If that’s the case, then why wouldn’t they jump at an opportunity like this? In Maryland, sales of recreational marijuana reached over $1 billion in the first year of legalization. 

The proposed independent control board would also oversee age restrictions and penalties for anyone younger than 21, regulating sales and usage just like we do alcohol or tobacco. Marketing to kids would be banned, and home-growers would just have to apply for a license. This is already starting to sound like the roadway to the most sensible marijuana policy yet.

But wait, there’s more: The bill would dedicate tax revenue from weed to public safety, drug prevention programs, workforce development, and overall state funding. These are all areas of budgetary interest that even Republicans would have a hard time arguing with.

The new legislation also includes a provision that would expunge nonviolent marijuana offenses. Pennsylvania averages around 10,000 arrests each year for just marijuana possession, and that statistic accounts for almost half of all drug possession arrests. The bill would provide a pathway for small and minority-owned businesses who would otherwise be at a disadvantage in an industry already dominated by medical dispensaries. Street asserts that “this plan legalizes cannabis in a way that lifts up communities impacted by prohibition.”

This is a winning issue for Democrats, and if the measure passes, it would be a win for bipartisanship as a whole. My hope is that Democrats are able to capitalize on these efforts in a meaningful way, as champions of an idea that is much-needed and long-overdue, before Republicans have the chance to potentially co-opt the victory insincerely for their own political gain. The topic of personal liberties, historically, has been a value held dear by independent voters, and I can’t think of a better way to court them than by sponsoring a brand new industrial frontier that could add billions in state revenue.

If Democrats are looking to reignite voter enthusiasm after their devastating loss in 2024, and perhaps gain some new voters, this is a great place to start.

Tim Balch is a copywriter in Lansdale.