Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf just furthered his already-pro-cannabis public persona by announcing a round of pardons that includes those charged for nonviolent, cannabis-related crimes.  As of the time of this writing, Wolf has pardoned 310 people in total, and 69 of those people were part of a program that received expedited review in order to overturn their cannabis-related charges. The program is called the Expedited Review Program for Non-Violent Marijuana-Related Offenses, and it was instituted in 2019.  “These pardons will give these 310 people a chance to put the conviction behind them, offering them more opportunities as they build careers, […]

Two Pennsylvania state senators announced on Wednesday the introduction of a bipartisan measure to legalize cannabis for use by adults. The legislation from Democratic Sen. Sharif Street of Philadelphia and Sen. Dan Laughlin, a Republican from Erie, “prioritizes safety, community reinvestment, social and economic equity, agriculture, and creates vital tax revenue streams for the Commonwealth,” according to a statement from Street’s office. “While my colleague Senator Street and I come from different political parties, we see a bipartisan way forward on marijuana legalization that is premised on safety and social equity,” said Laughlin.  “As the marijuana movement reaches Pennsylvania, legalization […]

If there was any doubt that Tom Wolf was determined to make marijuana legalization a reality this year, the Pennsylvania governor put that to rest on Wednesday. In a pair of tweets, Wolf reiterated his call to end prohibition on adult recreational pot use in the Keystone State, saying the revenue generated could be crucial in restoring the economy that has been battered by the pandemic. “I want to see Pennsylvania begin the process to legalize adult-use marijuana this year,” Wolf said Wednesday morning. “The profits from this measure would be used to help us recover from COVID. Plus, it’s […]

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf called on state lawmakers to legalize and regulate marijuana for adults in a list of goals for the new year released on Thursday. In the statement of his priorities for the 2021 legislative session, Wolf said that it is time to continue the state’s reform of cannabis policy. “In 2017, Pennsylvania legalized medical marijuana through bipartisan legislation,” Wolf’s office wrote in an announcement of his 2021 agenda. “Now as our neighbors move toward legalizing recreational marijuana, Pennsylvania cannot afford to be left behind. Legalizing adult-use cannabis has strong bipartisan support among Pennsylvanians.” Wolf’s call for the […]

Pennsylvania is pushing hard towards legalization of cannabis, but local nonprofits in the state are not going to let legalization take hold without making sure there is a strong focus on pardoning past cannabis offenses as well.  Two groups, Montco NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) and TerraVida VOWD (Victims of the War on Drugs) based in Pennsylvania are working hard to make sure there is an option for those who want a fresh start. They recently planted an old newspaper box, repurposed to be a Cannabis Pardon Bin, outside of the Lansdale Public Library.  “These (bins) […]

Democratic Lt. Gov. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania is raising the ire of Republican lawmakers with his choice of decor for the state capitol in Harrisburg. After hanging flags supporting cannabis legalization and LGBTQ+ rights from his office balcony, legislators included a provision in a budget measure last month that specifies which flags may be flown from the capitol building. Under the legislation, only certain flags, including the American flag, Pennsylvania state flag, and the POW/MIA remembrance flag, may be flown at the state capitol. Fetterman’s Pride flag and a banner emblazoned with a cannabis leaf are not authorized. A spokesperson […]