Harrisburg,
Pa., March 20, 2024 – PRESS RELEASE – ResponsiblePA announced the formation of a coalition with the goal
to help support the legalization of adult-use cannabis in 2024 through the
Pennsylvania Legislature as lawmakers convened a hearing to discuss legalizing
cannabis across the commonwealth. This move follows a recent budget address by
Gov. Josh Shapiro during which he touted a windfall of
$14.8 million in the industry’s first year of operation and $250
million in annual tax revenue once the industry is established.
ResponsiblePA’s diverse
coalition brings together patient advocates, doctors, scientists, researchers,
laboratories, economic development groups, members of law enforcement, local
elected officials, labor, and civil and social equity community organizations
from across Pennsylvania.
With
90% of the commonwealth’s neighboring states already legalizing cannabis and a
robust medical operation in the state for nearly a decade, the ResponsiblePA
coalition believes the time is now to legalize cannabis. Legalizing cannabis
will protect consumers from harmful unregulated products, protect patient
access, help end the illicit market, dissuade consumers from purchasing
products across state lines, and keep tens of millions of dollars in revenue in
our state to fund crucial projects.
“As many as 66 percent of
Pennsylvania voters support legalization. Today, Pennsylvania has the
opportunity to build from the success of its medical cannabis program while
ensuring full market access for regulated products. Just as we do with medical
cannabis, we can properly regulate adult-use marijuana with stringent health
and safety standards backed by regulatory oversight,” said Rob Greene,
Republican District Attorney of Warren County.
“Pennsylvania has the opportunity to adopt best practices and
international standards in the key areas of packaging and labeling, marketing,
and other measures that will protect consumers, children, pets, and the public
at large,” said Dr. David Nathan, co-founder and past president of Doctors for
Drug Policy Reform and Pennsylvania native.
“Legalization allows
for the safe regulation of cannabis, ensuring Pennsylvania products are
accurately tested, labeled, and determined safe for consumption. This protects
consumers from risks associated with unregulated markets, such as contamination
and undisclosed potency,” said Karrissa M. Miller, founding partner of US
Cannalytics, a leading cannabis testing laboratory operating in Bethlehem, Pa.,
and throughout the East Coast.
“As the parent and caregiver of a child in Pennsylvania’s
medical program for six years, I’m eager for our state to legalize and stand by the many
patient advocates who believe the commonwealth is far behind neighboring states
in updating commonsense policies around the cannabis plant. We look forward to
continued access, affordability, and diversity for patients under a full
legalized framework,” said Colleen Mercedes, Pennsylvania patient advocate.
"We cannot allow Pennsylvania's neighboring states to take
our potential tax revenue when we can have it right here; we have the
infrastructure, and it is just a matter of a simple law that needs to be
passed. Legalization will be much more accommodating to veterans who want the
privacy to be able to consume. I am asking my fellow Republican colleagues to
join the fight and help us veterans," said Dave Harger, CEO and founder, VETForce.
“The economic potential for adult-use cannabis access in
Pennsylvania is immense. We would hope this is something that the state can
look at and consider. We have a medical marijuana facility in our county, and
it has been positive in many aspects,” said Mike Flanagan, president, Clinton
County Economic Partnership.
"Cannabis legalization must be done quickly, but
purposefully, and ensure meaningful economic opportunities for Pennsylvania's Black-owned
businesses and entrepreneurs," said David Dix, co-founder, Pennsylvania
Chamber for Black Owned Businesses.
“Cannabis legalization
serves as a tremendous opportunity for entrepreneurship and job creation in the
Commonwealth. Lackawanna College is actively striving to assist in building a
talent pipeline by educating students through the college's Cannabis Professional
Certificate Program,” said William J. Schoen, director, Office of Continuing
Education and Cannabis, Lackawanna College.
ResponsiblePA’s
promise to the commonwealth is to foster an adult-use cannabis program that
will keep communities safe, help end the illicit market, provide for
communities most impacted by failed policy, and provide opportunity for the
citizens of Pennsylvania. The coalition will ensure that licensed regulated sales
happen on day one of implementation.
