View of the Pennsylvania capitol building from State Street in Harrisburg. (Tim Lambert/Pennsylvania Capital-Star).
Another proposal that would legalize recreational marijuana in Pennsylvania was introduced on Thursday State Capitol, this time by a double -sided pair of senators.
But the measure of Senator Dan Laughlin (R-Erie) and Democrat Sharif Street (D-Filadelphia) seems unlikely in the near future.
Listen to the summary of Audio Iana and Emily here:
The bill appears when state budget negotiations push almost two weeks after June 30. Republican and democratic negotiators fought to agree on how to limit the state budget deficit, while financing the priorities of their parties.
Publishing on Facebook after the introduction of a novel bill, Laughlin warned: “We are at the moment when tax increases are discussed in Harrisburg to balance the budget.” He said that revenues from legal marijuana can be an alternative solution.
If you turn to our reach more and more, consider transferring a donation to strengthen our independent, non -profit newsroom.
But the leader of his own party in the Senate, the leader of the majority Joe Pittman (R-Indiana), already threw frigid water on the proposal.
“Discussions regarding the state budget are still progressing, and we remain involved in the final agreement that will help to deal with the structural deficit before our community,” said Pittman in a statement given to capital stars. “However, I do not see a prevailing view on the legalization of recreational marijuana in our club within the current budget.”
The latest bill would legalize the apply of hemp for Pennsylvania at the age of 21 and the elderly and allowed to have up to 30 grams of flower, five grams of concentrate and 1000 milligrams of THC contained in products related to marijuana, such as foodstuffs. It will also impose 6% of sales tax and 8% of excise duty to all cannabis products.
Included beliefs from cannabis will be automatically fired. Qualifying prisoners will be released from imprisonment.
Recreational marijuana is already legal in 24 states, including five out of six, which borders from Pennsylvania – West Virginia is an exception.
Democrats in Harrisburg have been basically supporting the legalization of recreational marijuana for some time, and Governor Josh Shapiro has repeatedly called on legislators to act. But the idea fought to receive in the Senate controlled by GOP.
Every morning get our best stories in your inbox. Subscribe now the morning Pennsylvania Capital Star guide.
At the beginning of this year, the senators shot down another hemp bill supported by Democrats, who donated the chamber from the guerrilla line.
Unlike Laughlin and Street, he would see hemp sold in state stores such as alcohol, which was not for Republicans and some Democrats.
After rejecting the act, Pittman called the approach of the house “unlike” and said that “it took five steps.”
The model of the state store was definitely against the cannabis lobby, which is represented by many medical pharmacies in Pennsylvania, as well as some of the largest players in the industry in the country.
