After celebrating a modern law that allows canned cocktails to be sold in supermarkets and convenience stores, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said Tuesday he believes legalizing recreational marijuana makes economic sense.
Of Pennsylvania’s six border states, all but West Virginia have fully legalized marijuana, allowing its sale and exploit for medical and recreational purposes. Pennsylvania has legalized marijuana for medical exploit but still imposes criminal penalties for possessing pot without a medical marijuana card.
Shapiro told reporters at a news conference at Rutter’s in Perry County, where the canned cocktails will now be sold, that he has been calling for marijuana legalization for several years. Shapiro included recreational marijuana revenue in his proposed 2024-25 budget and said legalizing pot, like making alcohol more available, gives Pennsylvanians more freedom.
“Some Pennsylvanians may be traveling outside the state to purchase marijuana, and I think that’s something we want to focus on in our state,” Shapiro said.
Reps. Aaron Kaufer (R-Luzerne) and Emily Kinkead (D-Allegheny) introduced modern legislation Monday to legalize marijuana. Multiple marijuana legalization bills have been introduced in both chambers this session, with House Bill 2500 being the latest. Neither has yet been taken up by the House or Senate, but advocates say legalization is a matter of how and when.
In July, Shapiro signed House Bill 86 of 2024, which gives restaurants, hotels and alcohol distributors the ability to obtain permits to sell ready-to-drink beverages containing distilled spirits to customers for off-premises consumption.
The law is the latest to expand alcohol sales in Pennsylvania over the past two decades. Sunday alcohol sales were restricted, and wine and spirits could only be purchased by the bottle at Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) stores until recently.
Pennsylvania’s alcohol restrictions remain relatively strict compared to many other states. Supermarkets and convenience stores were allowed to sell up to 192 ounces of beer to go in 2011 and the equivalent of four bottles of wine in 2014, but PLCB stores remain the only place where you can buy liquor by the bottle.
The governor’s office says there has been a surge in demand for pre-mixed alcohol-based beverages sold at supermarkets, beer outlets and convenience stores.
As of Aug. 27, the PLCB has received 1,595 applications for ready-to-drink cocktail permits and issued 1,416 permits, Shapiro’s office said in a news release.
Asked if Pennsylvania should do more to privatize alcohol sales, Shapiro said he believes ready-to-drink cocktails in private stores are a responsible step that protects jobs, generates $130 million in modern revenue and gives residents more freedom.
Bill 86 was introduced in the state Senate by Sen. Mike Regan (R-York). It passed with Democratic opposition in the Senate but won bipartisan support in the state House when it was finally approved in July.
