Marijuana laws can be confusing. All but a few years ago, buying legal weed in Pennsylvania or New Jersey sounded like a fairytale, but now, that dream is slowly becoming a reality. Pennsylvania, like many other states, has been grappling with the legal of marijuana for both medical and recreational purposes.
Historically, Pennsylvania has not been considered a “state to watch” regarding the legal of recreational adult use cannabis. However, the state's medical marijuana program has been operational since 2018 and has been expanding ever since. As of now, Pennsylvania allows the use of medical marijuana for 23 qualifying conditions.
Pennsylvania is no closer to legal marijuana even though Democrats control both the House and governor's mansion. Governor Tom Wolf recently renewed his call to legal recreational marijuana as part of his 2021-2022 budget proposal, but it has yet to gain any traction.
The Pennsylvania legislature is considering everything from expanding who can get a medical marijuana card to full legal. Lawmakers unveiled four bills on April 20, 2021, relating to cannabis. The bills focus on legal cannabis for adult use, decriminalizing possession of small amounts of cannabis, and expanding the state's medical marijuana program.
One of the bills, House Bill 2050, would allow adults 21 and older to purchase and possess up to 30 grams of cannabis for personal use. The bill would also establish a regulatory framework for the sale and cultivation of marijuana in the state. Another bill, House Bill 2052, would expunge all criminal records related to the possession of small amounts of cannabis.
Marijuana is a multibillion-dollar industry, and more states, such as Florida, Minnesota, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, could soon legal weed. The potential revenue from legal marijuana is one of the main reasons why many states are considering it. According to Governor Wolf's budget proposal, legal and taxing marijuana could bring in an estimated $587 million in revenue for the state.
On Saturday, March 4, 2023, the Pennsylvania medical marijuana Program's final-form regulations (DOH Regulations) were posted in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. The regulations clarify the requirements for patients, caregivers, physicians, and dispensaries, among other things. The DOH regulations also specify the types of medical marijuana products that can be sold in the state.
However, Pennsylvania continues to lag behind its neighbors in cashing in on legal recreational marijuana. New Jersey, which legal recreational marijuana in 2021, is only a short drive away from Philadelphia, making it easy for Pennsylvanians to cross state lines to purchase legal weed.
In conclusion, the future of marijuana legal in Pennsylvania is still uncertain. Despite recent efforts by lawmakers to legal recreational marijuana, no progress has been made. However, the expansion of the state's medical marijuana program has been a positive step forward. As more states legal marijuana, it's only a matter of time before Pennsylvania follows suit.
