Wolf calls for ‘serious’ look at legalizing recreational pot
HARRISBURG — Gov. Tom Wolf cast aside his unwillingness to discuss the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes and on Wednesday signaled that he is open to taking a look at it as it gathers popularity and momentum.
Wolf, a Democrat, made the comment while answering questions from the public on Twitter, saying “it is time for Pennsylvania to take a serious and honest look at recreational marijuana.”
“More and more states are successfully implementing marijuana legalization,” and Pennsylvania should learn from their efforts, Wolf said.
Previously, Wolf had said he would want to study the experience of states where it is legal before deciding whether to support legalizing the sale of recreational marijuana. However, he has never initiated any sort of study of it or suggested that the time is right for his administration to look into it.
With his second term set to start in January, Wolf will be joined by a lieutenant governor, John Fetterman, who has long supported the full legalization of marijuana.
Such a change would require action by Pennsylvania’s Republican-controlled Legislature, and leaders there have never sought to start a discussion about it.
Wolf signed Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana law in 2016, passed with strong bipartisan support from lawmakers, and he has overseen the program’s implementation, beginning with the first sale last February. He also ran for governor in 2014 supporting the decriminalization of the possession of less than an ounce of marijuana.
Possession or sale of marijuana for other purposes remains a crime in the state, although Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and several other Pennsylvania cities have decriminalized possession of small amounts.
Colorado and Washington first approved the sale of recreational marijuana in 2012. Now, 10 states and the District of Columbia have approved recreational marijuana, including Michigan and Vermont this year, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
In neighboring New Jersey, Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy is a vocal proponent of legalizing marijuana and lawmakers are advancing a legalization measure. In New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Monday that he wants lawmakers to approve a legalization measure in 2019.
A 2017 poll by Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster found that 59 percent of those Pennsylvanians surveyed supported the legalization of marijuana use. That was up from just 22 percent in a 2006 Franklin and Marshall College poll.
Comments
Democrats support abortion, gambling, easier access to booze, freedom of expression through porn, sexual perversion in any and all forms, and all this gender crap. Now how does that enhance the family? How do the ways of the Democrats make the job of the teacher easier? Take a look at who these Democrats are, and what they support before you throw in with them. Teachers... any thoughts? You guys give Democrats more money than any other group, let's hear your thoughts... or are you rolling one up for the holidays?
But this is a good thing for the state economy. Look at the states that have legalized it...they are making money off of it, and saving tons by not having to imprison recreational users at the expense of taxpayers. Our jails are overcrowded needlessly. If it happens, and our state can somehow mange the money properly, we could become a thriving state economically.
As for stoned parents...better than alcoholic ones that beat their wives and children. Alcohol causes more family issues than pot.