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The Pennsylvania House of Representatives has passed a bill to legalize recreational marijuana for ... More adults.
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives this week approved legislation to legalize recreational cannabis, nine years after the state legalized medical marijuana. The bill, known as the Cannabis Health and Safety Act (HB 1200), was approved by the House on Wednesday by a vote of 102-101.
If approved by the Pennsylvania Senate and signed into law by Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro, the bill would legalize the use of cannabis for adults age 21 and older. The legislation would also legalize sales of recreational marijuana through state-run cannabis dispensaries, a provision not seen in other states that have legalized the drug for use by adults.
Weed Legalization Bill Gets Speedy House Approval
HB 1200 was introduced on Sunday by Democratic Reps. Rick Krajewski and Dan Frankel. The legislation was then quickly approved by two House legislative committees and was approved on first reading by the full chamber on Tuesday. House lawmakers approved the measure again on third reading on Wednesday, sending it to the Pennsylvania Senate for consideration, Marijuana Moment reported this week.
The bill would decriminalize cannabis possession until regulated sales of recreational marijuana begin. During that time, possession of up to 30 grams of cannabis would be punishable as a summary offense, carrying a fine of up to $250. Once regulated sales begin, adults would be permitted to possess just over 42 grams of marijuana (about 1.5 ounces) and up to 5 grams of cannabis concentrates without penalty. The legislation also includes provisions for limited home cannabis cultivation by adults who pay a fee of $100 per year.
“The reality is criminalization of cannabis does not work. It does not deter usage, it does not promote safety, and it is not in the best interest of our commonwealth,” Krajewski told his colleagues on the House floor. “With legalization, we have the opportunity to rein in a market that is completely deregulated in terms of potency, content. labeling or advertising. We can promote public health, while also bringing in hundreds of millions of dollars that can be directed to communities hit the hardest by past criminalization.”
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