An adult-use marijuana legalization bill introduced on Friday is the first bipartisan cannabis reform bill to appear in the Pennsylvania state House of Representatives.
However, it is uncertain whether this latest effort can overcome the partisan gridlock that’s kept other cannabis legalization proposals from passing in the state Senate.
Sponsored by Democratic state Rep. Emily Kinkead and Republican Rep. Aaron Kaufer, House Bill 2500 follows a proposed marijuana legalization framework that the duo proposed in a June memo.
Language of the legislation did not appear on the state’s bill tracker on Monday, but according to a press release from advocacy organization Responsible PA, the bipartisan legislation would:
- Include strong social equity and criminal justice provisions.
- Impose strict labeling and adverting standards.
- Devote “significant” resources to law enforcement as well as public education and “social equity opportunities.”
The bill also would make certain changes to the state medical marijuana industry, which recently expanded under legislation signed into law by Gov. Josh Shapiro.
Marijuana reform remains stalled in Pennsylvania despite pressure from Shapiro, who included revenue from possible marijuana legalization into a draft state budget and has pressured lawmakers to advance cannabis reform.
Kaufer, Kinkead, and 15 co-sponsors cited the emergence of a regulated adult-use market in neighboring Ohio, which launched recreational marijuana sales in August, as a reason to push legalization forward in Pennsylvania.
Advocates applauded the move.
“The majority of Pennsylvanians want a legal, adult-use market, and the majority of states surrounding Pennsylvania have legalized marijuana,” Brittany Crampsie, spokesperson for Responsible PA, said in a press release.
“We are pleased and applaud Representatives Kinkead and Kaufer for taking the initiative to file this bill and renew our call on the legislature to pass legalization immediately upon the legislature’s return to Harrisburg in September.”
The state Senate reconvened on Monday, and the state House of Representatives is scheduled to meet next week.
