Local lawmakers have mixed reaction to Wolf’s pot proposal
Local lawmakers offered mixed reactions, ranging from hope to concern, over Gov. Tom Wolf鈥檚 call for the decriminalization and legalization of adult use of recreational marijuana.
Wolf and Lt. Gov. John Fetterman discussed the final report from Fetterman鈥檚 statewide recreational marijuana listening tour last week. Wolf said he believes Pennsylvanians support changes to pot laws and called upon lawmakers to seriously debate and consider the legalization of adult-use, recreational marijuana.
The report also called for decriminalizing non-violent and small cannabis-related offenses and putting a law into place that would expunge convictions for such crimes.
鈥淥ur communities and our residents are facing so many serious problems, and this is what the governor and the lieutenant governor choose to focus on?鈥� asked state Rep. Ryan Warner, R-Perryopolis.
鈥淚nstead of doing a tour about legalizing marijuana, maybe they should visit every county to explore how we could end the deadly opioid crisis, bring family-sustaining jobs to our communities, reduce the property tax burden on hard-working Pennsylvanians, or address our fire and emergency services agencies that are struggling to keep their doors open,鈥� Warner said.
He said the listening tour, which came to each of the state鈥檚 67 counties, was a distraction from more serious issues that Pennsylvanians are facing.
鈥淲ith all the challenges that we are confronted with, the discussion about legalizing marijuana for recreational use should be, in my opinion, at the very bottom of our list of priorities 鈥� if it鈥檚 even on the list at all鈥� Warner said.
State Rep. Bud Cook, R- R-West Pike Run Township, said while he supported the measures to legalize medical marijuana in the state, he doesn鈥檛 support it being legalized for recreational use at this time.
鈥淥ur biggest concern is dealing with opioids and alcoholism,鈥� Cook said. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 need another gateway.鈥�
Cook said a good first step would be to reduce the penalties for marijuana possession, while seeing how legalization shakes out in other states.
State Sen. Camera Bartolotta, R-Carroll Township, said decriminalizing the possession of a small amount of cannabis makes sense to her. It would avoid thousands of people from having a misdemeanor possession charge on their record that could haunt them for the remainder of their lives, she said.
鈥淭hese permanent marks on an individual鈥檚 record hinder one鈥檚 ability to obtain work, housing, child care, among other essential needs for a productive lifestyle,鈥� Bartolotta said.
She co-sponsored legislation that reduces an offense for possession of a small amount of pot to a summary offense, which is the same level offense as a speeding ticket. The bill is before the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Bartolotta said she hopes her colleagues will support it.
State Rep. Matthew Dowling, R-Uniontown, has concerns about legal ramifications of the state legalizing pot, which is in conflict with federal law.
鈥淲hile Gov. Tom Wolf鈥檚 report notes that attendees of his statewide listening tour support removing cannabis from its current classification as a Schedule 1 drug, that hasn鈥檛 happened (federally) yet,鈥� Dowling said. 鈥淭he report also states that the current classification complicates taxation, banking and other areas regulated by federal laws.鈥�
Along with sharing those concerns, Dowling said he鈥檚 also concerned for the state鈥檚 gun owners. Dowling said the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives issued a warning in 2011, stating that because cannabis is illegal at the federal level, recreational and medical users of the drug cannot possess guns.
鈥淧assing a state law in direct contradiction with a federal law, which takes precedence, would create a slew of issues,鈥� Dowling said. 鈥淩ather than move in that direction, we are better served to handle the issues facing the Commonwealth over which the general assembly has jurisdiction.鈥�
State Sen. Patrick Stefano, R-Bullskin Township, attended three of of the county listening where it seemed to him those in favor were more willing to speak out while those more opposed were more willing to listen, not always making it a fair representation of a district.
鈥淒ecriminalization is a topic I think we can debate as we work on criminal justice reform in the next few months,鈥� he said, adding that law enforcement is being stretched thin while fighting on other fronts. 鈥淭hough anyone possessing large amounts and those with intent to sell should have full charges against them.鈥�
Even so, Stefano said he鈥檚 firmly against legalizing adult use of marijuana.
鈥淔irst, companies from across the state have invested millions in the growing and dispensing of medical marijuana,鈥� he said, adding those companies are nowhere near any return on investment and legalization would affect them. 鈥淪econd, only 11 states have legalized and we need to watch them closely as I feel the cost and effect of legalization on our society will far exceed the revenue that may be generated.鈥�