HARRISBURG – The Senate Legislation and Justice Committee on Monday heard from state and native officers, legislation enforcement and medical marijuana dispensaries in regards to the impression regulating adult-use hashish might have in Pennsylvania.
Chairman Mike Regan (R-31) convened the listening to to delve deeper into the general public questions of safety surrounding adult-use legal guidelines and famous that, lately, many legislation enforcement officers have opted in opposition to prosecuting small possession quantities in favor of tackling violent crimes and large-scale drug operations.
“Clearly, marijuana will not be new,” Sen. Regan stated. “It’s already on the market. It’s already being utilized by tens of millions of individuals – younger and previous, far and extensive. However in doing so, they’re placing billions of {dollars} into the palms of violent criminals, and they’re risking consuming a product that may very well be laced with substances similar to fentanyl, crack cocaine, embalming fluid and even mould, fungus, or different unknown pathogens.”
He reiterated that with out legalization and regulation, the black marketplace for marijuana will solely proliferate.
“That’s the reason my focus is on bringing down unlawful drug operations, offering Pennsylvania adults with a secure product, and maintaining income throughout the Commonwealth as a substitute of it going to our neighboring states with legalized adult-use marijuana or worse – to organized criminals, gangs, and cartels,” stated Sen. Regan.
The Unbiased Fiscal Workplace estimated that legalizing hashish for adult-use might generate between $400 million and $1 billion in tax revenues the state might use to fund state police, crime prevention and after college packages for deprived youth.
Regulating marijuana wouldn’t solely enhance high quality, but additionally diminish the illicit market and provides residents a solution to legally and safely entry the drug, stated Philadelphia space state Rep. Amen Brown (D-190), who’s working with Regan to solidify laws on the problem.
District attorneys, in the meantime, informed the committee that unlawful drug gross sales, lots of which embody hashish, are sometimes liable to violence. They each cautioned, nonetheless, that “many points” underly the spike in crime famous throughout the Commonwealth. Issues with DUI enforcement are additionally nonetheless a priority, in addition to legalizing what’s been lengthy suspected to be a “gateway drug.”
Medical marijuana dispensaries stated regulating hashish for widespread adult-use would assist crack down on tainted merchandise and provides legislation enforcement a solution to observe unhealthy actors.
Sen. Regan thanked the contributors for his or her perspective on the problem and stated the subsequent committee listening to will concentrate on legal guidelines different states have enacted to allow adult-use.
“I consider my colleague Consultant Amen Brown stated it greatest lately that it can be crucial for us to work with legislation enforcement on the problem of legalization to verify we aren’t in battle and to make sure the protection of officers and our communities,” Sen. Regan stated.
CONTACT: Bruce McLanahan, 717-787-8524
