Pennsylvania: Bipartisan Senators Introduce Cannabis Legalization Bill
PA senators Dan Laughlin (R) and Sharif Street (D) teamed up on a new piece of legislation to legalize recreational cannabis use.
On Friday, the duo announced a plan to introduce the bill that would regulate the industry addressing safety by making it legal only for adults over 21, provide the means to law enforcement to affirm DUIs and halt illegal sales. The measure would also ban advertisements targeting children, implement social equity propositions, and allow for the expungement of non-violent convictions for medical marijuana patients.
“Legalized adult use of marijuana is supported by an overwhelming majority of Pennsylvanians and this legislation accomplishes that while also ensuring safety and social equity,” stated Laughlin. “With neighboring states New Jersey and New York implementing adult use, we have a duty to Pennsylvania taxpayers to legalize adult-use marijuana to avoid losing out on hundreds of millions of dollars of new tax revenue and thousands of new jobs.”
According to estimates presented by the fiscal office during state budget hearings in 2021, legal cannabis markets could yield $400 million to $1 billion in new tax revenue.
Maryland Gov Signs Bill Protecting Parents Who Legally Use Weed From Child ‘Neglect’ Charges
Governor Wes Moore (D) signed into law a bill that protects legal cannabis-consuming parents from being charged with child neglect. House Bill 232 which was signed last week amends the state’s child neglect statute so that the marijuana use by a parent of a child’s guardian is not used as prima facie evidence of a crime. It takes effect July 1.
“Neglect’ does not include the use of cannabis by any parent or individual who has permanent or temporary care or custody or responsibility …