Latest news with #SenateLawandJusticeCommittee
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Pennsylvania lawmaker proposes new cannabis bill with changes to regulations
(WHTM)– A Pennsylvania lawmaker says he will soon introduce new legislation to legalize adult-use cannabis in Pennsylvania with different regulations than previously proposed bills. The Keystone Cannabis Act, circulated by State Senator Marty Flynn (D-22), would establish a new framework for producing, distributing, and selling cannabis to adults age 21 and over in Pennsylvania. House Bill 1200, which would have given the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board control over cannabis regulation in Pennsylvania, was shot down by the state Senate Law and Justice Committee earlier this May in a 7-3 vote. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now According to the memo, the Keystone Cannabis Act would have an independent commission regulate the market. The commission would consist of members of the Department of Health, Agriculture, Community and Economic Development, Attorney General, and State Police. The memo says this commission would oversee the cannabis cultivation, processing, testing, and retail operations in Pennsylvania. Additionally, revenue generated from the cannabis industry would be deposited into a Community Reinvestment Fund, which would direct funds to revitalizing rural communities, local infrastructure improvements, and grants to municipalities. Flynn's bill would also allows for license applicants from communities heavily impacted by cannabis prohibition to receive priority. The bill would also require strict testing for cannabis products by independent, certified laboratories to ensure products are safe for consumption. 'In short, legalization is no longer a question of if, but when—and Pennsylvania should not be left behind as our neighbors to the north, south, east, and west in New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, and Ohio all move forward. It is high time to create a cannabis economy that reinvests tax dollars into our communities thereby creating even more revenue, promotes freedom while ensuring safety and security, stimulates economic growth, and invests in the communities that need it most,' Flynn's memo says. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
14-05-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Bill that would legalize marijuana in Pennsylvania stalls out in state senate
A bill that would have made recreational marijuana legal in Pennsylvania stalled out in the state senate. The Senate Law and Justice Committee voted it down 7 to 3. That vote means the bill will not be taken up by the full state senate and the bill will not be signed into law by Governor Josh Shapiro. Bill passes the Pennsylvania State House Last week, the bill that would have allowed Pennsylvanians 21 and older to purchase marijuana legally passed the Pennsylvania House. It marked the first time that a recreational weed bill had been approved by either chamber in Pennsylvania. The main sponsor of the bill was Democrat Rep. Rick Krajewski of Philadelphia, who said it was a "balanced, responsible, and robust framework." Republicans in the House opposed the bill. Governor Josh Shapiro proposed legal marijuana in his budget and counted on Pennsylvania getting around $500 million in revenue from legal marijuana. The proposal would have allowed direct sales that would be managed by the state-owned liquor store system. However, Fine Wine & Good Spirits locations wouldn't have become marijuana dispensaries, other retail outlets would have been created for marijuana purchase. "Toothpaste is already out of the tube." Democrats in Pennsylvania want legal sales of marijuana According to one of the sponsors of the bills, Democratic Rep. Dan Frankel, it had the potential to bring in $600 million in revenue. "The toothpaste is already out of the tube," he said. Rep. Frankel also cited a state store model, such as Quebec, Canada, where there has been proven success. He did caution that the longer Pennsylvania waits to legalize marijuana, illegal or quasi-legal places will continue to pop up, and those places have no public health supervision. "You go right next door, you'll see a sign on the street with a big marijuana leaf saying no medical card needed here. We need to regulate that. That's a public health hazard," Rep. Frankel said. While the bill failed in the Senate, it's not clear what comes next or if there will be another attempt at passing a legal marijuana bill anytime in the future.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Pennsylvania Senate lawmakers reject recreational marijuana bill
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — Nearly a week after Pennsylvania House lawmakers passed a bill to legalize recreational marijuana, State Senators voted it down during a committee hearing earlier this morning. On Wednesday, May 7, H.B. 1200, also known as the Cannabis Health & Safety Act, passed on party lines, with 102 Democrats voting yea, and 101 Republicans voting nay. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now This vote came after the bill passed through a House committee back on May 5. SPOTLIGHT PA: What's next for marijuana in PA? Earlier today, the Republican-controlled Senate Law and Justice Committee held a hearing to discuss H.B. 1200, and to decide whether or not to put it to a vote in front of the whole Pennsylvania Senate. The committee ended up voting down the legalization bill by a vote of 7 to 3, with one abstention. Chair of the Senate Law and Justice Committee, Sen. Dan Laughlin (R-Erie) took to social media saying that a 'state-store model for adult-use cannabis won't pass the Senate; its a fact, not an opinion. The House's advancement of H.B. 1200 to the Senate wasn't a genuine legalization effort but political theater. I haven't received any discussions from House leadership or bill sponsors.' He continued by saying, 'I remain committed to crafting a cannabis bill that can pass the Senate and be signed into law to benefit all Pennsylvanians. That starts with honest dialogue from everyone involved, including House leadership and the governor, to develop a realistic approach, not political theater.' With H.B. 1200 having gone up in smoke, negotiations on Governor Josh Shapiro's budget plan remain underway. Back in February, Gov. Shapiro proposed a $51.5 billion budget for Pennsylvania, which included a call to legalize marijuana. As part of Shapiro's budget plan, he needs a surplus of cash and new money streams to support future expenditures. These hypothetical money streams included raising an estimated $1.2 billion from legalizing adult-use marijuana and expanding how the corporate net income tax is applied and introducing taxes on skill games. The final budget is due on June 30. abc27 news will keep you updated as more information becomes available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
