Pennsylvania Governor Shapiro seeks to legalize recreational marijuana – WPXI

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro is pushing for the legalization of recreational marijuana in the state, stating that it could generate over $250 million in annual revenue. Currently, 24 states have already legalized recreational marijuana, and with neighboring states also moving in that direction, Pennsylvania risks losing out on potential tax revenue. Patrick Nightingale, the Executive Director of Pittsburgh NORML, emphasized the economic benefits of legalizing marijuana sales and the potential for generating revenue through taxation. However, not everyone is in favor of the move, with Dan Bartkowiak from the Pennsylvania Family Institute expressing concerns about the potential costs and negative impacts of making cannabis more accessible, especially to young people. Governor Shapiro has presented his vision for the bill, which includes strict regulation and taxation, as well as retroactively expunging past marijuana possession convictions. This push for recreational marijuana legalization comes after the state legalized medical marijuana in 2016. With the industry continuing to grow across the country, it remains to be seen whether Pennsylvania will become the 25th state to legalize recreational marijuana.

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