HARRISBURG, Pa. (ErieNewsNow) - A local Republican state lawmaker is making another attempt to legalize adult-use cannabis in Pennsylvania.

State Senators Dan Laughlin (R-Erie) and Sharif Street (D-Philadelphia) are taking another shot at legalizing recreational cannabis for adults aged 21-years-and-older with Senate Bill 846. 

“The society that we live in today accepts cannabis for the most part. All the surrounding states around us have legalized it, that ship has sailed. So now, it’s how do you deal with it, and the way you deal with it, is you write responsible legislation and you move forward,” said Laughlin. 

Laughlin and Street have introduced a bipartisan approach to legalization in previous sessions, but a lack of support in the Republican-controlled Senate has halted progress. 

“It has been more of a battle than I initially thought it would be to try and get some traction with this,” said Laughlin. 

State revenues remain healthy, but Laughlin believes more lawmakers might be on board if or when additional revenue options are needed. 

“If we get into a budget crunch and people start working on ways to raise revenue, rather than raising taxes, this will probably be one of the things that we look at,” said Laughlin, adding that the estimated $500 million to $1 billion annually would make important investments. 

“Whether it's education, taking care of our seniors or our infrastructure needs, there's certainly no shortage of places to direct the revenue if we had it,” said Laughlin. 

SB 846 would: 

  • Set the minimum marijuana consumption age at 21 years old  
  • Ban any marketing toward children and deter marijuana use of anyone under 21  
  • Provide law enforcement with the means to adjudicate driving under the influence and the authority to pursue and eradicate any illicit market  
  • Provide workplace requirements regarding marijuana use for all those operating in good faith
  • Allow Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana patients to grow a limited number of cannabis plants from their home for personal use  
  • Grant licenses to social and economic equity applicants while providing room for new and existing licensees 
  • Expunge all non-violent marijuana convictions
  • Empower farmers and craft growers across Pa. to engage in the cultivation of marijuana in a manner that is safe and regulated 

“We have a unique and singular opportunity to correct decades of mass incarceration, disproportionate enforcement against marginalized communities, the criminalization of personal choice and the perpetuation of violence, which all materialized from the failed war on drugs,” said Street. “Legalizing the adult use of cannabis will help us fully and equitably fund education, lower property taxes, and address a variety of community needs throughout Pennsylvania,” he added. 

Laughlin says there would be an eight percent sales tax and a five percent excise tax, for a total 13 percent tax on cannabis products.  

“It taxes it responsibly. Not too high to where the black market would be significantly cheaper, we don't want that either,” said Laughlin. 

Unlike the sale of liquor in Pennsylvania, Laughlin supports privatizing cannabis sales. 

"To put cannabis sales into a state-run system, I think is a big mistake. I'm a free-market guy I think private businesses should have the opportunity to pursue their dream and open a store. I think that the private model is where we're headed with this,” said Laughlin.