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US:Pennsylvania ripe to legalize weed, advocates say Pennsylvania ripe to legalize weed, advocates say Axios Monday 06 Jan 2025 The big picture: Recreational marijuana is legal in every state around Pennsylvania except West Virginia. Just a short drive across the Delaware River in New Jersey, a smattering of dispensaries are operating. Delaware is poised to open its first dispensaries this year. Why now? Pennsylvania is facing a looming budget crisis, and legalization advocates are pushing recreational cannabis revenues as a way to fill state coffers. Plus, there's growing interest from the public and lawmakers, as well as concern over lost tax revenue to nearby states that have legalized weed. What they're saying: "It's not a matter of if, it's when," says State Rep. Rick Krajewski (D-Philly), who's planning to co-sponsor a legalization proposal this year. "You can only see people crossing state lines for so long to purchase cannabis before it's nonsense for us to not legalize cannabis," Krajewski tells Axios. Meredith Buettner, executive director of industry trade group Pennsylvania Cannabis Coalition, tells Axios: "From an industry perspective, the groundwork we've laid over the last legislative cycles is ripe to be acted upon." What we're hearing: Interest in recreational marijuana legalization has recently spiked among some Democratic and Republican lawmakers — even if they're not saying so publicly yet. Democrats in the state House, where they hold a majority, are likely to take the lead. Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro has backed legalization for years. House Speaker Joanna McClinton (D-Philly) supports it too, her spokesperson Nicole Reigelman tells Axios. Yes, but: The GOP majority in the Senate has stymied past attempts at legalization over concerns about the federal ban. A Senate GOP spokesperson declined to say whether the caucus will block a legalization effort this year: "Strengthening communities and ensuring public safety continue to be of paramount importance to our Caucus." State of play: Pennsylvania's budget last year ran a structural deficit and was balanced by using the state's surplus. But that surplus is on track to run dry in 2025 without spending cuts or new revenues, per the state Independent Fiscal Office. By the numbers: Legal recreational weed could bring in $250 million in annual revenue in Pennsylvania, per estimates from Shapiro's budget proposal. In New Jersey, recreational cannabis sales topped $42 million in 2024 as the industry continues to grow. What we're watching: Krajewski says his forthcoming bill, which he's working on with Rep. Dan Frankel (D-Allegheny), proposes selling cannabis through a state-run store system — similar to liquor sales. The proposal would include private licenses for growers, processors and small retail, like cafes. They're also seeking to prioritize the expungement of most marijuana-related arrests and convictions. https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2025/01/06/marijuana-weed-pot-legalization-pennsylvania-2025
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