Pennsylvania House passes recreational marijuana legalization

HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) – Pennsylvania House lawmakers have passed a bill to legalize recreational marijuana.

The vote on Wednesday afternoon passed on party lines, 102 Democrats voting yea and 101 Republicans voting nay. Earlier this week, the bill passed through a House committee, also on a party-line vote.

The bill, known as the Cannabis Health & Safety Act, goes to the Republican-controlled State Senate, where its future is uncertain. A similar bill passed in the Democrat-controlled State House last year but did not advance through the Senate.

House Democrats say the bill would give adults 21 and older “the power of choice,” as well as create a public retail system “with accountability.” Democrats say the bill also protects both residents’ health and Pennsylvania minors, and will “bring home billions of dollars.”

Pennsylvania House Republican Leader Jesse Topper (R-Bedford/Fulton) said following the vote that this was a “flawed process” that created a “flawed” bill.

“The bill to legalize marijuana in Pennsylvania was introduced at the end of the day Sunday and then rushed through a committee vote on Monday afternoon, a move that stifled debate and potential amendments,” Topper said. “That flawed process led to a seriously flawed piece of legislation that creates an unnecessary government monopoly over the sale of marijuana, contains significant constitutional concerns, and fails to deliver on promised state revenue by cannibalizing the sales of legalized marijuana into new programs and state giveaways.”

Governor Josh Shapiro has called for the legalization of marijuana as part of his state budget.