By State Rep. Kinkead

The War on Drugs has been a complete and utter failure. As addiction and overdose death rates continue to climb every year, it has become abundantly clear that criminalizing a substance does not deter its use and, in many ways, creates more problems than it solves. In 2024, it makes no sense at all to continue arresting people for possessing cannabis, perhaps the least harmful recreational drug. But in 2022, over 12,000 people were arrested in Pennsylvania for cannabis crimes.

Aside from the countless lives ruined, Pennsylvania is also missing out on participating in a multi-billion-dollar industry by delaying the inevitable legalization of cannabis. With the exception of West Virginia, all of Pennsylvania’s neighboring states have now legalized. And Ohio’s dispensaries will soon open, with the majority of their stores on our western border seeking to capture Pennsylvania dollars into their market.

To prevent future harms of cannabis criminalization and allow us to participate in this booming industry, I have introduced, with my Republican colleague state Rep. Aaron Kaufer, who represents parts of Luzerne County on the other side of the state, a new bill to finally legalize adult-use recreational cannabis in Pennsylvania. Our legislation, H.B. 2500, is a comprehensive, bipartisan plan combining the best aspects of existing recreational programs in other states, as well as previous proposals that have been floated to legalize here in the Commonwealth. A big part of our plan involves providing opportunities for small farms and businesses to have a stake in the recreational market, especially in Black and brown communities, and for women, veterans, and areas where criminalization has done the most damage.

One study estimates that after adult-use cannabis is legalized in Pennsylvania, the industry would generate roughly $2.1 billion in sales, support 33,350 new jobs, and bring in up to $530 million in state and local taxes in its first year. With this large of an anticipated economic impact, any proposal to legalize absolutely must prioritize economic opportunities for the communities that have been devastated by criminalization. Through measures such as expungement of prior non-violent cannabis offenses and prioritizing licenses for small and minority-owned businesses, H.B. 2500 seeks to promote fairness and inclusivity within the industry.

Recent polling indicates that two thirds of registered voters support legalization. The initiative has broad, bipartisan support from state and local officials in rural, urban, and suburban areas. Pennsylvanians want legal cannabis, and it’s our job as lawmakers to deliver a legal framework focused on public safety, consumer protection, social equity, and criminal justice reform. We’ve proven we can safely and successfully operate a medical program, so why shouldn’t we move to recreational? Now is the time to legalize.

If you want to learn more about my bill to legalize cannabis or other legislation I’m working on, reach out to my office by emailing RepKinkead@pahouse. net, calling (412) 321-5523, or stopping by to see us at 658 Lincoln Ave. in Bellevue. My staff and I are here to answer your questions and help you however we can with any state-related issues.