Pennsylvania Lawmakers Push for Marijuana Legalization

Democratic state representatives Rick Krajewski and Dan Frankel have announced plans to introduce legislation to legalize recreational marijuana in Pennsylvania, citing the state's lagging status as an 'outlier' with 24 other states having already legalized it. The proposed bill aims to establish a regulated cannabis market focusing on public health, generate significant state revenue, and address social equity issues by supporting communities disproportionately affected by past cannabis criminalization. Efforts are underway to secure legislative support for the bill, which also promises restorative justice measures and the expungement of past marijuana-related convictions. The lawmakers emphasize the moral obligation to repair damages caused by decades of marijuana arrests, particularly in communities of color, and stress the need to learn from the challenges faced by other states. The initiative is part of a broader push to modernize state policies and prevent further loss of public revenue to neighboring states with legal cannabis markets.