Thoughts from the void: Cannabis and Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania's governor was initially opposed to adult recreational cannabis legalization but is now in favor of cannabis adult use. It's Lt. Governor John Fetterman has been one of the most vocal supporters of recreational use legalization in recent times. Recreational use legalization faces political hurdles mainly from Republican lawmakers, according to reports. The Northeast region of the US is starting to heat up with New Jersey legalizing recreational use and New York inching towards it. Recreational sales in Pennsylvania could bring in more than $1 billion annually, as per estimates, making the northeast one of the largest US markets.

The state's medical schools and universities have embraced research into cannabis like no other and are some of the leaders in terms of university and medical school engagement with cannabis. “The research component of Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana program sets it apart from the rest of the nation,” Department of Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine said. “Pennsylvania’s premiere medical schools will be able to help shape the future of treatment for patients not just here, but across the country. These are patients suffering from serious medical conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and opioid use disorder.” The University of Pennsylvania has launched a hemp cultivation program and received state approval to study medical cannabis according to Chicago Sun Times. State Medical schools can team up with more than one medical cannabis company to do research.

Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene Depasquale is warning that the Commonwealth and Philadelphia, especially, could lose millions of dollars in revenue if recreational marijuana is not legalized in the state.

Meanwhile many cannabis users face law enforcement action as the plant remains illegal for recreational use. Many, especially the youth, the poor, minorities, indigenous communities, the elderly and the ill are still forced to buy cannabis from the illegal market or to resort to dangerous synthetic drugs such as heroin, fentanyl and other opioids, methamphetamine, cocaine, benzodiazepines, synthetic cannabinoids, novel psychotropic substances and abuse of prescription drugs in the absence of the natural recreational plant with thousands of years of proven safe usage.

At least 35 US states have legalized cannabis for medical use so far. The federal US government however continues to keep cannabis in the Schedule 1 list of banned substances saying that it has no medicinal value. The list of US states that have legalized adult recreational cannabis is available here. All these states have legalized cannabis for adult recreational use, aimed specifically at improving public health, ensuring equity, reducing crime, decreasing the black market, improving law enforcement, reforming criminal justice, improving the economy, agriculture and industry, to name just a few reasons.

Listed below are articles taken from various media related to the above subject. Words in italics are the thoughts of your truly at the time of reading the article.

The cannabis death count..
https://twitter.com/JohnFetterman/status/1253277973635117056

'Pennsylvania’s medical cannabis market, praised for its smooth operation, is expected to nearly double to $400 million-$500 million in sales this year and reach $1 billion in sales within three or four years.

Buoyed by the market’s success, current licensees have become acquisition targets even in the current tough economic climate – with deal prices moving north of $25 million in some cases, experts say.

Pennsylvania, the fifth-most-populated state in the country, also is increasingly viewed as a market poised to legalize recreational marijuana'
https://mjbizdaily.com/pennsylvania-successful-medical-cannabis-market-brightens-recreational-prospects/

'However, the conversation on police reform cannot simply start and end with these measures, and it must include a reexamination of our entire criminal justice system. We should be repealing mandatory sentencing and reducing over-policing (which includes finally legalizing adult-use marijuana)'
https://www.poconorecord.com/opinion/20200707/lt-gov-john-fetterman-discretion-and-de-escalation-are-police-officerrsquos-strongest-tools