Pennsylvania House Subcommittee Hears from Citizens and Experts About Cannabis Legalization

The Pennsylvania House Subcommittee on Health Care on Wednesday heard from citizens and medical experts about legalizing cannabis for adult use, WGAL reports. State Rep. Dan Frankel (D) indicated that the issue could come up for a vote in front of the full House next year. 

“We know that there are some states in this country that have done it poorly, and we want to learn those lessons as we craft something here.” — Frankel via WGAL 

State Rep. Paul Schemel (R), the subcommittee’s minority chairman, said he believed that “every state has gotten it wrong.” 

“To think that this bad milk, if we put it back in the refrigerator as good milk, would be making the same error those states have,” he said during the hearing.  

Frankel noted that people in Pennsylvania are already consuming cannabis that is untested, unregulated, and untaxed, and that state lawmakers can implement safety controls and the state can earn revenue through cannabis sales.  

State Rep. Chris Rabb (D), a member of the House Cannabis Caucus, said that lawmakers should not look at the reforms solely as a revenue generator, but also as a criminal justice issue. Rabb, who is a registered medical cannabis patient in the state, added that the state has “to have some moral consistency” as “everyone acknowledged alcohol is far more dangerous than cannabis.” In Pennsylvania, alcohol is sold through state-run stores.  

Dr. Kent Vrana with Penn State University told lawmakers there are concerns about more people consuming cannabis and the potential for more intoxicated drivers, along with the potential for children to access cannabis-infused edibles.