Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf Now Supports Legalizing Recreational Marijuana

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: NBC10/AP

Gov. Tom Wolf says he is now in favor of legalizing marijuana for recreational use in Pennsylvania, and is asking lawmakers to consider it.

Wolf's announcement Wednesday advances his position from last December, when he signaled that he was open to taking a look at it as it gathered popularity and momentum, particularly in bordering states. Before last winter, he had dismissed the idea.

Wolf, a Democrat, made the announcement while releasing a report from Lt. Gov. John Fetterman's statewide listening tour on legalizing marijuana.

Wolf has long supported decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana, although the Legislature hasn't passed legislation to that effect, and he signed legislation in 2016 creating Pennsylvania's medical marijuana program.

Read more: https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Pennsylvania-Tom-Wolf-Supports-Legalizing-Recreational-Marijuana-561348901.html

[Voltaire2]

1. given that people are freaking dying from (most likely) black market vape cartridges with dubious

contents, legalization is now more compelling than ever.

[bucolic_frolic]

2. I remain opposed

I think it should be strictly regulated. We already have drunk drivers, texting drivers, and now we will have stoned drivers.

[phandancer917]

4. Luckily for us....

....your opinion is just that.

100s of 1000s of young lives turned upside down over a drug that was made illegal to help Timber barons and oppress black folk. It is a fucking CRIME that it is illegal while alcohol (1000s of deaths a year due to overdose, traffic accidents and personal violence) remains unchecked.

I do share you concern about safety, but I think you can simply look at traffic stats in Colorado/Cali/Washington to see that there has been NO uptick in accidents/deaths on the road due to stoned drivers. It is not like NO ONE smoked weed until it was legal....

[The Wizard]

6. I was hit from behind by a driver

who was fatigued from driving too many hours without a break. This is legal.

[GReedDiamond]

5. Here in California, where it's legal recreationally...

...there ARE strict regulations, especially when it comes to driving stoned.

Also, we have ALWAYS had "stoned drivers" - that's nothing new, except before it was rare to be charged with a DUI.

Now you risk a DUI if you drive high.

But go ahead and keep cannabis illegal so peoples lives may be ruined for simple possession.

Long live The War On Drugs!

[RobinA]

7. Yeah, Because

no one drives stoned now!

[Brainfodder]

8. Same deference to alcohol?

You lose this argument....

Responsible users do not drive overly stoned, it's a horrible experience in general for me, I avoid it.

If you are foolishly driving around while toking, yeah I want you off the road!

Helps too many things, it's embarrassing it was made illegal in the first place.

[bucolic_frolic]

9. It's an opinion, it's not about winning or losing a nonexistent argument

I don't drink and drive. I rarely drink. You are right, it's the irresponsible users of anything that are the problem. There are many recurring DUI's. They might be half the problem. We could educate more. We could interdict in bars and clubs. I always ask friends if they're ok to drive. Not that I have the power to stop them. Instead we let the DUI's occur and deal with the consequences. It pays a lot of enforcement bills and salaries. That money could be spent in prevention, but the existing system would collapse. How would lawyers and courts stay in business?

[BannonsLiver]

10. The 1980s called and wants its talking points back

I have some bad news for you. Those with your POV have lost the war.

[bucolic_frolic]

11. I don't believe that

and your post is ageist. May you reap the benefits of your excesses.

[BannonsLiver]

12. 33 states and counting have some form of legalized marijuana

More will be added this election cycle. The good guys won.

Btw, I made no reference to your age. My point was that your talking points were out of date. But you knew that already.

[bucolic_frolic]

13. I think you are being rather rude.

You DID make reference to the 1980s, making me feel OLD. That is called ageism, and I find it offensive. No i I did not "KNOW THAT ALREADY". You should stop taunting me by trying to put words in my mouth and thinking you know what is going on in my mind.

The good guys "won" is a matter of opinion. Not if they encounter the consequences of their lifestyle and the misdeeds their medicated judgment gets them into.

Peace.

[DeminPennswoods]

14. Lt Gov Fetterman went on a listening tour

regarding legalizing recreational marijuana. He must have given Gov Wolf a positive recommendation.

[BumRushDaShow]

15. Took some digging but he did actually release the report yesterday

Lt. Gov. Fetterman Releases Report Following Marijuana Legalization Tour
Wednesday, September 25th 2019, 5:24 PM EDT by Cody Carlson

Harrisburg, PA (WENY)-- It’s been a little over four months since Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman wrapped up his statewide marijuana listening tour. From February to May, Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman traveled to each of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties, listening to what residents thought about the idea of legalizing recreational marijuana. Today, he released a final report detailing results of that tour. “If you are opposed to the recreational use, adult use of cannabis, that is the minority view now in Pennsylvania. A significant majority of Pennsylvanians support adult-use cannabis here in Pennsylvania,” Lieutenant Governor Fetterman says.

According to the Lieutenant Governor’s report, 65 to 70 percent of Pennsylvania residents support the legalization of adult-use marijuana. Residents also saw a potential economic impact through job support, and saving funds on prosecution and incarceration for marijuana offenses. The report also showed there was plenty of support for decriminalizing marijuana, expunging records related to non-violent, small cannabis-related offenses, and removing marijuana from the classification as a Schedule 1 drug. “This is unanimous. There wasn’t one single individual, not one single citizen across Pennsylvania that came to our meetings that cannabis belonged in that classification,” says Lieutenant Governor Fetterman.

As a result of the report, Governor Tom Wolf is calling on the legislature for three things. For the Legislature to get a Bill on his desk to decriminalize non-violent, small cannabis related offenses. For the Legislature to find a path to expunge past convictions of non-violent, small cannabis related offenses. Finally, for the legislature to seriously debate legalization of recreational marijuana. He also shared his support for the legalization of recreational marijuana. “There are multiple Bills introduced to advance that measure, and with support from many legislators including Jake Wheatley in the House and Senator Sharif Street in the Senate, that they agree with the many Pennsylvanians with making adult-use regulated marijuana use legal. That includes me. I agree with that,” Governor Wolf explains.

Governor Wolf says as lawmakers, they should listen to what the people of Pennsylvania want, and recreational marijuana legalization is something they want.

https://www.weny.com/story/41100964/lt-gov-fetterman-releases-report-following-marijuana-legalization-tour

REPORT: https://www.governor.pa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Pennsylvania-Report-on-Adult-Use-Recreational-Marijuana-1.pdf (PDF)