Today, Pennsylvania State Senator Daylin Leach will formally introduce a bill to tax and regulate marijuana in Pennsylvania.
“This past November, the people of Washington State and Colorado voted to fully legalize marijuana,” said Leach. “It is time for Pennsylvania to be a leader in jettisoning this modern-day prohibition, and ending a policy that has been destructive, costly and anti-scientific.”
“NORML applauds Senator Leach for taking this important step forward to end the failed policy of marijuana prohibition in his state. Pennsylvania has long been considered a bellwether state that sets the precedent for politics across the country, as such it is both exciting and encouraging to see the Keystone State take up this crucial dialogue,” said Erik Altieri, Communications Director for NORML, “Marijuana prohibition costs the state of Pennsylvania over 300 million dollars a year in enforcement costs and tens of millions a year in lost potential tax revenue, while doing little to keep the substance out of the hands of children or lower use rates. It is time for a new policy that works for the state and its people. We encourage all of Senator Leach’s colleagues in Harrisburg to join him in this call for rational marijuana laws.”
Speaking at Monday’s press conference will be Neill Franklin, Executive Director of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, and Dr. David Nathan, a clinical associate professor from Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.
The press conference will be aired live online here at 2pm EST on February 11th.
If you live in Pennsylvania, you can easily contact your state representatives and tell them to support this legislation by visiting NORML’s Take Action Center here.
Senator Daylin Leach will be the keynote speaker at the NORML Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference, you can purchase your tickets to that event by clicking here.
NORML will keep you updated as this important reform effort moves forward in Pennsylvania. For further information, please visit PhillyNORML or Pittsburgh NORML’s websites here and here.
Thank God! I was born in Harrisburg and my grandparents lived in Camp Hill. I’ve gone on joint rides in the heart of Harrisburg and smoke in SC PA now. Would love to go to a store and buy it safely and not from some shady gangster people.
I am voting Leach if he’s in my county. Go Steelers!
The only obstacle is Tom Corbett….
This is such an outdated prohibition. In these times where our CAPITAL can’t fill its potholes and is teetering on the verge of bankruptcy we need to get real with our spending. 300 mil on catching the marijuana boogeyman is laughable anymore.
I am really starting to feel that finally we are getting down to some common sense in this country. No more prison for a substance that is patently safer than the legal substances out there.
Legalizeeeeeeeeeeee!!
Said Leach. “It is time for Pennsylvania to be a leader in jettisoning this modern-day prohibition, and ending a policy that has been destructive, costly and anti-scientific.”
Tell it like it is.
After watching the speech on the link provided in this article…I applaud Senator Leach on his and the other speakers insight and knowledge on legalizing MJ. He does know what he is talking about. And I love the fact that he said that just making it medical use is certainly not enough. It needs to be legal, regulated, and distributed like alcohol. People can grow their own within limits ….but it is finally going to be a reality…….Finally.
I have broken my back .had major surgery . Knees been reconstructed 8 times getting to b replaced. Elbow reconstructed twice . Pills r the worse drug there is . To many does afects. My favorite. Is suicidel thoughts. Fda aprooves thus . Pot does way better . Calms the nerves,relaxes the muscles. All natural. If done right millions can b made. And everyone can benefit from it . I know I have the tats . U can only get from a scalpel.
Please legalize, but keep out of the grubby hands of the PLCB.
Weed should not be a crime! It is absolutely time we legalized marijuana!
PA State Senator Daylin Leach Formally gets a SALUTE from me!!! I sincerely hope to salute the leaders here in Virginia someday. Even more than that, I would very much like to give President Obama a salute if only he would evolve on this issue as he did on gay marriage…
Like I said before:
The only obstacle is Tom Corbett….
Marijuana’s not a crime!
I support Senator Leach!
great! now we just need the republicans and more states to get on board with ending the waste hypocrisy and ludocrisy.
@freedom: You’re right! Tom Corbett is one serious dumb@ss… Maybe the voters of PA will have the intelligence to vote him out next election in favor of someone with at least half a brain!
I believe 100% marijuana is one of the best natural medicines to take.
Side effects hungry and happiness!!
Killed 0 people
And most of America loves it. The government can’t turn down this profit!!
Right on! Right on! Right on!
It’s $350 million you didn’t have before!You’ve got a manufactured public education, infrastructure, mental health services and state pension crisis. And that asshole Corbett’s scheme of privatizing the state lottery, privatizing the PLCB, and re-jiggering the pension system are all going to get tied up in the courts, so the money won’t be available by the June 30th deadline to have a balanced budget.
True Corbett is an obstacle, amongst other things.
From Senator Leach’s site from the costs link I clicked on in the article:
“In addition to raising millions of dollars per year from tax revenue, Pennsylvania would save more than $325 million per year by legalizing marijuana. The most conservative estimates say the revenue generated by taxing the sales of marijuana would amount to at least $24 million per year. Legalizing marijuana and taxing its sale could provide a multi-million dollar reoccurring revenue source that our state could tap into for years to come,” Leach said.
Corbett’s proposal would relinquish the state’s control over its liquor stores and use the $1 billion raised from licensing fees to fund a four-year state education grant program. Under the plan, schools could only use the block grant funds for school safety purposes, to create individualized learning plans, to improve reading and math skills in early elementary classrooms and for science, technology, engineering and mathematics programs. The plan would aim to resolve a major crisis our public schools faced after Corbett slashed $1 billion in education funding in his first budget.
Again, it’s money you didn’t have before!
It’s $350 million per annum you didn’t have before.
Been voting for legalization since 1975. High Times magazine and NORML have been around a long time. Why are we just now starting to see positive change in the political climate and acceptnce? Answer: Baby Boomers!
Wow The countrys going to pot.
corbett is on his way out. question is will the next govonor be in favior
i hope this goes through. tired of the lies and false info that are spread about marijuana and its medicinal miracles. some people get high just for the high, some like myself who have consulted my doctor about my issues and what marijuana does for are more responsible users with intents other than a euphoria. i support this bill and the massive revenue the state will see from the taxes applied. this state may improve after all if this is passed
I contacted my rep, Tom Marino, and this is what I received :
Thank you for contacting me regarding efforts to legalize marijuana. I appreciate hearing your views.
In response to the increasing use of marijuana and other street drugs during the 1960s, the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 (P.L. 91-513) was signed into law. Included in this law was the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) which placed marijuana and its derivatives in schedule I, the most restrictive classification. Under federal statute, simple possession of marijuana for personal use, a misdemeanor, can bring up to one year in federal prison and up to a $100,000 fine for a first offense. Growing marijuana is considered manufacturing a controlled substance, a felony. A single plant can bring an individual up to five years in federal prison and up to a $250,000 fine for a first offense.
Prior to being elected to serve the people of Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional District, I served as United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. In my capacity as a federal prosecutor, I saw firsthand the detrimental effects of marijuana use. Almost all drug offenders that I prosecuted began their drug abuse using marijuana. It is impossible for me to quantify the number of lives destroyed as a result of what started as marijuana use. Because of my experience, I do not support efforts to legalize the drug. As a member of the House Committee on the Judiciary, I will continue to strongly oppose any efforts to weaken or eliminate laws against the sale, possession, or use of marijuana.
Please continue to contact me regarding issues of importance to you. It is an honor to serve you in the U.S. House of Representatives, thank you.
He can blow me.
Its about time anyone who says once u legalize weed whts next cocaine and heroin is stupid.Marijuana is harmless and everyone knows it I say it constantly 0 ppl have died from weed how many from from alcohol hmmmm think about it
I live in buffalo,NY and if PA does legalize I can say that they will be receiving my money for marijuana that currently the state of New York is missing out on. Come on Cuomo, if you ever want a shot as president do what is right for the people of the great state of New York !
VIVA LA CHEECH N CHONG!!!!! Corbett will be the downfall, like Ridge was the destroyer of a pardon for a 16yr. old child who sold pot! Wake up the war on drugs isnt real, its only there when they need to get reelected or line their pockets. VIVA LA BOSTON GEORGE!!!!!
IF IT PASSES, MAKE SCRANTON, PA THE 1ST PLACE TO OPEN A DISPENSARY. I GOT THE STRAINS AND THE BRAINS TO M.I.H. “MAKE IT HAPPEN”. PAGE ME 057, ILL GILL FROM THE HILL IS STILL ALIVE AND KICKING!!!
YUP! Let’s see it pass.
Does anyone know the outcome of the this? Are they voting on this bill? And when?
Free the weed!!
I would LOVE to see this passed. Maybe it would keep me living where my family raised me instead of moving out to Colorado next summer.
Then again, there are a lot of older conservative folks in PA, along with the people they’ve elected. If this goes any further in PA, it’ll have to put up one hell of a fight. If the citizens of PA get to vote on the matter, though, I will campaign day and night to make it happen.
We can always vote Tom out of office in 2014! Or will the PENN STATE FOOTBALL do him in. He was the DA of the county when it first came up in the 90’s. Did he just turn his head the other way. One of those GOOD OLD BOYS CLUB
Marijuana’s not a crime but taking away people’s rights and liberty should be!
Tom Corbett, the Governor of PA, is responsible for taking away the liberty of a great many good people. He is responsible for the law enforcement policies where tactical squads of armed goons raid suspected marijuana users in the middle of the night often terrorizing them and their children and killing their pets. This practice is very much like the way the Gestapo did business and it is very disgusting!
So, everyone in PA, don’t let this guy (Tom Corbett) win any more elections!
As for PA State Senator Daylin Leach, we need a lot more good people like him!
@Anon – It seems that Tom Marino’s main reason for being against marijuana is because he mistakenly believes it lead to other things which are dangerous. This myth has been debunked many times over… He says it is an honor to serve but who is he serving? Certainly not the majority of freedom loving Americans!
I get the impression that he is ignorant and will probably never evolve on this issue unless he becomes quite certain it will cost him. As long as it hurts others then he is okay with the laws being the way they are. People like him need to go the way of the dinosaurs!
So, once again people, Tom Marino is someone who should absolutely not be voted for in any upcoming elections in PA! Him and Tom Corbett are not good human beings. They are predators that seek to profit from other’s misfortune.
this is not the first study. but my daughter is autistic with behavorial disorder. So I wonder…
http://blog.norml.org/2013/01/29/marijuana-childhood-autism-and-prohibition/
http://blog.norml.org/2013/01/29/marijuana-childhood-autism-and-prohibition/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/27/marijuana-chemical-autism-fragile-x_n_1920320.html
http://legacy.autism.com/treatable/drug/marijuana_org.htm
Even if it is done JUST for euphoria, yeah so? What are we supposed to look down on people who feel good and emotions feelings. Is there something wrong with feeling good or are we only to reward knowledge pursuits? You need both a balance of intellect and emotion to be sane. Too much of one or the other is chaos. Much like when people TRY to suppress The Mother God or feminine repression. Feeling good SHOULD be a right that we have. Not a crime, dumb-asses!
I think it should be legalized for the money it can have a great affect money wise i mean who’s not willing make extra money on something that a lot ppl like to do not to mention all over the counter and prescribed digs that way more harmful than marijuana I would rather smoke a little marijuana than to take oxicodone or ro
Yes Tommy Boy Corbett says he would veto the bill no matter what, Medical or recreational.
Hopefully someday weed will fianlly be legal in PA…..
Just need a few more old white voters to die and the ganja will be legal in every state in the union.
My Life. My Body. My Choice.
Try Idaho, where Senator Winder has introduced an anti-marijuana bill.
Cannabidiol – look it up on Wikipedia. The medicinal effects of the cannabis flower and the many uses for hemp make this quite an incredible plant. People are so easy to throw it under the bus, but why? Just legalize it already. I can’t even begin to explain the benefits of a full blown legalization. If it were controlled in the same manner as alcohol, it would be for use to adults who are of age.
I wouldn’t count on any Republican governor in PA to vote for legalization. Same goes for most of the state’s Republican legislators, as they’re all either brainwashed or on the take from cannabis’s foes’ lobby groups, i.e. pharma, drugtesters, police & prison unions, the usual suspects, etc.
Plus, you’ve got to get the MomsTell and Katie True types drowned out with folks who are like just shut the hell up, we need the money, sorry if your kid got hooked on heroin but this is pot, and sorry if your kid got in the middle of gunfire but if cannabis were legal it wouldn’t have been because of it, no telling if the gunfire was because of pot in the first place, but that’s the ax you’ve got to grind.
Lots of PA prohibitionists seem inbred because the facts are completely irrelevant and are too difficult for them to think through. Pot’s been illegal as far back as they can remember, and as far as they’re concerned that’s just the way it’s gonna be forever.
Keep running the economy into the ground until cannabis is legalized. That’s the only way it will happen, because they only way they’ll legalize is if you leave them no other choice. The pension and state funding situation is only going to get even worse the next year. If you think 2013 is bad, 2014 will be worse. Cops and prison guards have unions and pensions, and they should just either shut the fuck up or just come out and say they don’t give a shit and think cannabis should be legalized.
I saw a poll on tv that just over half of Pennsylvanians think gay marriage should be legal. Yet, the polls don’t show that much support in favor of cannabis legalization. For such an open-minded populace it seems like someone’s fucked with the poll or poll questions for cannabis to skew the results.
Keep running the economy into the ground until cannabis is legalized.
Run Corbett out of town, and hound any other politician who won’t go for the money grab and legalize cannabis!
It is about time the government wakes up and stops buying the hype. Marijuana is a natural growing plant and should be completely legal! Prohibition of it and the criminalization of it just stomps all over the peoples rights. So many lives have been destroyed due to the prosecution of possession and use of this flower! Our tax dollars are WASTED enforcing the tyranical laws against marijuana. Make it legal and let adults chose for themselves whether they want to partake or not- just like alcohol. Tyranny versus Liberty… Legalize marijuana and liberate the people!
hey anon i got the same crap from fitspatrick on this. republicans asswhips. We must vote theme out.
This is hugely symbolic. Pennsylvania has not yet been willing to even debate medical marijuana or decriminilaization, so chances of passing this term are zero.
But the fact this is being seriously proposed and debated represents huge progress. And who knows? If we get the governor out, in two more years public opinion might just put this in play!
Thank god! I might not have to go all the way to Colorado to grow buds.
Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to buy weed safely, in a store, no worries about getting busted or burned ? The same blend, same quality, guaranteed fresh. No danger, no problem.
!IMPEACH CORBETT!!! Free the trees! If we get PA, the rest will fall in line… home ! sweet Liberty! Pennsylvanians need to make this happen.
Legalizing marijuana could help generate quite a bit of revenue for PA. As with anything there will be both positive and negatives aspects surrounding the process. Regulation will be tight at first but that means all the revenue will be gathered. If it does pass I can see some great business opportunities emerging for entrepreneurs willing to break into what is sure to be a lucrative industry.
For the membership of the Old Dopers Club, I congratulate the Boomers for sticking with this cause and seeing it through! Remember, old dopers never die, we just lose our joints! Let’s help NORML see this to its well deserved legalization! And Tom Corbett can have his Riunite!
God is great, weed is good- people are crazy.
Yaaaaayyyyy!@!! Thank you! About time the nation realizes that criminalizing a plant and jailing citizens for using it is counter productive and only wastes money, resources and lives…..
If Pennsylvania wants legalized marijuana, which I’m all for by the way, it didn’t help to elect medieval politicians like Corbett back in 2010. As long as Corbett remains in power, legalization will only be a pipe dream. If Pennsylvania re-elects Corbett in 2014, then Pennsylvania can forget about legalization until 2018. Is that what Pennsylvania wants?
Only reason corebutt won is cause only the 50s alcohol generation got out to vote. I voted for the Democrat. And will again.
Only reason corebutt won is cause only the 50s alcohol generation voted. I voted for the Democrat. And will again.
VOTE EVERY 2 YEARS — EVEN # YEARS — 2014, 2016, 2018 ETC.
“Corbett is on his way out. question is will the next govonor be in favior” sic
—
Likely not.
If Corbett is a problem either work around him, is not PA like many other states where enough votes in the legislature can override a veto? The question is how do you make it in his (or the next gov’ners) best interest to no be a roadblock. The anwser is very simple, just hard to actually get done – have the voters overwhelmingly on your side a vocal about it.
Legalizing marijuana would help PA. People would be less violent. Also the money from selling weed legally would help out the economy. Anxiety and stress levels would drop drastically. We need this to happen in PA and all over the world. Alcohol and cigarettes are legal and weed should be as well. Hopefully Leach’s Bill is passed and also thank you for proposing this bill.
Not only should this be legalized in PA, but the tax revenue (in places like Pittsburgh) could be used to re-invest in proper repairs and operating expenses for sustaining infrastructure; especially the Pittsburgh Port Authority mass transit system.
Look at Hawaii. the ppl want to legalize it. they percent to the House & it got Denied. Even though the ” ” polls said yes. What make you all think that this will pass? I want it legalized too. And reading everyone comments. It’s on point that weed should be legal. Hell if it doesn’t work out after being legalized. They can always make illegal again.
Weed or marijuana,is a herb. It is like ginseng,u use it in products.Marijuana is a herb that helps with stress and anxiety. People who use it,don’t harm other people. We need to stop living in the dark ages. You need to think how much more money it would bring into Pa and our country. No more worries about people bringing it in illegally into our country. It can be taxed like tobacco and alcohol. Alcohol and tobacco kills people, weed does not. And it does not lead you to other drugs. People make choices to do other drugs, weed does not.
ok so Corbett wants to privatize the liquor stores. then turn them into weed stores. Or not privatize liquor at all. His going to just make it easy for our kids to get booze by, stealing it. If he privatize alcahol. So there goes the crime rate in theifs.
I want it legal also but I love the government for letting me put another 30 grand In my pocket for getting rid of it
corbet is unfair. we the people have the right to vote and half of pa wantes it legalized so what are voices arent herd. this is america and corbet needs to listen to our word. we have every right. we have all the positive facts that he needs to look at not just sayn o its bad cause old wifes tales. this is bullshit. corbet is so wrong impeach him. he has done nothing for pa.
It says he formally introduced the bill on February 11th, however if you go to the senate website the bill doesn’t show up as being introduced, only his letter that he sent to other members of the senate on January 4th.
oh so does this mean if they legalIze it in PA i won’t have to get my grass from junkies and crack-heads who burn me and rob me and steal my money? oh the joys of prohibition…
I read a story on Google news a week ago and a man in a small Pennsylvania town was getting his home taken away from him because he was ‘caught’ growing 3 cannabis plants…Don’t think Pennsylvania is gonna legalize anytime too soon…The home of papa JOE…Make me barf!!!
again I support this bill 110%. Lets add some food for thought. Maybe they don’t want to legalize it yet b/c, the government is testing the waters now. With CO & WA state. Too see how it may turn out. then again I could be wrong & Corbett is just, a real jack ass.
I have an old friend who lived in Colorado until this year when his Mom got sick and needed help. He has muscle spasms and back in Colorado he would eat a pastry with the proper dose of Medical Marijuana and could sleep through the night. There he was a well respected member of the community. Here in Pa he is a criminal. He moved back to Pa and now he has to go buy his medicine on the street or in a bar, with no quality control. Why does it take so long to get the good laws enacted when so many bad laws appear over night. I use Hemp seed oil for arthritis I cant ever start a business in that field. I have some of the best farmland under my feet and could use a job , growing and producing hemp and hemp products.
This would be both beneficial for the state of PA financially and physically for the people suffering with chronic pain. There would be a major decrease of addiction from opiates. This is the most important! There’s a major problem in this country with opiate overdoses. Please pass this bill.
http://www.thedailychronic.net/2013/15519/federal-medical-marijuana-bills-introduced-today/
AG Kane has nixed Corbett’s plan to privatize the Pennsylvania Lottery by basically having Camelot (British company) sign a 20-year contract. That in and of itself is dubious because there is not short-term trial or probationary period. What if they sucked right from the get-go and you were locked into a contract with them for 20 years? Pennsylvania law does not allow for monitor/video games such as Camelot’s suggestion for Keno, which is their main idea for how to increase profits. Who knows what else Camelot has planned?
Corbett also wants to privatize the state liquor store system, and convert the money into block grants for schools over a 4-year period. However, feedback on that from school districts has been negative according to newspaper reports. Superintendents are saying they don’t want to start new programs or rely on the money because it will dry up. They want a steady revenue stream to bring the state funding back up to where is used to be before the state kept reducing its share and put the burden ever more on local school boards to raise local taxes. This is where Senator Leach’s ideas for legalizing cannabis in Pennsylvania provide that revenue stream.
Corbett is telling Pennsylvanians to think in a modern way when he wants us to go along with his half-assed ideas.
Corbett said:
“Now is not the time to be timid in our approach. Now is not the time to cling to old ideas and the status quo,” he said. “Now is not the time to make small changes and expect big results.”
However, it was reported on central Pennsylvania television news that he said that he would veto any such legislation to legalize cannabis in any way.
So, let me get this straight. Corbett has no problem with more gambling, which brings with it more chances of more gambling addictions. Corbett has no problem with more availability of alcoholic beverages via privatization, which brings with it more chances of alcohol addictions, not to mention more of a concentration of liquor stores in economically distressed neighborhoods.
Yet Corbett, DOES
continuing where cut off before
Yet Corbett DOES HAVE A PROBLEM WITH FEWER CHILDREN GETTING ACCESS TO CANNABIS BECAUSE THEY WILL HAVE TO PRESENT PROOF OF AGE. He DOES HAVE A PROBLEM with people having more access to cannabis via a legal market because there will be higher chances of more people having addiction problems with it.
Well, why doesn’t he run a decent public education campaign on it and fund addiction counseling centers?
Predictably, the local rag of a newspaper–well several rags of newspapers that run in the Harrisburg area–have run editorials denouncing Senator Leach’s plan. They’re using the same tired old prohibitionist arguments: the children, the message to children, a pothead on every street corner, more widespread availability. I have to say at first I was appalled at the lack of rationality and intelligence, but then realized that the editors simply dug out a previously run editorial saved on their computer somewhere, changed this or that, and then ran the same old trash. Without outing anyone at any of the newspapers about whom anything might be known of their pot-smoking days, I completely dismissed the editorials as acts of people who simply do not want out of the cannabis closet. How many of them partied in college, wrote legalization articles and editorials in their college newspapers, yet now will not do the same in the rags that now circulate in the commonwealth? Anyone who knows anything should keep their mouths shut. Big city editorials should admonish editorial boards in small-minded communities far from intellectual centers of civilization, Philly and Pittsburgh, where there are actually Ph.D.-granting universities in competition with one another. Penn State main campus doesn’t count because it has no competition in the greater State College area. It’s land grant anyway.
With Corbett’s brainfarts to privatize the lottery, the state store system and fuck over the cops, firemen and other public sector employees on their pension plans by making them get less benefits via a lower multiplier, Senator Leach’s plan ought to be touted as looking better and better. The General Assembly can tax Marcellus Shale and go with Leach’s plan.
It’s looking like Daylin and his backers and co-sponsors are the only ones with any brains. Nobody else is coming up with any plans other than just letting the shit hit the fan and voting somebody else into the governor’s office in 2014.
Why wait?!
“In addition to raising millions of dollars per year from tax revenue, Pennsylvania would save more than $325 million per year by legalizing marijuana. The most conservative estimates say the revenue generated by taxing the sales of marijuana would amount to at least $24 million per year. Legalizing marijuana and taxing its sale could provide a multi-million dollar reoccurring revenue source that our state could tap into for years to come,” Leach said.
So this plan could free up about $350 million per year. The alternative would generate a quick $1 billion, but then permanently lose the state store income for the state. The debate should be interesting.
Agree with everybody and they should legalize it for a million different reasons, just will Corbet do it, I understands he says he’ll veto but if he wants a chance to get re-elected he might change his mind, but I don’t think he even wants to get re-elected so I’m not sure how this will work out, I’m hoping for the best. It’ll defintely be a huge money maker and save a ton of money from prosecuting people for it and having them go through the court system and for me as a kid it was easier for me to get weed than alcohol just because it was in the street with easy access as people werent in the street selling alcohol.
This kind of editorial shit is the battle.
http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/816408_Pot-pushing-in-Pa–Legislature.html
By LANCASTER NEW ERA (Feb. 16, 2013)
A Democratic state lawmaker from suburban Philadelphia plans to reintroduce a bill that would legalize marijuana in Pennsylvania.
State Rep. Daylin Leach was the prime sponsor of one of two medical-marijuana bills that died in committee at the end of last year.
Leach’s latest one deserves the same fate.
In supporting outright legalization of pot, Leach rolled out the time-worn economic argument for taxing the drug in a way similar to alcohol, which would generate much-needed revenue for state coffers.
But if raising revenue is the only aim, why not legalize prostitution, the so-called world’s oldest profession? Surely revenues would compare to that generated by pot heads.
Leach and others also point to medicinal benefits of pot-smoking for people suffering from terminal illnesses, such as cancer.
Yet pot-smoking is a two-edged sword &tstr; providing a “high,” no question about that. But there are certain health risks to marijuana smoking, including ill-effects on the brain from chronic use. Not to mention pot being a gateway to other illicit drugs.
How many families are destroyed by the chronic user of pot? How many pot-smokers move on to cocaine and heroin?
Leach claims to have the support of law enforcement, saying legalizing pot would reduce crime and violence. But that’s a guess and nothing more.
The lawmaker argues that pot and alcohol are no different. If that’s the case, it follows that pot-smokers would add dramatically to the numbers of people who get behind the wheel of a car when they shouldn’t. How scary.
Despite setbacks in the last two sessions of the Legislature, Leach is forging ahead to have a pot head on every street corner in Pennsylvania.
Doesn’t he get it?
Unlike some other states, Pennsylvania citizens are not in the mood to relax the pot laws.
Leach and the Legislature have far more pressing issues to deal with &tstr; public employee pension reform, transportation funding, and more.
Leach’s proposal deserves to go up in smoke.
Read more: http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/816408_Pot-pushing-in-Pa–Legislature.html#ixzz2LTpPLmTV
Pennsylvania should send delegations to both Washington state and Colorado to gather information to bring back and report on. How much money are they intending to make? How can that be applied to Pennsylvania, and how much can it bail out the state from its pension funding problems, public education funding problems, infrastructure problems. Corbett has this idea of raising the tax on gas stations, which will only be passed on to me. If cannabis can be regulated in a tax structure that will do all of that, or at least much of it, the public ought to up it in the polls. I’ll be looking for it in the news and on the reform group sites. I’d love to get paid some big bucks to do that and make the transition in the state, but I have to keep groveling plugging away at my sucky job.
The Oracle: Im pretty sure they are working that. It’s going to take more than 4-5 months for them to find out. when they do it that info. Hopefully PA would regret going against this bill.
http://redalertpolitics.com/2013/02/18/marijuana-legalization-panel-was-big-hit-at-libertarian-student-conference/
http://www.thereporteronline.com/article/20130220/NEWS01/130229947/bill-to-legalize-marijuana-in-pa-unveiled
For Tourism?
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323864304578316521035888206.html
It is time for PA to legalize marijuana ! I do not like my son or dauther buying from drug dealers at 21 he or she should be able to buy it “LEGALY”
I recently got out on probation for 6 months for haven a small bud and a grinder container i had on a campen trip ! Totally ridiculous I spent 1500 for an attorney and the probation will cost 1200 and they will be piss testen me! I’m a hard worken American thats healthyand never been in trouble! Please help put an end to this maddness!! Alcohol and tobacco is so much worse on the body than marajanua!!
About 12 million in PA. Lets say 50% support legalization. And let’s say 50% of supporters smoke an average of 1 ounce per month. That is 3 million ounces a month. Lets say it is a tax of $25 per ounce. That’s $75 million a month. $900 million a year! Divide that between education roads and health care. Make the tax $50 an ounce like Maryland is proposing now the pension funds are filled. Just sayin… And drug dealers don’t ID but they make lots of money. Put alcohol in private stores and make new state stores with cannabis not alcohol!
It’s not just Pot, he has also added Hemp to the list too…
I have personally been corresponding with him on constructing gowing facilities and plants.
I justhit up Corbetts 2 big facebook pages. Complain how it’s a win win for the both of us. If he shuts down the beer & spirit shops for his Privatication of liquor. He should turn those old shops to weed stores. Then employment will rise & more tax money. But I m still against the Privatication of liquor. Even though I go like to drink.
PEOPLE WILL ALWAYS SMOKE MARAJANUA. HAVENT WE FIGUIRED THAT OUT YET. STOP THE BLACK MARKET BY LEGALIZING MARAJANUA, #1 TAX’S ON MARAJANUA WOULD PAY FOR SOCIAL SECURITY AND THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM AND REPAIR OUR NATION TO WHAT IT ONCE WAS #2 LESS PEOPLE IN JAIL #3 USED AS A MEDICATION FOR PEOPLE #4 PEOPLES HEALTH WOULD IMPROVE, WHY BECAUSE THEY WILL HAVE AN OPTION OTHER THAN DRINKING. NAME ANY ILLNESS THAT COMES FROM MARAJANUA. NOW ON THE SAME TOKEN NAME ANY ILLNESS THAT COMES FROM DRINKING. THAT LIST IS BIG. HEALTH CARE ISSUES WOULD GO DOWN WITH MARAJANUA WHICH IS GREATLY NEEDED DUE TO THE BABY BOOMERS. NOTE THE GOVERNMET SHOULDN’T HAVE TO STEP IN. THERE IS MUCH TO SAY ABOUT THE SUBJECT HOWEVER CHANGING NOTHING AND STAYING ON THE PATH WERE ON IS A VERY BAD ROAD HOW WILL THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TAKE CARE OF IT’S OLD. AND WAR VETERANS!!!
I suffer from MS and wish I could try this natural medicine but due to PA law I cannot. Why is this benign substance illegal for those of us suffering. Why Why Why is it the pharmaceutical companies or just ignorance. I’m so frustrated as I’m sure many others are as the law is just inane. I have lost so much weight and think this would help me and I’m sure many others immensely. Please have compassion for your fellow man and legalize marijuana or at the very least medicinal marijuana. Thank you for your time concerning this important issue.
i agree it will regulated but i think there should be permet for personal use im not sure if they will beable to regulated tightly to many seed bank to many seed out there. Too easy grow in your yard or i your house but nice to pay and have something already processed and packed. I sort kind of hope it wont be titly regulated so peopel dont get inrouble for growing it. although i dont think they can stop people from growing and if leglaziaed it wont be criminal charge just a fine.
agree it will regulated but i think there should be permit for personal use im not sure if they will be able to regulated tightly too many seed bank too many seeds out there. Too easy grow in your yard or your house, but nice to pay and have something already processed and packed. I sort kind of hope it won’t be titly regulated so people don’t get in trouble for growing it. although i dont think they can stop people from growing and if leglaziaed it wont be criminal charge just a fine.
Revisiting this crucial moment in PA history. I’m hoping you’re still ‘TOTALLY’ onboard with the legalization of marijuana I PA.
Medical marijuana legislation is invariably a pro-life emergency. Pro-life in respect to sustaining a life and providing a positive and safe quality-improved life rather than not.
Could someone update me on all those running for office in 2014 whom support the legalization of marijuana for PA and for Medicinal-Use Marijuana.