Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman (D-Braddock) has always been a proponent of legalizing marijuana for recreational use. He campaigned on it when running for U.S. Senate in 2016 and for lieutenant governor last year. He believes it can bring in significant revenue for state coffers and play a big part in criminal-justice reform.
But in his first big move as a newly elected statewide official, Fetterman is putting his personal opinions on the back burner and embarking on a 67-county listening tour to hear constituents thoughts on recreational marijuana.
His first stop will be at a Cannabis Education Forum hosted by state Rep. Ed Gainey (D-East Liberty), Jan. 26 in Homewood.
“We recognize that there will be a diversity of opinions,” says Fetterman. “We want this to be a fully participatory conversation.”
For those that missed their chance to meet with Fetterman, his office is also creating a website where Pennsylvanians can share their opinions on recreational marijuana.
Fetterman says the tour is about getting out of “echo chambers” when talking about marijuana. He realizes that everyone doesn’t share his opinions. He says that Pennsylvanians have a broad spectrum on opinions on the matter; people in Potter County might think differently than people in Pittsburgh.
“I am looking forward to the culturally conservative areas,” says Fetterman. “I am excited to hear these views.”
He also recognizes that his counterparts on the Republican side of the aisle have already indicated they don’t support any legalization efforts. But Fetterman says that politicians and constituents alike are welcome to weigh in.
“I am happy to meet with any representative and they will be invited,” says Fetterman. “I would be honored to share a stage with state [Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman]. This is about listening.”
A poll taken in September 2017 shows that 59 percent of Pennsylvanians support legalizing recreational marijuana. State Auditor General Eugene DePasquale estimates the state could see $580 million in annual revenue through marijuana legalization, not to mention the potential savings in the judiciary system since marijuana possession would no longer be a crime. A bill to legalize recreational marijuana has already been introduced in the state legislature by state Rep. Jake Wheatley (D-Hill District).
Fetterman also has the support of Gov. Tom Wolf, who was not initially a proponent of legalizing recreational use. Wolf tweeted in Dec. 2018 that Pennsylvania should “take a serious and honest look at recreational marijuana.”
Fetterman expects the tour will make multiple stops in large counties, but he wants to reach all 67 counties in the commonwealth. Fetterman hopes to wrap up the listening tour in the next three months, but says it could be extended through August.
Cannabis Education Forum. Jan. 26, 12-4 p.m. Homewood Brushwood Carnegie Library. 7101 Hamilton Ave., Homewood.
This article appears in January 23, 2019 – Pittsburgh City Paper.
Those who believe in limited government, personal responsibility, free markets, and individual liberty should embrace the ending of this irrational, un-American cannabis prohibition. It should be the cornerstone of current GOP policy.
Federal studies show about half of the U.S. population has tried cannabis, at least 15% use it regularly, over 80% of high school seniors have reported cannabis “easy to get” for decades. This prohibition, like alcohol prohibition has had little of its intended effect. In many cases cannabis prohibition makes cannabis usage problematic where it would not have been otherwise, be it light, moderate, or heavy usage. For the most part, cannabis prohibition only successfully prohibits effective regulation.
A few issues created by prohibition: there are no quality controls to reduce contaminants (harmful pesticides, molds, fungus, other drugs), there is no practical way to prevent regular underage sales, billions in tax revenue are lost which can be used for all substance abuse treatment, underground markets for all drugs are empowered as a far more popular substance is placed within them expanding their reach and increasing their profits, criminal records make pursuing many decent careers difficult, police and court resources are unnecessarily tied up by pursuing and prosecuting victimless ‘crimes’, public mistrust and disrespect for our legal system, police, and government is increased, which is devastating our country.
Prohibition is also very expensive, though, a cash cow for a number of powerful groups such as those related to law enforcement and the prison industry. These organizations have powerful lobbies and influence that perpetuate a failed drug policy through ignorance, fear, disinformation and misinformation. This ensures an endless supply of lucrative contracts, grants and subsidies from the government and its taxpayers to support their salaries, tools of the trade, ‘correctional’ services, and other expenses. Cash, property and other assets from civil forfeiture laws also significantly fatten their coffers while often violating civil rights.
America was built on the principles of freedom and liberty. In some cases there are extreme circumstances that warrant intervention with criminal law. In the case of mind-altering drugs we have already set this precedent with alcohol. Cannabis is less harmful than alcohol to the consumer and especially to others. If we are to have justice, then the penalties for using, possessing and selling cannabis should be no worse than those of alcohol.