A new effort to legalize recreational cannabis is coming to the Keystone State. Pennsylvania lawmakers Daylin Leach and Sharif Street are hoping to build support for their latest proposal, Senate Bill 350 which they introduced on October 15th. The bill would allow for both home delivery and the automatic expungement of many previous criminal convictions related to marijuana. The bill’s supporters estimate it will generate $500 million in tax revenue within twelve months.
In contrast to the approach of many other states, Senate Bill 350 contains a provision allowing home grower permits for personal use. The bill also envisions “use lounges” where individuals can legally consume marijuana brought from outside the establishment.
“An end to the prohibition of cannabis is overdue,” Senator Street said in a release. “It is time for us to join the emerging cannabis economy with the legalization of the Adult Use of Cannabis in PA., which should not be a crime when responsibly used by adults nor mandate medical oversight.”
“Pennsylvania’s cannabis policy is cruel, irrational and expensive,” Senator Leach said. “Prohibition has destroyed countless lives and has cost taxpayers millions.”
“We need to stop arresting our kids and funding violent drug cartels,” Leach continued. “This is going to be a tough battle, but so was passing medical marijuana. We did that, and we’ll do this too. The stakes are too high for us to fail.”