Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro is once again using his administration's annual state budget proposal to pitch adult-use recreational cannabis in his state.
The proposal sets legalization of adult use cannabis for July 1, 2025, with sales within Pennsylvania beginning January 1, 2026. It also suggests an investment of $10 million in restorative justice initiatives from adult use cannabis proceeds, in addition to the immediate expungement of the records of those incarcerated for only a possession related offense attributed to cannabis. The budget also proposes a $25 million investment to help new small and small diverse businesses enter the new marketplace.
Pennsylvania anticipates its industry will yield $250 million annually in additional revenue, and will generate $1.3 billion over the first five years.
"This budget recognizes that the time has come for Pennsylvania to legalize adult use cannabis. Almost all of Pennsylvania’s neighbors have legalized adult use cannabis, including New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and Ohio. Pennsylvania is currently at a competitive disadvantage, losing out on critical revenue and new businesses to our neighbors," wrote Shapiro in a news release outlining the new budget. "Executives from neighboring states with cannabis stores on the border have reported that up to 60 percent of their customers are from Pennsylvania."
Jushi, a multi-state cannabis operator with several medical dispensaries in Pennsylvania, cheered Shapiro for making legalization of cannabis once again a priority for the legislative session.
“It is undeniable that there is a cannabis marketplace in every town in America, with the only question being whether or not that market is regulated. A regulated cannabis market limits sales by age, clearly marks packaging, is subject to rigorous oversight and provides the public with a safe and thoroughly tested product. And yes, it also takes funding from criminal enterprises and puts it into state coffers. The status quo in our Commonwealth fails to do all those things," said Jushi CEO Jim Cacioppo.
Shapiro included recreational cannabis legalization in last year's state budget as well with a potential start date of January 1, 2025 for sales.
