Gov. Tom Wolf says he's in favor of legalizing recreational marijuana

Gov. Tom Wolf said Wednesday that he supports legalizing recreational marijuana.The comment came as he and Lt. Gov. John Fetterman announced a final report from Fetterman's statewide listening tour on legalizing marijuana.Wolf said in a statement, “We now know the majority of Pennsylvanians are in favor of legalization, and that includes me.”Wolf's announcement advances his position from December, when he signaled that he was open to taking a look at it as it gathered popularity and momentum. Before last winter, he had dismissed the idea.The report from the listening tour includes a county-by-county breakdown of support and opposition to recreational marijuana legalization. The report also highlights positive and negative results in states where recreational marijuana has been legalized.Wolf and Fetterman also called for three actions: - Asking the Legislature to get a bill to the governor’s desk that decriminalizes nonviolent and small cannabis-related offenses.- Seeking a path to restorative justice through the expungement of past convictions of nonviolent and small cannabis-related crimes.- Calling on the General Assembly to seriously debate and consider the legalization of adult-use, recreational marijuana.Republican leaders in the House released a statement that said, "Our caucus has no plans or interest in legalizing recreational marijuana."Related: Pa. becomes third state to allow medical marijuana use for anxiety

Gov. Tom Wolf said Wednesday that he supports legalizing recreational marijuana.



The comment came as he and Lt. Gov. John Fetterman announced a final report from Fetterman's statewide listening tour on legalizing marijuana.


Wolf said in a statement, “We now know the majority of Pennsylvanians are in favor of legalization, and that includes me.”

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

The report from the listening tour includes a county-by-county breakdown of support and opposition to recreational marijuana legalization. The report also highlights positive and negative results in states where recreational marijuana has been legalized.

Wolf and Fetterman also called for three actions:

- Asking the Legislature to get a bill to the governor’s desk that decriminalizes nonviolent and small cannabis-related offenses.

- Seeking a path to restorative justice through the expungement of past convictions of nonviolent and small cannabis-related crimes.

- Calling on the General Assembly to seriously debate and consider the legalization of adult-use, recreational marijuana.

Republican leaders in the House released a statement that said, "Our caucus has no plans or interest in legalizing recreational marijuana."

Related: Pa. becomes third state to allow medical marijuana use for anxiety