Hide Transcript Show Transcript

MEANWHILE, THE STATE LAWMAKER WHO CO-AUTHORED LEGISLATION THAT BROUGHT MEDICAL MARIJUANA TO PENNSYLVANIA UNVEILS A PROPOSAL TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA FOR RECREATIONAL PURPOSES. SENATOR DAYLIN LEACH AND CO-AUTHOR SENATOR SHARIFF STREET NOW DRUMMING UP CO-SPONSORSHIP SUPPORT. UNDER THE BILL ANYONE 21 AND OLDER COULD USE MARIJUANA EACH HOUSEHOLD COULD GROW UP TO SIX MARIJUANA PLANTS FOR PERSONAL USE. THE PROPOSAL ALSO ALLOWS HOME DELIVERY OF MARIJUANA. USING MARIJUANA IN PUBLIC WO

Advertisement Bill proposes legalizing recreational marijuana for 21 and older in Pennsylvania Share Shares Copy Link Copy

A state senator who co-authored legislation to bring medical marijuana to Pennsylvania has unveiled another proposal that would legalize the drug for recreational purposes.Democratic Sen. Daylin Leach and co-author Sen. Sharif Street on Monday released a co-sponsorship memo to drum up support for their proposed Senate Bill 350.The bill would allow private use of marijuana by anyone age 21 and older. Each household would be able to grow up to six marijuana plants for personal use."The majority of tax revenue will be used for public education, with individual school districts choosing what portion of revenue to dedicate to the new funding formula, and what portion to property tax relief," according to a statement from Leach and Street.Other highlights of the proposal include:Automatically expunging criminal convictions for marijuana-related offenses that involve 1 ounce or less.Allowing "micro-growers" to grow cannabis at home and sell it to processors and dispensaries."Public consumption lounges" would be the only designated places for public use of marijuana.Growers would have to comply with regulations that become more stringent their production increases.A statewide "cannabis business incubator" would provide free training to start a cannabis business.Universities could grow and process cannabis for classes to teach students about "the science and business" of cannabis. "Cannabis prohibition is an immoral and expensive failure of public policy," the memo says. "Given the pernicious consequences of prohibition, the approval of cannabis legalization by more than 60 percent of Pennsylvanians in recent polls, and the fact that states across the country, including neighboring states such as New York and New Jersey, are ending prohibition, we believe this is a propitious time to act."Read the full text of the marijuana legalization proposal here.Lieutenant Gov. John Fetterman is on a county-by-county listening tour to gauge public opinion on the issue of marijuana legalization.Auditor General Eugene DePasquale has estimated that Pennsylvania is leaving more than $500 million in annual revenue on the table by not legalizing and taxing the drug.