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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2021 - 2022
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | March 2, 2021 02:30 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative David M. Delloso |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Cannabis Legalization: State Stores System |
| In 2017, almost 21,000 adults in Pennsylvania were arrested for low-level cannabis possession charges. The prosecution of these individuals cost Pennsylvania taxpayers $46 million. Furthermore, although African Americans use cannabis at a similar rate to white Americans, African Americans are almost four times more likely to be arrested for cannabis possession. According to the auditor general of Pennsylvania, legalizing adult use cannabis in Pennsylvania could create a $1.66 billion industry that would create more than 18,000 good jobs and generate hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue every year. However, permitting private companies to sell cannabis in Pennsylvania could allow large corporations to take over the cannabis industry, putting profits before the well-being of our communities. For these reasons, my legislation will legalize adult use cannabis through the current state store system in order to ensure the safety and integrity of cannabis sales in Pennsylvania. Additionally, this legislation would also expunge low level cannabis convictions and permit individuals to grow up to six plants. This would in turn increase the amount of law enforcement resources and reduce the racial disparity in the criminal justice system related to cannabis convictions. Please join me in saving millions of dollars of taxpayers’ money while creating thousands of good jobs for hard-working Pennsylvanians. |
Introduced as HB1180