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The proposed state budget isn’t scheduled for review until May and June. Still, within the proposal, Governor Josh Shapiro has made it clear that he believes marijuana sales should be legal in Pennsylvania. 

Shapiro’s proposed budget anticipates generating over $536 million annually through a 20 percent wholesale tax and a 6 percent sales tax.

While it’s clear where our governor stands on the matter, where do Germantown elected officials fall? Currently, none of them are wholly opposed to it, with our state legislators being virtually entirely in agreement with Governor Shapiro.

For Senator Art Haywood, it’s a no-brainer to legalize cannabis use, as it’s already in the state via sales from other states.

“Pennsylvanians are already purchasing it legally just over the bridge in New Jersey and from other neighboring states,” the senator says. “A 2023 Muhlenberg College poll shows over 60% of Pennsylvanians support legalizing adult-use cannabis. It’s time to legalize adult-use cannabis here safely and with broad opportunities for diverse businesses.”

Haywood’s sentiments mirror those of two-thirds of PA voters.

A poll conducted by ResponsiblePA, an organization advocating for cannabis legalization, revealed that 68% of PA voters support the legalization of the substance. Young voters between the ages of 18 and 24 are the strongest supporters, at 78%, with a downward trend as the age gap widens; seniors over 65 come in at 69%.

One neighbor, Demitirus Newton (35), is pro-cannabis legalization. He thinks it could benefit the state economically, citing entities like SEPTA, which has recently announced that it’s facing a detrimental budget deficit affecting its service lines.

“They already have shops, too,” he names, referencing medicinal dispensaries like Trulieve and Rise and CBD & Hemp shops across city lines in places like Willow Grove. He recognizes that these are not the same as the proposed legalization, but maintains they are still some rendition of cannabis usage.

198th district State Representative Darisha Parker has been very vocal about needing to legalize cannabis for the very reason of economic stabilization for the state, citing the ability to regulate and tax it.

At February’s PA Budget Community Town Hall meeting, Rep Parker said, “Our dollars are leaving the state; that’s the main thing,” naming, like Sen Haywood, that people are already traveling over state lines to acquire the substance. 

Just last week, Rep Parker was at the Northwest Neighbors of Germantown meeting, where folks gathered to talk about recent SEPTA issues. She made it clear that the state has no money, and one of the things that would be a tremendous help would be the legalization, regulation, and taxation of cannabis.

Parker’s 201st district counterpart, State Rep Andre D. Carroll, is on the same page.

At the same February budget meeting, Carroll said we have to stop trying to escape the “inevitable.” He said that legalization is also one way to prevent potentially raising taxes on PA residents.

Besides revenue, legalization is a step towards justice. He sees this “as an opportunity to restore the lives of hundreds of thousands who’ve been negatively impacted and forced to navigate lives with a tarnished background for an issue that 24 other states would otherwise not penalize them for.”

And for this very reason, some Germantown neighbors support legalization, but also recognize the adverse effects that criminalization of the dealing and possession of the substance has had, particularly on Black communities.

2021 data from PA State Police revealed Black residents were arrested at a rate five times higher than white residents. And in 2023, 40% of arrests for cannabis possession were Black residents, though they only made up about 12-13% of the state’s population.

Kristin Clark of GAD Philly and Germantown 250 is one of those neighbors who supports legalization, but thinks it needs to be more strategic, stating that legalization must be done “intentionally” and accompanied by an acknowledgment of the harm.  

“We need to figure out what [legalization] looks like in our urban areas,” Clark says. “Especially for communities that rely on corner boys and smoke shop plugs that we all know exist… we can’t do it without care.”

A significant aspect of the Germantown 250 movement is acknowledging American history, encompassing all its complex and multifaceted elements. She names the criminalization of Black communities over weed as a thing that fits perfectly under that umbrella and says that hopefully Pennsylvanians get to see those inequities addressed ahead of the 250th celebration.

Right now, Shapiro’s plan ensures PA persons with non-violent cannabis convictions get a clean slate, which would hopefully unlock opportunities for jobs, housing, and a better future.

Of the hopeful $536 million annual accrual, the following allocations are supposed to be:

• $10 million for restorative justice programs to address past criminalization
• $25 million in loans for small businesses, ensuring equity in the industry
• $2.25 million for expungements and law enforcement training.

And while state legislators are in complete agreement, our Eighth District City Councilperson, Cindy Bass, still has some reservations.

During our conversation with Councilperson Bass, she started the conversation by making a full acknowledgement of the “intense need for additional revenue here in the Commonwealth.” But, she does believe that there needs to be close attention paid to how that revenue is acquired.

One of her biggest concerns was the policing of the substance, making a comparison to alcohol.

“If you’re drinking and you’ve had one too many, we can take a breathalyzer,” she says. “To the best of my knowledge, the only way to check if you’ve overindulged in cannabis use is a blood test.”

More than anything, she says she doesn’t want constituents retained based on suspicions, as that could open up a host of issues, including lawsuits.

She also points out that studies say that cannabis usage in adolescents alters brain development, which happens through a person’s mid-20s. Overuse of THC consumption can interfere with the natural progression, leading to issues with memory and learning, IQ changes, and mental health problems.

While young people may not have direct access to dispensaries, they could still acquire the substance, as some already do, which raises more questions for the councilperson.

“So are we going to limit it so that it’s only available to those who are of a certain age?” she questioned.

While she has her reservations, Bass is also clear that legalization would be a step towards justice, as Rep. Carroll has also pointed out, saying there is a need for new opportunities for those trying to get their lives back on track.

However, the councilperson stands firm in the belief that, as a city legislator, there is a need to know “all the facts” and then make a decision, rather than making one based on the popularity of the subject.

While Bass wouldn’t be able to vote on or block state-level legislation, she — and other council members — would be able to shape how that legislation is implemented in Philly, through programming, advocacy, regulation, and policy.

The state budget must be reviewed and passed by June 30. Right now, the Republican-led Senate has not been sold on the legalization, citing its Schedule I classification alongside drugs like heroin.