Pennsylvania Lawmaker Says GOP Should ‘Snatch’ Marijuana Legalization From Democrats, Calling It A ‘Smart Conservative Choice’

Republicans ought to seize the “opportunity to snatch” the problem of marijuana legalization from Democrats, a GOP Pennsylvania lawmaker says.

As the state legislature considers proposals to enact adult-use legalization after a number of classes the place the reform has stalled, Rep. Abby Major (R) mentioned in an op-ed for TribLive that it’s time for conservatives to meaningfully step as much as the plate.

“I’m a Republican, always have been. I believe in small government, low taxes, a free market and personal liberty,” she mentioned. “For these reasons, I support the legalization of adult use of cannabis.”

With almost all surrounding states having already applied legalization, it’s a “foregone conclusion” that the remainder of the nation is transferring in that path, Major wrote. “Why should Pennsylvania always be the last to embrace change?”

Legalization represents a key “opportunity”—and one which aligns with conservative values, she mentioned.

“The economic advantages present a compelling case for lawmakers, businesses and citizens. From job creation to tax revenue, the ripple effects of legalization could significantly enhance Pennsylvania’s financial landscape,” the lawmaker mentioned. “I feel strongly that Republicans have the opportunity to snatch a historically Democratic issue and use it to our political and electoral advantage.”

Likeminded GOP legislators throughout the U.S. have equally made that case. While Democrats have largely led the cost for reform on the state and federal degree, the financial and states’ rights-focused message has been more and more adopted by conservative politicians, together with notably President Donald Trump.

“Beyond the economic arguments for adult-use legalization is the fantasy that prohibition is an effective policy,” Major wrote. “The prohibition of cannabis has cost this state millions of dollars by housing inmates, running courts, probation and the function of other state apparatuses.”

“The fact is, legalization of adult-use cannabis is a small-government approach to cannabis control. It puts production in the hands of private enterprise, not cartels and drug dealers. It also requires that products be tested before being offered to consumers. Legalization is the conservative commonsense approach.”

The lawmaker added, nonetheless, that there stays a professional query about “how we are going to legalize.”

“We need to first look at what doesn’t work,” she mentioned, including that she’s not on board with sure proposals equivalent to some lawmakers’ plan to enact legalization by means of a state-run mannequin the place the federal government would management {the marketplace} because it at present does for liquor.

OPINION — @AbbyMajor60: I’m a Republican, all the time have been. I consider in small authorities, low taxes, a free market and private liberty. That’s why I help the legalization of grownup use of hashish. Why ought to Pa. all the time be the final to embrace change?https://t.co/3JYqUBS1gV

— TribLIVE.com (@TribLIVE) March 27, 2025

“I believe this is not the right approach and is effectively ‘Communist cannabis’—state controlled and centrally planned, stifling businesses and entrepreneurial opportunities in Pennsylvania,” she mentioned. “Also, it is very hypocritical of the government to prosecute citizens for selling cannabis for over 100 years, to then make it legal to sell but only if the government is the dealer.”

“If we are going to do this, we need to do it right—with a robust market that allows individuals to make their own choices with their own money,” Major mentioned. “It’s time to make the smart, conservative choice and bring adult-use cannabis legalization to Pennsylvania. The people want it and the economy needs it.”

Earlier this month, a key Pennsylvania lawmaker who did beforehand float a state-run marijuana mannequin mentioned he was optimistic that legalization legislation could be approved as early as this summer season, calling the coverage change “inevitable” because the commonwealth is “bleeding out revenue” to different states.

Rep. Dan Frankel (D), who chairs the House Health Committee, mentioned he feels it’s possible that the legislature may advance a legalization invoice as a part of the finances reconciliation course of that should wrap up by the top of June.

Gov. Josh Shapiro (D), who once more included a legalization proposal as a part of his newest finances request, has equally indicated that the reform may advance on that timeline. But there are nonetheless open questions on what, if any, hashish laws may garner the required consensus for enactment.

Frankel and Rep. Rick Krajewski (D) first introduced in December that they deliberate to file adult-use legalization laws, emphasizing that there’s a “moral obligation” to repair harms of criminalization whereas additionally elevating income as neighboring state markets mature.

Meanwhile this month, the Pennsylvania House accepted a separate invoice sponsored by Frankel that’s meant to strengthen safety standards and oversight of the state’s medical marijuana program as lawmakers work to advance adult-use legalization.

While Pennsylvania’s medical hashish program was enacted almost a decade in the past, lawmakers say the brand new measure, which now heads to the Senate, is important to enhance testing compliance, product audits and lab inspections, amongst different features of the business.

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Separately, in a video interview launched this month, the governor emphasised that the state is “losing out” to others that have already enacted adult-use legalization, whereas sustaining a coverage that’s enriched the illicit market.

“I think it’s an issue of freedom and liberty. I mean, if folks want to smoke, they should be able to do so in a safe and legal way,” he mentioned. “We should shut down the black market—and, by the way, every state around us is doing it. Pennsylvanians are driving to those other states and paying taxes in those other states.”

Pennsylvania’s Republican lawyer common lately mentioned he wants to be a “voice for potential public safety risks” of enacting the governor’s proposal—although he mentioned his workplace can be able to implement the brand new legislation if lawmakers did vote to move it.

The state’s agriculture secretary individually informed lawmakers that he’s totally assured that his division is in a “really good” position to oversee an adult-use marijuana program if lawmakers act.

Meanwhile, final month, prime Pennsylvania police and well being officers informed lawmakers they are prepared to implement marijuana legalization if the legislature strikes ahead with the reform—and that they stand able to work collectively as the small print of laws to attain it are crafted.

Separately, amid the rising requires marijuana legalization in Pennsylvania, a GOP state senator said prohibition has been a “disaster,” and a regulated gross sales mannequin for hashish—just like how alcohol and tobacco are dealt with—may function an efficient different.

Voters are able to see that coverage change, according to a poll released last month.

The survey, commissioned by the advocacy group ResponsiblePA, discovered that almost 7 in 10 voters within the state help the reform—together with a majority of Republicans. And 63 p.c need to see the legislature enact the reform this 12 months, moderately than delaying it.

A Republican Pennsylvania senator additionally lately defended the push to legalize and regulate marijuana, calling it “the most conservative stance” on the problem.

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Photo courtesy of Philip Steffan.