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A Pennsylvania State Senate committee has rejected a bill that would have legalized recreational marijuana through state-owned stores. The Republican-led Senate Law and Justice Committee voted against the proposal on Tuesday (May 13), following its approval in the Pennsylvania House. Committee Leader State Senator Dan Laughlin stated that the state store model would exclude private sector and small businesses, making it unfeasible. Laughlin, who supports marijuana legalization, emphasized that the state store approach would face significant logistical and legal challenges.
The bill, known as House Bill 1200, was intended to permit the sale of recreational cannabis to adults at state-owned stores. Laughlin criticized the bill as a political maneuver rather than a serious effort to legalize cannabis. He argued that the focus should be on addressing immediate issues within the cannabis space, such as reforming the medical marijuana program and regulating hemp-derived THC products.
State House Majority Leader Matt Bradford expressed disappointment with the Senate's decision, urging the Senate to present a viable legalization proposal. Supporters of the House's approach argued that it would prevent large cannabis companies from dominating the market and protect consumers and public health. However, critics pointed out that the state already has a robust medical marijuana market and that the state store model could lead to legal issues since cannabis remains federally illegal.
Laughlin suggested creating a Cannabis Control Board to oversee the industry and address the expanding gray market of hemp-derived intoxicants. He remains committed to developing a cannabis bill that can pass the Senate and be signed into law, advocating for honest dialogue and realistic approaches.