G. Terry Madonna
Could Pennsylvania be the next state to legalize marijuana?
Don't bet on it.
A Democratic lawmaker from Montgomery County announced last week he is drafting legislation that would legalize, tax and regulate pot.
But local experts and lawmakers say the bill is unlikely to get much support in the Legislature since a large majority of Pennsylvanians are firmly against legalizing marijuana.
"There is no way this bill will get passed — not in this decade," said political scientist G. Terry Madonna, director of Franklin & Marshall College's Center for Politics and Public Affairs.
Hoping to build on the momentum of the legalization of marijuana by voters in Washington and Colorado in the November election, Sen. Daylin Leach is seeking sponsors for his bill to make marijuana legal in the commonwealth.
Madonna said even if Leach finds like-minded colleagues to support the bill, it most likely will never come up for a vote.
"Pennsylvania is a very culturally conservative state; with little support from residents and lawmakers, it won't get far," Madonna said.
A 2010 F&M poll found that only one in three Pennsylvania voters favor the outright legalization of marijuana.
Leach acknowledges that it may take a while, but believes demographics and exposure will "defeat irrational fears, old wives tales and bad science."
Leach said persecuting marijuana users is foolish, ill-conceived, costly and a destructive policy that must end.
Provisions of the legislation would regulate marijuana, similar to how alcohol is treated. It will be sold legally only in either state stores or beer distributors.
It still would be illegal to:
n Operate a motor vehicles under the influence of marijuana
n Possess marijuana if you are under the age of 21 or for an adult to sell it to a minor.
n To resell marijuana (it is illegal to resell alcohol in Pennsylvania).
n Use marijuana in public places. Employers also can prohibit its use on their property.
State Sen. Lloyd Smucker, a West Lampeter Township Republican, said he won't support the bill.
"I strongly believe that this would go against the grain in our area," he said. "My constituents talk to me about how to keep drugs out of our communities, rather than the legalization of them."
State Rep. Mindy Fee said the legalization of marijuana would "come at the expense of our children and public safety."
The Manheim Republican said the bill would hurt Pennsylvanians by escalating dependency and treatment issues, open the door to use of other drugs and increase the already heavy burden on law enforcement personnel.
State Rep. Mike Sturla, a Democrat, doesn't expect legalization legislation to come up for a vote any time soon. But he says it deserves to be part of the broader discussion of drug policy.
"It's premature to say whether or not I would support legalizing marijuana because nothing like this has ever been on the table," the city resident said.
The war on drugs — as it relates to marijuana — is something Sturla wants to study more closely.
In Pennsylvania alone, there have been 7,057 arrests for marijuana possession since 2008, according to the Pennsylvania Uniform Crime Report. That represents a cost to taxpayers in terms of their prosecution and possible incarceration.
"Pennsylvania is putting people in jail faster than any other state; we need to look at how many people are there because of marijuana use," he said.
Although state Rep. Bryan Cutler will likely vote against the bill, he said state lawmakers actually have little power concerning its possible legalization.
"The federal government would have to legalize marijuana before the state could even really discuss it," the Peach Bottom Republican said.
State Rep. Keith Greiner of Leola said that while he would vote against legalization, he would consider legislation that would allow for the use of medicinal marijuana.
"I would at least be open to looking at research supporting the possible medical benefits," the Republican said.
Despite being more popular with voters, bills legalizing medicinal use also have failed.
While most Pennsylvanians oppose legalizing marijuana, they also overwhelmingly favor permitting its medicinal use. In a 2010 F&M poll, 80 percent supported making medical marijuana legal.
There was a previous plan to legalize pot in Pennsylvania for medicinal purposes, but it never went anywhere.
Gov. Tom Corbett has said he will veto any legislation legalizing marijuana, even the use of medicinal marijuana.
State Rep. Steven Mentzer, a Manheim Township Republican, believes there are some legitimate medical benefits of marijuana, but would not be willing to support legalization.
"I couldn't support any bill that would provide greater access to people, especially young people," he said.
kshuey@lnpnews.com
