Pennsylvania governor Tom Wolf has expressed his appreciation to citizens for their overwhelming response to the lieutenant governor’s statewide listening tour and the online feedback form for determining public opinion on cannabis legalization.
Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman began a tour of all 67 Pennsylvania counties in mid-February to see if people agree with legalization or have recommendations.
“The response to the lieutenant governor’s listening tours has been tremendous, with people across the state making their voices heard,” said Wolf. “This is exactly the type of discussion I had hoped John would get—for, against, not sure. Everyone’s opinion is important and valued.”
“Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to attend an event or respond online. I appreciate your time and input, which are invaluable as we study this issue,” Wolf said.
Fetterman has held 18 listening tours in 17 counties so far with more than 50 more planned through June. There have been more than 21,000 responses using the online feedback form so far.
“I’m pleased that Pennsylvanians are taking the time to let us know their thoughts on the topic of legalizing adult-use marijuana,” said Governor Wolf. “It’s my hope that this level of interaction becomes the norm on issues important to Pennsylvanians.”
Wolf said that listening to everyone’s perspectives is the best way that the state can develop programs and policies. The next listening event will take place at Millersville University in Lancaster on Monday, March 18.
Access the online feedback form and view the full list of listening tour dates here.
Americans don\’t have to like cannabis, but they should hate its prohibition. This prohibition law strikes at the very foundation of our society. It is a tool of tyrants, used to violate core American beliefs and nearly every aspect of the Bill of Rights.
A populace that accepts and becomes accustom to overreaching government policies, such as the prohibition of relatively safe, popular substances, becomes more accepting of overreaching, powerful government in general. This devastates America, not a plant that has been used by mankind since the beginning of recorded history.
Those who believe in limited government, personal responsibility, free markets, and individual liberty should embrace the ending of this irrational, un-American, fraudulently enacted cannabis prohibition. It should be the cornerstone of current GOP policy.
Federal studies show about half of the U.S. population has tried cannabis, at least 15% use it regularly, over 80% of high school seniors have reported cannabis \”easy to get\” for decades. This prohibition, like alcohol prohibition has had little of its intended effect. In many cases cannabis prohibition makes cannabis usage problematic where it would not have been otherwise, be it light, moderate, or heavy usage. For the most part, cannabis prohibition only successfully prohibits effective regulation.
A few issues created by prohibition: there are no quality controls to reduce contaminants (harmful pesticides, molds, fungus, other drugs), there is no practical way to prevent regular underage sales, billions in tax revenue are lost which can be used for all substance abuse treatment, underground markets for all drugs are empowered as a far more popular substance is placed within them expanding their reach and increasing their profits, criminal records make pursuing many decent careers difficult, police and court resources are unnecessarily tied up by pursuing and prosecuting victimless \’crimes\’, public mistrust and disrespect for our legal system, police, and government is increased, which is devastating our country.
Prohibition is also very expensive, though, a cash cow for a number of powerful groups such as those related to law enforcement and the prison industry. These organizations have powerful lobbies and influence that perpetuate a failed drug policy through ignorance, fear, disinformation and misinformation. This ensures an endless supply of lucrative contracts, grants and subsidies from the government and its taxpayers to support their salaries, tools of the trade, \’correctional\’ services, and other expenses. Cash, property and other assets from civil forfeiture laws also significantly fatten their coffers while often violating civil rights.
America was built on the principles of freedom and liberty. In some cases there are extreme circumstances that warrant intervention with criminal law. In the case of mind-altering drugs we have already set this precedent with alcohol. Cannabis is less harmful than alcohol to the consumer and especially to others. If we are to have justice, then the penalties for using, possessing and selling cannabis should be no worse than those of alcohol.
Let\’s end this costly, futile attempt to eradicate a plant that a majority of Americans believe should be legal. A vote to end cannabis prohibition is a vote to condemn a prohibition that causes more harm than it prevents.