Gov. Tom Wolf and Lt. Gov. John Fetterman on Thursday called on state lawmakers to take action on the legalization of adult-use cannabis to help with the state's economic recovery amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 

They add that legalization will also provide additional outlets for restorative justice programs in the state. 

“Now more than ever, we see a desperate need for the economic boost cannabis legalization can provide. So today I am proposing we legalize adult-use cannabis here in Pennsylvania with a portion of the revenue going toward existing small business grants,” Gov. Wolf said. “Half of these grants would be earmarked for historically disadvantaged businesses, many of which have had difficulties attaining other assistance because of systemic issues."

Gov. Wolf noted that 11 states plus the District of Columbia have legalized cannabis and have seen economic benefits from doing so. In Washington state, adult-use cannabis brought in $319 million in tax revenue in 2018, according to Gov. Wolf. 

As a first step, Gov. Wolf is calling on the legislature to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana, changing the charge from a misdemeanor of the third degree, which can result in jail time, to a summary offense, which does not. 

The Wolf administration first called on the legislature to legalize adult-use cannabis in September 2019. Since then, the process has stalled. However, on August 25, Gov. Wolf once again called for the legalization of adult-use cannabis as part of his fall legislative agenda. 

He proposes that a portion of the revenue be used to enhance restorative justice programs that prioritize repairing the harm done to crime victims and communities as a result of marijuana criminalization. 

“The time has come to legalize adult-use cannabis in Pennsylvania,” Gov. Wolf said. “It will help our economic recovery, it will help Pennsylvania families and it will help make our criminal justice system fairer.”