“I never say never. I would certainly be open to discussion.”
By Ford Turner, The Center Square
If Pennsylvania decides to legalize recreational marijuana, which government agency should run the show?
Gov. Josh Shapiro’s (D) proposed budget for 2026-27 anticipates lawmakers will legalize it and $729 million in new revenue will be generated next fiscal year. But his last budget contained a similar proposal that failed to get through the Legislature. A key disagreement was which part of government should oversee things.
Now, as lawmakers start to consider Shapiro’s latest budget pitch, it appears that still no resolution has been reached in the divided Legislature.
A new “Cannabis Control Board” would be formed under a bill sponsored by Republican Sen. Dan Laughlin of Erie County, who chairs a Senate committee that is key to the process. The bill does not carry out legalization—that would be done separately—but Laughlin believes the new board is needed to oversee the state’s already-existing medical marijuana program. Recreational marijuana could be added to its duties later, he said.
Meanwhile, Democratic Rep. Dan Frankel of Pittsburgh, who heads an important committee in the House, believes the state Liquor Control Board (LCB) is a good choice. Public
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