With Ohio becoming the latest state to legalize marijuana, there’s a renewed sense of urgency to follow suit in neighboring Pennsylvania, with the governor’s office calling it “another reminder” of the need to enact reform.
Pennsylvania is now more solidly blanketed by states with legalization on the books. Five out of six bordering states—Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Ohio—have all done away with prohibition, leaving residents with plentiful and relatively accessible options to buy out-of-state cannabis products.
Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) campaigned on legalization, and there have been bipartisan efforts to advance the issue—including a recent convening of a House subcommittee for informational meetings on marijuana policy that are meant to guide future legislation. But the reform has long stalled in the Keystone State, where the legislature is currently divided with Democrats controlling the House and a GOP majority in the Senate.
Ohio’s vote to legalize marijuana at the ballot on Tuesday could help grease the wheels, though. Both the governor’s office and a key senator who’s championed legalization say it’s time to act.
Manuel Bonder, a spokesperson for the governor, told PennLive that Ohio is “another reminder this is something we should get done in Pennsylvania.” He
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