A Pennsylvania lawmaker has announced his intent to file bill to decriminalize marijuana possession in the 2025 session—a modest reform that comes as other legislators plan to step up their push for broader legalization of the adult-use cannabis market.
Rep. Danilo Burgos (D) circulated a cosponsorship memo on Tuesday that previews the decriminalization legislation, which would make simple possession of cannabis a summary offense punishable by a $100 fine without the threat of jail time.
Currently, low-level possession is considered a misdemeanor, carrying a penalty of up to 30 days in jail, a maximum $500 fine or both.
“In the U.S., more than 90 percent of cannabis-related arrests are due to cannabis possession alone,” Burgos said in the memo. “Low-level cannabis convictions potentially cause lifelong consequences as a result of the criminal convictions they carry.”
“These consequences can include difficulty finding housing and employment among other unfair barriers,” he said. “Furthermore, the prosecution of these crimes disproportionately affects people of color.”
The lawmaker said the forthcoming legislation represents a “vital step in reforming our criminal justice system and reducing racial disparities,” urging colleagues to join him as cosponsors to “create a more equitable criminal justice system and ensure taxpayers dollars
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