PoliticsPA sat down with House Appropriations Chair Rep. Jordan Harris and Senate Appropriations Chair Sen. Scott Martin last week for a bipartisan look at Pennsylvania’s budget battles. They dig into the state’s fiscal outlook including the discussion of cannabis legalization.

Following are key remarks from the lawmakers the full feed can be found here.

“What makes a good budget in PA? | Voices of Reason feat. Rep. Jordan Harris and Sen. Scott Martin”

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Rep. Jordan Harris: 

Quote from the interview (lightly edited for clarity):

“We passed one part of the governor’s revenue package, which was the legalization of adult-use cannabis. I think we should have done it a while ago, but I think most Pennsylvanians agree — most Americans agree — that we should legalize cannabis, and many of the states around us have already done so. Quite honestly, my friends in South Jersey are very happy that Pennsylvania has not legalized adult-use cannabis because they get to reap the benefits when people from the southeastern part of the state cross the border to get legal cannabis. We need to do it. We’re literally leaving money on the table by not legalizing adult-use cannabis. We passed it in the House and we’re waiting on the Senate to either move on our bill or send us their own. We definitely need to talk about revenue, and games of skill and adult-use cannabis are the ways to go.”

Sen. Scott Martin:

“Weed and games of skill might bring in $800 million, but we’re facing a $5 billion structural deficit — the games are over.”

ResponsiblePA Quote:

“The legislature once again missed an immediate $420 million annual tax revenue opportunity in passing a budget and letting the ticking time bomb on Pennsylvania’s gas station weed fill the void. Congress has now acted to close the loophole on intoxicating hemp and Pennsylvania is one of only 10 states without a law on the books. If the legislature does not act soon, Pennsylvania will see more unscrupulous bootleggers who will continue to dump these products into the state.

“The solution is sitting in the state Senate now: Senate Bill 49. The bill creates the Pennsylvania Cannabis Control Board—a dedicated regulatory body with the authority and expertise to establish safety standards, require testing and labeling, enforce age restrictions, and bring accountability to any cannabis product that has the potential to get someone high.”  

– Brit Crampsie, ResponsiblePA spokesperson

Background: The Stakes of Comprehensive Cannabis Regulation

Year One Economic Impact (FTI Consulting Analysis)

  • $2.1 billion in first-year cannabis sales
  • $4.2 billion in total economic output
  • 33,000+ new jobs
  • $420 million in recurring tax revenue

Neighboring states like New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, and Ohio have already realized these benefits, while Pennsylvania continues to lose business investment and tax dollars across its borders.