Advocates for legalizing cannabis hope Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro will again call for legalizing adult-use recreational cannabis in his budget address. Shapiro pitched a "sin tax" on legal weed in 2024, projecting that revenue would come in slowly at first, yielding about $15 million in the first year and eventually growing to $250 million or more a year. Earlier this month, Shapiro said that, in speaking to dispensary operators in Maryland, Ohio, New York and New Jersey near the Pennsylvania border, he learned more than 60% of customers were crossing state lines to buy their products.
"Pennsylvanians are buying cannabis, but now what's happening is they're paying taxes in other states," Shapiro said. "We need to change that. We need to be more competitive."
This year, advocates are hopeful that increased state spending and a shrinking surplus will be enough to push hesitant lawmakers over the finish line, since a cannabis tax could bring tens or hundreds of millions in state revenue.
"This is the best way to balance the budget on critical programs without raising broad-base taxes, without a hit on the middle class," said Brit Crampsie, the communications director for Responsible PA, a pro-cannabis lobbying group.
Read more at Pennsylvania Capital Star