Pennsylvania and other states considering legalizing adult-use marijuana might learn something from California, especially when it comes to helping small farmers. The Golden State was the first to legalize medical marijuana, in 1996. Pennsylvania followed suit in 2016, becoming the 24th state to do so (it was a $1.7 billion industry in 2024).
When California took Proposition 64 legalizing adult use to voters in 2016, it was crafted to protect the environment and give small growers a chance to thrive. That is the opposite of what unfolded.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro included adult-use cannabis legalization in his current budget proposal, with bipartisan bills being considered in both chambers. Proponents say the Keystone State is losing tax revenue to neighboring states like Delaware, Ohio, Maryland, New York and New Jersey, which have already legalized adult marijuana use. Legislative hurdles in Pennsylvania include negotiating the regulatory framework, a big hurdle being whether sales would be state run or left to the private market.
About 300 miles north of San Francisco and hugging the rugged coastline, Humboldt County provides a hospitable climate for marijuana. It's part of the "Emerald Triangle" that includes Trinity and Mendocino counties, the nickname derived from the cannabis industry that germinated in the region during the hippie heyday of the 1960s.
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