Pennsylvania
The Keystone State
Pennsylvania legalized Medical-Use Cannabis in 2016, and while decriminalization has been occurring in several major cities across the state, Adult-Use legalization is still yet to be seen.
Democratic and Republican representatives alike are in talks to develop Adult-Use legislation, establish the presence of a Control Board, and distinguish types of licenses for state business. With New Jersey’s Adult-Use market officially commenced, analysts and political stakeholders believe full legalization in Pennsylvania is set to occur in the immediate future.
Timeline
As of September 2022, Democratic Governor Tom Wolf and Lt. Gov. John Fetterman announced a new expungement program to pardon past convictions for marijuana offenses. On September 1st, The Pennsylvania Board of Pardons began accepting applications for the newly titled Marijuana Pardon Project, and will continue accepting applications until Friday, September 30, 2022.
Those who qualify for pardons include people with conviction records for one or both of two cannabis offenses, falling into the framework of low-level marijuana possession. Those who may qualify can submit an application for an accelerated pardon. Once a person submits their application, they will be promptly contacted for any follow-ups on the process.
While there is no official progress on Adult-Use legalization, there has been great momentum to begin the legal push. As of July 2023, State senators have introduced Bipartisan bills to cement a fully realized recreational program. Stay tuned for more updates as Pennsylvania’s market continues to unfold.
For more information about the Marijuana Pardon Project, please click the button below.