Pennsylvania Could Soon See Reduced Penalties for Marijuana Possession

HARRISBURG, PA Now that Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf has signed into law a bill to make the Keystone State the 24th state to enact a comprehensive medical marijuana program, one of the bills primary supporters in the House plans on filing a proposal to reduce penalties for anyone caught possessing small amounts of marijuana in the state.

State RepresentativeEd Gainey (D-Allegheny County), a key advocate for the recently passed medical marijuana bill in the House, on Thursday announcedhis intentions to file the proposal in the near future.

Overwhelming evidence supports the notion that non-violent drug and alcohol abuse is a public health issue that requires treatment, and not imprisonment; it is not a criminal issue, says Rep. Gainey.My bill will protect Pennsylvanians from the lifelong collateral consequences of a narcotics conviction by imposing a fine and a summary conviction for an individual possessing [a small amount of] marijuana.

As the nation continues to have an evolving conversation on cannabis reform it is inappropriate, if not unconscionable, to continue to subject 18,000 Pennsylvanians to criminal prosecution for minor cannabis possession, and saving the cities and municipalities of Pennsylvania more than $33 million per year in Public Safety and Court expenses, Gainey added.

Gaineys proposal wouldreduce the penalty for those caught possessing up to 30 grams of marijuana or up to eight grams of hashfrom a misdemeanor criminal offense to a non-traffic summary citation. Currently, the misdemeanor is punishable by up to 30 days in jail and fines of up to $500. Gaineys proposal would eliminate the possibility of jail time, and offenders would receive a $100 fine.

This legislation, I believe, reflects the will of Pennsylvanians who are considering decriminalization on the local level, Gainey said.

Pennsylvanias two largest cities, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, have both passed similar ordinances recently. Local lawmakers in Harrisburg and Lancaster are currently considering similar proposals.

Despite both local and nationwide progress on the issue of cannabis prohibition Pennsylvania continues to charge over 18,000 individuals each year with minor possessory offenses, says Gainey.Minorities are disproportionately affect by as much as a 5 1 ratio despite similar usage rates as their white counterparts. A misdemeanor conviction can have lifelong implications including loss of employment, loss of public housing and loss of educational loan eligibility.

We cannot afford either the short term or the long term effects of saddling Pennsylvanians with misdemeanor charges and convictions for minor cannabis possession.

Local marijuana reform advocates are supportive of Gaineys proposal ...