Did Pennsylvania Decriminalize Cannabis?
Yesterday Pennsylvanias Democratic governor, Tom Wolf, stated that his state needs to decriminalize possession of small amounts of cannabis. Following the nationwide trend (the District of Colombia and 20 U.S. states have thus far decriminalized), Pennsylvania is seeking to decrease the impact of its cannabis possession laws on the general population. Wolfs reasons for decriminalization of cannabis are the high rate of incarcerations, the destruction of families over cannabis sentencing and prison time, and the possibility of economic improvement in his state. Not everyone in Pennsylvania agrees with Wolfs observations; the Dauphin County District Attorney, Ed Marsico, notes that Pennsylvanias possession laws are far from strict already.
Pennsylvanias Cannabis Laws
In some areas of the Great Dane state, possession of 30 grams of cannabis or less is a misdemeanor which carries a maximum of 30 days of incarceration and a $500 fine; over 30 grams may result in one year of incarceration and a $5,000 penalty. Philadelphia originally decriminalized marijuana in 2014, making criminal penalties for possession obsolete and instituting a civil $25 fine for up to an ounce of cannabis. As of 2015, Pittsburghs laws made possession of less than 30 grams of cannabis or eight grams of hash subject to $100 fine instead of time in prison. With the May 17th Act 16 in effect, the state is currently trying to define its regulatory laws for medical cannabis patients. The medical cannabis act should allow patients to purchase medical cannabis from 50 state dispensaries beginning in 2018, and also 25 grow facilities. The conditions that Pennsylvanias medical cannabis Act 16 will cover currently include cancer, AIDS, amyotrophic lateral and multiple sclerosis, Parkinsons disease, intractable spasticity, epilepsy, IBD, neuropathies, Huntingtons disease, PTSD, glaucoma, sickle cell anemia, Crohns disease, autism (these two conditions are not in the original Act, but appear to have been added since its inception), and intractable pain and seizures.The law Wolf is referring to would decriminalize cannabis in Harrisburg, one of Pennsylvanias three largest cities, and its ...
