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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | January 4, 2013 03:18 PM |
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| From: | Representative Mark B. Cohen |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Medical & Recreational Marijuana Use |
| I will soon be introducing two bills providing for alternative solutions to the problem of a vast underground sales network selling marijuana to a significant percent of Pennsylvania residents who either feel they need it for medical reasons or simply enjoy smoking it. If you have any questions, please contact Kathy Seidl of my office at 787-4117 or kseidl@pahouse.net. |
Document #1
Introduced as HB1181
| Description: | The first proposal will be the reintroduction of the Governor Raymond P. Shafer, Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act (House Bill 1663) which has the support of a broad majority of Pennsylvania’s population. This bill limits the legal sale of marijuana to people who have a recommendation of the medical doctor and provides for a limited number of compassion centers throughout Pennsylvania to sell it. People have to register as medical marijuana patients and pay an annual $50.00 fee. The medical marijuana is taxable. The state should gain at least $25 million a year in revenue from this bill and there should be a reduction in criminal prosecutions as well as weakening of the existing criminal networks selling marijuana. The bill provides for strong regulatory roles for the Departments of Health and Revenue, and law enforcement by the State Police. Eighteen states and the District of Columbia now have legalized medical marijuana. I regret the lack of interest that has been shown by the Republican Majority to date. |
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Document #2
| Description: | The second proposal will be the introduction of legislation drafted by Senator Daylin Leach providing for full scale legalization of marijuana, which will be sold in state stores throughout the Commonwealth. This legislation will be based upon the referendum that passed last November in Colorado. Colorado and Washington became the first two states to legalize marijuana for people 21 and over. Senator Leach’s proposal would likely raise well in excess of $200 million per year for the Commonwealth and would cripple the illegal drug networks throughout Pennsylvania in the same way that the State Lottery has crippled traditional organized crime networks that operated the numbers racket on a statewide basis. Senator Leach’s proposal would also greatly reduce prosecution and prison costs; we could probably shut down one or more state prisons and not replace some retiring prosecutors if his bill is enacted. I am enclosing a copy of a memorandum he had sent to all members of the Senate seeking co-sponsorship. |
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| View Attachment | ||