We, the undersigned, support the legalization of adult-use cannabis in a manner that increases racial and economic justice as outlined in the P3 Platform for Equitable Cannabis Legalization. 

Background

The Pot Profits for Pennsylvanians Campaign (P3) is an extension of the mission of All Together Now PA to unite rural and urban communities, prioritize local economies, promote justice for those disproportionately harmed by the war on drugs and assist in developing a strong supply chain to support a thriving adult-use cannabis market alongside its already legal counterparts, Industrial Hemp and Medical Marijuana. 

Sixty percent (60%) of Pennsylvania voters back adult-use cannabis legalization, according to a study by Franklin & Marshall College. Despite this broad support, the State Assembly has not yet passed legislation while almost 20,000 people are arrested per year for minor cannabis violations, leading to thousands of needless incarcerations that disproportionately impact black and brown individuals. Furthermore, the surrounding states of New York, New Jersey and Maryland have already legalized adult-use cannabis, leading to the loss of billions of dollars of profits that could benefit Pennsylvanians.

The criminalization of marijuana is a financial burden on taxpayers, violates civil liberties, impedes the legitimate scientific research and use of the plant’s medicinal properties, and fails to repair the harm inflicted by decades of punitive policies that have harmed black and brown communities. 

Pennsylvanians demand that the State Assembly recognize the reality and consequences created by the failed War on Drugs and pass legislation that creates a new legal framework for economic opportunity, protects public health, prevents economic concentration in Multi-State Organizations, reinvests revenues into the communities most harmed by cannabis prohibition, expunges prior marijuana related convictions and prohibits the criminalization of people based on their marijuana use. 

P3 Platform: Localization. Expungement. Reinvestment

We call on members of all political parties to advocate for the inclusion and support of adult-use cannabis legalization that embraces the following:

Establish an independent Cannabis Regulatory Control Board to oversee and administer the medical and adult use cannabis programs with board members representing small businesses, small farming, labor, land use, economic justice, racial justice, public health, community organizing, work development programs, and offender reentry programs with statewide geographic representation and expertise. 

Establish a Social and Economic Equity Program, of which, the Chief Equity Officer will develop, implement and oversee programing that ensures that a minimum of 50% of license issued in the first year will be granted to applicants who are either: 1) have a household income of less than 300% of the state median income for the past three years and was a resident of a disproportionately impacted area for at least 5 of the past 10 years or for at least 9 years as a minor; or 2) is a disadvantaged farmer - who is a farmer that has worked in PA agriculture for 2 of the past 5 seasons. Furthermore, ensure that the legislation prioritizes the granting of social and economic equity permits over existing medical businesses, who would not be permitted no less that one year after social and economic equity permits are granted.

Establish a Cannabis Business Development Fund to provide low interest loans, fee waivers, grants, outreach, workforce development, and technical assistance to social and economic equity applicants and permit holders. 
Ensure a variety of types of permits, including small cultivation, general cultivation, microcenter, dispensing, delivery, nursery. Cooperative, local government dispensing, on-site consumption and events, and testing. Furthermore, require any transfer or sale of a permit approved by the Board after a determination that the transfer or sale will not violate antitrust laws, lead to market consolidation, or limit the opportunities for social and economic equity applicants and small cultivators. 

Ensure that businesses with more than 20 employees enter into a labor peace agreement with a labor union and that applicants are evaluated prior to permitting based on fair labor practices and worker protections. 
Establish a 6% tax on the sale of cannabis in the state to be deposited in a cannabis revenue fund along with a 10% additional excise tax, the revenue of which shall be divided such that 10% shall be used to establish a cannabis business development fund to support social and economic equity applicants, provide for indigent defense, re-entry, job development and housing for those formerly incarcerated for marijuana related offenses, and create grants for community based nonprofit organizations in communities most harmed by the War on Drugs. 

Remove and reduce existing criminal penalties for possession, and sharing without consideration,  of up to 90 grams of cannabis flower; 500 milligrams of THC contained in cannabis-infused products; 10 grams of cannabis concentrates for persons age 21+. Furthermore allow for the home cultivation of up to 10 plants per household and possession of the cannabis produced within the residence for persons 21+. 

Finally, ensure automatic expungement of cannabis arrests and convictions, protect people on probation and parole from technical violations for cannabis, eliminate the collateral consequences for cannabis including in employment, medical care, housing, parenting, possession of firearms, and public benefits. 

Through this legislation we will bring economic opportunity to Pennsylvanians, avoid the industry consolidation that Pennsylvania experienced with the medical marijuana industry, and prevent this new market from being monopolized by a handful of large out-of-state companies. 

For more information visit alltogethernowpa.org/P3