Smart Talk: Is legal marijuana in PA’s future?

A Republican senator co-sponsors pot bill

• Scott LaMar
  BioRecent Stories

  

  Scott LaMar has worked in both radio and television for more than four decades.
  
  Currently, LaMar is the Host and Executive Producer of The Spark program on WITF-FM, 89.5 & 93.3 in Harrisburg, Pa.
  
  Previously, LaMar was WITF TV’s Sr. Public Affairs producer and produced the station’s award-winning weekly public affairs TV program, Smart Talk.
  
  In addition to his on-air duties, LaMar has moderated political candidate debates, including those for candidates running for Pennsylvania governor and the U.S. Senate and was a regular contributor to BBC World News TV before and after the 2020 U.S. Presidential election.
  
  LaMar often emcees or moderates local events and has gone as far as California to emcee a national event.
  
  The American Society of Civil Engineers honored LaMar with their national Excellence in Journalism award in 2020. He has been nominated for five Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards.
  
  LaMar and The Spark have been recognized throughout the Central Pennsylvania community including ADVOZ Lancaster’s “Dignity in Dialogue Award”, the South-Central Assembly’s “Regional Citizen Award” and was named a “Humanitarian Hero” by The Humane Society of the United States/Pennsylvania.
  
  A native of Coatesville, Pa., LaMar has also worked as a broadcast news anchor, sports play-by-play announcer and manager.

 Ted S. Warren / The Associated Press

FILE PHOTO: In this Sept. 25, 2018 file photo, marijuana plants grow in a tomato greenhouse being renovated to grow pot in Delta, British Columbia.

Airdate: Wednesday, April 21, 2021

Two recent polls found that close to 60% of Pennsylvanians support making marijuana legal for recreational purposes. Pollsters from both surveys say support has grown significantly in the last decade.

Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf is behind legalization and Lt. Gov. John Fetterman has become the face of making pot legal in Pennsylvania.

However, Republicans in the legislature have said no or that it’s not a priority.

Opposition is no longer universal, though. Republican State Senator Dan Laughlin of Erie County is co-sponsor of a bill to make marijuana legal for recreational purposes. Sen. Laughlin appears on Wednesday’s Smart Talk.

Even though legalizing and taxing marijuana could raise millions of dollars (a 2018 Auditor General report estimated $581 million annually) there is significant opposition from those who see it as a gateway drug and not as harmless as proponents say.

Jeff Hanley, Executive Director, Commonwealth Prevention Alliance joins us on Smart Talk, as well.

Pennsylvania’s neighboring states have begun the legalization process and it appears the dominoes are falling around us.

Sarah Anne Hughes, an investigative reporter with Spotlight PA is on Smart Talk to provide a rundown.