Where does Pennsylvania stand on marijuana legalization?

• Scott LaMar
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  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.

Close up of woman hand passing marijuana split

Aired; March 5th, 2024.

In his budget address last month, Governor Josh Shapiro called for the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes. The latest Franklin and Marshall College poll found that almost two-thirds of Pennsylvania voters who were surveyed support marijuana for adult use being legal. Support is a trend that has been growing over the past decade. Several Republicans in key positions in the General Assembly have changed their positions and now favor legalization. Twenty-four states have legalized marijuana.

Gov. Shapiro estimated legal weed would generate $250 million for the state once it was up and running.

So, is it just a matter of time that marijuana is legalized in Pennsylvania?

Not so fast.

The federal government still classifies marijuana as a Schedule 1 Controlled Substance.Opponents say it needs more study, law enforcement organizations have mostly opposed legalization and some opponents have pointed out there’s been an increase in vehicle crashes in states that have legalized.

Stephen Caruso is the Capitol Reporter for the online non-profit newsroom Spotlight PA and wrote a summary of where Pennsylvania stands on legalization. he talked about it on The Spark Tuesday.