Report: 85% in Schuylkill support recreational marijuana legalization
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SENTINEL FILE PHOTO - Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman listens to a public comment during his recreational marijuana listening tour at the Majestic Theater in downtown Pottsville on March 2, 2019.
By Kaylee Lindenmuth | [email protected]
SHENANDOAH – A report released by Governor Tom Wolf and Lt. Governor John Fetterman highlighted the results of the latter’s statewide recreational marijuana listening tour, which said 85% of respondents from our county favor legalization.
“We’ve heard you, and this announcement today is our earnest effort to bring about the changes you’ve told us you want,” Fetterman said in a media release.
Over the past year or so, Fetterman visited all 67 counties for a statewide listening tour, which included a March 2 stop at the Majestic Theater in Pottsville.
“The Lt. Governor made good on his promise to visit all 67 counties to hear from Pennsylvanians about whether or not they support the legalization of adult-use recreational marijuana in the state,” Wolf said in the media release. “And among the many who voiced their opinions, the majority supported legalization.”
The report outlined the results of the listening tour, gathering data from tour stops, website forms, mail, email, phone calls, and other modes of feedback, breaking the data down by county.
For Schuylkill County, 85% of 632 total responses were in favor of the legalization of recreational marijuana. 14% were against, and 1% undecided. At the tour stop on March 2, which drew about 200 attendees, 83% were for, 12% against, and 5% undecided.
The report also included the three most common reasons given why respondents were for or against. Proponents cited economic benefits, were seeking the decriminalization of cannabis use, and said “employers shouldn’t be able to hold cannabis use against an employee.
Opponents cited concerns that cannabis is a gateway drug, a potential increase in DUI charges, and said more education and research is needed.
“The Schuylkill United Way believes healthy living is a building block to a better life. While recreational use of marijuana is legal in some states, we don’t know enough about the addictive properties and adverse effects associated with recreational use,” Kelly Malone, United Way director, read from a prepared statement at the tour stop. “We believe legalization of recreational marijuana would be counterproductive to the mission and goals of the Schuylkill United Way, its partner agencies, and those that are served by our organizations.”
At the Pottsville tour stop, John Wronski, Mahanoy City, provided a prepared statement regarding his personal experience with medical marijuana. He noted that he lost both a mother and an uncle to opioid and alcohol use, and lost friends in a similar way.
“I believe that if this plant were available then, they would still be here today to advocate next to me for legalization,” said Wronski at the time. “This plant doesn’t only save lives, it provides a better quality of living in general. I am proof of this. Access to this magnificent plant has done extraordinary things for me. This plant has given me my life back, and not only in terms of mental, physical, and emotional health, but my general well being has been improved overall.”
Other Counties
In nearby counties, the data wasn’t far off from Schuylkill’s
For Northumberland County, which had its tour stop on May 8, 455 responses were received, which found 84% were for legalization, 15% were against, and 1% undecided. At the tour stop, about 100 attended, and 71% were for, 23% against, and 6% undecided. The top two most common reasons for or against were provided.
Proponents cited medical benefits without medical-grade cost, and bodily autonomy, “restoring personal rights and freedoms over one’s body.
Opponents shared a similar common concern as in Schuylkill County: an increased number of impaired drivers on the roadways. Northumberland respondents also were concerned that long-term health and societal benefits “are not yet understood.”
Columbia County had its tour stop on April 30, with about 115 attendees. Of the 344 total responses received, 88% were fore, 10% against and 2% undecided. The tour stop data was similar, with 84% of the 115 attendees saying they were for legalization, 13% against, and 3% undecided.
Common reasons proponents claimed “continued opposition has disproportionate racial ramifications,” and cited potential economic benefits from tax revenue.
Like in Schuylkill County, Columbia County residents were concerned that cannabis could be a gateway drug, and that insufficient information is available.
In Luzerne County, 1,106 total responses were received, though their May 5 tour date had only around 150 attendees. Of the 1,106 responses, 89% were for legalization, 9% against, and 2% undecided. For the tour stop respondents, 82% were for, 15% against, and 2% undecided.
Proponents in Luzerne County cited economic benefits and potential property tax relief, as well as concerns that “non-violent cannabis-related charges can ruin lives.”
Opponents were, like elsewhere, concerned that more intoxicated drivers could be on the road, leading to an increase in car crashes. They also were concerned that cannabis use could lead to mental disorders or that legalization could have a negative impact on youth and the community as a whole.
Carbon County had 301 total responses and about 60 attendees at their May 13 tour stop. Of the 301, 85% were for, 12% against, and 3% undecided. At the tour stop, 83% of the 60 in attendance were for, and 8% apiece were against and undecided.
Proponents cited economic benefits from tax revenue and the expungement of non-violent cannabis-related sentences as their reasons for supporting legalization.
Opponents were concerned that long-term health and societal effects aren’t yet understood, and were concerned with immediate negative effects on surrounding areas, such as “odor and crime.”
Statewide
Statewide, 44,407 responses were received, and 10,275 attended tour stops in their respective counties. Out of the 44,407 total, 82% were for, 16% against, and 2% undecided. At the tour stops, 68% were for, 25% against, and 7% undecided.
What now?
With the data gathered from the listening tour, Wolf and Fetterman are calling for three actions:
1. Asking the legislature to get a bill to the governor’s desk that decriminalizes non-violent and small cannabis-related offenses.
2. Seeking a path to restorative justice through the expungement of past convictions of non-violent and small cannabis-related crimes.
3. Calling on the General Assembly to seriously debate and consider the legalization of adult-use, recreational marijuana.
“We now know the majority of Pennsylvanians are in favor of legalization, and that includes me,” Gov. Wolf said. “I look forward to seeing what we can accomplish together, especially the criminal justice reforms I am proposing today, which will have an immediately positive influence on thousands of families across Pennsylvania.
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