Musicians, together with rapper Wiz Khalifa, helped have a good time the inauguration of Pennsylvania’s new governor on Tuesday—and whereas it was a lighthearted affair, marijuana coverage got here up in delicate and less-than-subtle methods.
Gov. Josh Shapiro’s (D) record of movie star attendees ran the gamut, however at the very least two of them noticed a chance to deliver up hashish reform. After the indie band Mt. Pleasure completed its track “Astrovan,” for instance, frontman Matt Quinn joked in regards to the coverage implications within the lyrics.
“We’re singing songs about doobie-smoking Jesus, and Wiz Khalifa can be on this system,” Quinn stated, as PennLive reported. “There may be sure initiatives that we want to occur.”
Wiz Khalifa, for his half, didn’t fairly beat across the bush, saying: “I’m about two issues, peace and love. And in the event you’re 21 and older, smoke some weed!”
The rapper made the remark after performing one in every of his best-known songs, “Younger, Wild & Free.” An iconic line from that track—the place the artist sings “so what we smoke weed”—was curiously omitted throughout the set, PennLive famous.
Shapiro does assist legalization, and he made it a tenet of his gubernatorial marketing campaign. However because it stands, it stays unlawful to smoke marijuana in Pennsylvania, no matter whether or not the individual is 21 and older.
The previous state legal professional common has stated that he believes legalization may present an financial boon to the Keystone State and that it’s time for Pennsylvania to meet up with its neighbors in enacting the reform.
“I believe lots of people shall be shocked that I truly like [Wiz Khalifa’s] music,” Shapiro instructed PennLive in an interview forward of being sworn into the governor’s workplace. “Thats what I like. I assume it’s acquired style over time.”
It stays to be seen whether or not the legislature is ready to behave on hashish within the new session, nevertheless, particularly given ongoing uncertainty in regards to the make-up of the legislative physique, which noticed Democratic features over the past election however issues within the weeks since. One Democratic member handed since Election Day, and two others have resigned to take different workplaces.
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Former Gov. Tom Wolf (D) had pressured the legislature to enact a coverage change to no avail, although he did difficulty a complete of two,540 pardons throughout his tenure, at the very least 1 / 4 of which have been for individuals with prior marijuana convictions.
Wolf’s clemency whole contains 232 individuals who certified for aid below a cannabis-specific pardon program that the state facilitated late final 12 months, in addition to one other 395 that have been a part of a separate expedited evaluation course of for nonviolent marijuana-related offenses.
Former Lt. Gov. John Fetterman (D), who was sworn in to the U.S. Senate this month and beforehand served as chair of the state Board of Pardons (BOP), instructed Marijuana Second in October that whereas the pardons would meaningfully profit 1000’s of Pennsylvanians, “the one lasting aid will come when our Republican legislature lastly decides to do the proper factor and legalize it.”
The previous lieutenant governor beforehand stated that he needed to course of hashish clemency for as many individuals as potential earlier than leaving workplace.
In the meantime, Pennsylvania officers introduced final month that they’re awarding practically $19 million in grants, partially funded by medical marijuana tax income, to assist substance misuse remedy professionals pay down their pupil loans.
Picture courtesy of Martin Alonso.
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