When Will PA Legalize Recreational Cannabis?

City Cast Pittsburgh

Recreational cannabis is now legal to purchase in nearly all of our neighboring states. Can 2025 be the year that Pennsylvania decides to fully legalize as well? We’re turning to SpotlightPA reporters Ed Mahon and Stephen Caruso to figure out the political climate, the potential hurdles, and exactly how cannabis sales could even work. Like, would it mirror Pennsylvania's centralized alcohol sales? What would happen to the state’s medical program? And if legalization isn’t on the table just yet, could we expect to see any decriminalization efforts underway?

Notes and references from today’s show:

• A handful of Pa. doctors approved 1/3 of medical pot cards in a single year. Experts question the quality of care. [Spotlight PA]
• Prior misconduct rarely an obstacle for doctors in Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana program [Spotlight PA]
• Spotlight PA investigation spurs call for more oversight of who can be a medical marijuana doctor [Spotlight PA]
• Thousands more Pennsylvania medical professionals could approve cannabis patients under proposals [Spotlight PA]
• Legal cannabis likely won’t be in this year’s budget, but supporters say there’s a silver lining [Spotlight PA]

Learn more about the sponsors of this January 27th episode:

The Frick Pittsburgh Museums and Gardens

Pittsburgh Opera

Pitt Athletics

Fulton Commons

Pittsburgh Marathon

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