As the race for Pennsylvania governor intensifies, Republican candidate Stacy Garrity firmly opposes the legalization of recreational marijuana in the state.
The current state treasurer expressed her belief that lawmakers will not approve a cannabis legalization bill.
“They’re never going to pass it… not as long as Senate Republicans are in control of the Senate,” Garrity said in a recent interview with NBC10 Philadelphia, adding that if such a bill were to reach her desk were she elected governor, she would not hesitate to veto it.
Garrity’s stance stands in stark contrast to that of incumbent Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, who has been an outspoken proponent of cannabis reform.
Shapiro has repeatedly requested that lawmakers submit a legalization bill, emphasizing the potential economic benefits for Pennsylvania.
Last month, he used the unofficial 4/20 marijuana holiday to renew his call for legislation, noting that many residents already travel to neighboring states to purchase recreational cannabis, resulting in lost revenue for Pennsylvania. “
That’s hundreds of millions in revenue going out of state instead of being spent here in Pennsylvania,” said Shapiro.
The Pennsylvania Democratic Party seized on Garrity’s comments to galvanize support for its candidates in the upcoming November elections.
A recent social media post from the party cited her opposition to legalization as a critical reason to mobilize Democratic voters. “We need to beat her—and elect Democrats up and down the ballot to finally get this done,” the post read.
Although the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives passed a bill to legalize marijuana last year, the Republican majority in the Senate stalled any progress.
Despite Garrity’s longstanding opposition, public support for marijuana legalization in Pennsylvania has grown significantly.
Recent polling indicates that approximately 69% of likely voters favor the regulation and taxation of cannabis for adults aged 21 and older. The support crosses party lines, with a majority of both Democrats (72%) and Republicans (67%) backing the reform.
