Governor Tom Wolf: “Pennsylvania is Ready” for Pot

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf says most of the state's residents support legalizing marijuana for recreational use, so it's time for the lawmakers to draw up the legislation.

The second-term Democrat paired his announcement on recreational pot September 25 with a call for the Republican-controlled Legislature to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana and clear the criminal records of those convicted in nonviolent and small marijuana-related crimes.

Wolf said Pennsylvania has been closely watching what's going on in other states in terms of what to do and not to do when it comes to legal weed, particularly looking at the growing popularity of moves to legalize in New York and New Jersey.

Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman has wrapped up a statewide listening tour on legalization that, like recent public opinion polls in the Keystone State shows a majority of those asked are in favor of legal, recreational marijuana.\

The Governor's position that "Pennsylvania is ready..." shifts the Democrat's position from a few months ago.  Before last winter, Wolf dismissed legalizing recreational marijuana saying the state was "not ready yet."

While the Governor is ready to move on the issue, the Republicans in the General Assembly were quick on the slap-back. A joint statement from the House Republican leadership was issued on the heels of the Governor's announcement saying, "Our caucus has no plans or interest in legalizing recreational marijuana."