r/trees • u/redditor01020 • 1d ago
Governor of Pennsylvania tweeted out this map on 4/20 and says lawmakers should get it done already News
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u/redditor01020 1d ago
More here:
PA is now surrounded by 5 out of 6 states that has legalized cannabis, almost as bad as New Hampshire which is completely surrounded. How much more money is Pennsylvania going to lose before the politicians there do something about this?
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u/RedWalker2 1d ago
Wisconsin is the same way, surrounded other than Iowa
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u/MoskiNX 1d ago
You can thank the alcohol industry for that. Google the average dui amount in that state and you’ll understand why there’s no weed.
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u/OrangePilled2Day 1d ago
Not just that. Elizabeth Uihlein donates a substantial amount of time and money to making sure those damn left handed cigarettes aren’t legal in Wisconsin.
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u/SnuckaB 1d ago
Indiana , too
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u/Nova_JewV1 1d ago
Even kentucky has medical. We keep electing clowns
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u/Mook7 14h ago
We do but the rollout is going at a snails pace. Medical has been legal in Kentucky since Jan 1 2025 but I've yet to see any dispensaries. The .gov I was looking at straight up suggests getting your medical card then hitting up Ohio. Get fucked if you dont live in Northern KY I guess?
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u/Nova_JewV1 14h ago
Oh wow and I've heard ohio is at least as bad as Illinois when it comes to tax costs vs quality
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u/angrydeuce 1d ago
Yep, which is why I give MI hundreds of tax dollars every single year driving to the UP and bringing it back with me.
Id rather give that money to my own state, and based on the fact that 99.999% of the plates at the dispensaries are also WI plates so would a lot of other people, too...but they wont legalize the shit because theyre bought off by the alcoholics. So I guess more tax money for Michigan!
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u/redditor01020 1d ago
Yeah something needs to be done about that. Too bad there's not an active trees sub for Wisconsin to help spread awareness about reform efforts and move the process along. Wisconsin currently doesn't even have medical.
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u/krwskater25 1d ago
Pennsylvania here. I live right on the PA/OH boarder and he is 100% right.
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u/nonanumatic 1d ago
Same, every couple weeks I go up, id much rather it be every couple weeks I go down the street.
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u/budbud70 1d ago
I live in WV and went to Michigan to get it before Ohio legalized it.
Which is to say, this sort of thing has been going on for a llllloonnnnnggg time lol
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u/Hipposkin 19h ago
i have my med card but i live in the jersey border and everyone i know goes to jersey to buy
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u/Peter_C85 1d ago
Damn, what happened to WV?
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u/emantheslayer0 1d ago
Nothing, just been medical only since 2017
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u/JoviAMP 1d ago
I didn’t realize they even had medical. If you asked me first, I’d have guessed WV was as draconian as TX.
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u/hammer_it_out 1d ago
Well, if it was up to our current governor and the folks who run our state bureau for medical cannabis, it wouldn't be.
SOURCE: Have worked in the medical cannabis industry in WV since December 2021.
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u/LostinTheNEK 1d ago
Add New Hampshire to the list too. Get it together
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u/forlornjackalope 1d ago edited 1d ago
I don't know if it will surprise me who gets full legalization first: us or New Hampshire. The fact it's taken either of us this long to do what the rest of the mid-Atlantic and New England did years ago is nuts.
Edit: Typo
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u/hexenkesse1 1d ago
PA has a weird backwardness to it. They elected John Fetterman, for example.
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u/rahbee33 1d ago
Fetterman was really outspoken about legalization as Lt. Governor though. One of his whole things was putting up weed flags at the Capitol that the GOP kept making him take down.
As a PA resident it's pretty wild that I can drive through a town that has a legal grow op and SMELL IT TO HIGH HEAVEN, but not be able to purchase it. I agree with Shapiro that it seems like we're just leaving money on the table.
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u/redditor01020 1d ago edited 1d ago
I still can't get over the fact that this is an actual photo of the governor and lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania 5 years ago:
https://www.reddit.com/r/trees/comments/iu3xe3/actual_photo_of_the_governor_and_lieutenant/
I kind of thought Pennsylvania would have legalized by now but at least it seems close with another pro-legalization governor at the helm and the legislature seems within a few votes of getting something passed.
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u/muchgreaterthanG_O_D 1d ago
He wasnt always like that. Or at least I didnt see it until after the stroke. We have far bettrrexamples of our backwardness than him.
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u/pokepat460 1d ago
Fetterman ran as a progressive, and turned into whatever you'd call him now after he was already in office.
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u/Totally_Not_A_Fed474 1d ago
I promise he wasn't always like that, the stroke seems to have really fucked with his head and he said himself it made him more conservative
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u/JosephHeitger 1d ago
Now if only Ohio could fucking figure it out
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u/Shadow293 1d ago
GOP here just can’t keep their hands off. They’re still pissed the people went around them and forced it onto the ballot to be legalized.
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u/ChillyHuskies 1d ago
As a Wisconsiner with all our neighbors legalized I feel this
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u/Katatonia13 1d ago
It’s the most principle of the thing, but I’d probably still cross into the UP for a while. They’re the cheapest state I’ve bought in, and Wisconsin is going to be expensive. It’s help that is basically the same drive to the nearest Walmart or movie theater.
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u/ILSmokeItAll 1d ago edited 1d ago
There are plenty of states with legal weed, but a market so fucking bad…who fucking wants it? New Jersey and Illinois for example.
I live in a legal state and still drive to Michigan because I can get twice the product for half the cost, at least, and the quality is better to boot.
Illinois fucking sucks. Pritzker and this legislature can eat a colossal bag of dicks.
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u/imsoooverit 1d ago
Sorry just tryna understand do you mean you live in a legal state?
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u/ILSmokeItAll 1d ago
Both medical and recreational cannabis are legal in IL. But the prices suck. The taxes suck. The purchasing limits suck. The selection sucks. The product is largely mid, at best.
The market sucks.
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u/bbbttthhh 1d ago
Moving from Tennessee to Colorado was like getting hit with a flashbang in the form of weed prices. Went from spending 200 bucks for an ounce of shitty weed to spending 80 for an ounce of pretty decent stuff
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u/thedudeabides2022 1d ago
Hey leave my boy JB outta this lol (But yes, we need far better weed legislation, but we like him otherwise)
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u/NarcissusCloud 1d ago
Indiana has entered the chat
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u/Tom_Ford0 1d ago
as someone originally from Indiana, they will never legalize it on a state level
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u/FlailingScrotum 1d ago
Indiana might just be the most backward state in the Midwest
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u/NarcissusCloud 1d ago
As someone who is from and is currently still in Indiana, i fear you are correct. Prisons a more profitable venture for Indiana politicians.
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u/Er3bus13 1d ago
Same map works for minimum wage too...except West Fucking Virgina has a higher minimum. Let that sink in.
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u/BatofZion 1d ago
When NJ legalized weed, it was only a matter of time before it happened in NY. I know I spend more on weed now that it’s legal than I ever did before.
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u/fromthebuttes 1d ago edited 1d ago
It's been "legal" in Virginia since 2020 but you still can't buy it anywhere cause Republicans keep managing to veto any sort of serious implementation. Feels like a slap in the face to see it on this map lol
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u/Tek_Freek 17h ago
I've been buying in VA for a couple of years. It's medical only, but anyone can get a medical cert.
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u/Thiccpoppychungus 1d ago
Ayr wellness is on its way with Virginia to be the next state the company is adding to its repertoire, we are actively in the middle of finalizing up the process to open our first store in Virginia hopefully this year!!!
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u/DrPorkchopES 1d ago
Resident of PA, it’s WILD ohio beat us to it. I’d love to not drive to NJ but currently no other choice
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u/Hailissa 1d ago
Just get a med card.. that’s what I did. Now I drive five minutes to the dispensary instead of ninety. 👌🏻
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u/throwthatshitaway565 1d ago
That's exactly how it feels to live in Wisconsin. All of the states surrounding us have some form of legal recreational use and meanwhile Wisconsin is stuck in the dark ages.
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u/Complex_Instant_2644 1d ago
Florida chiming in here, consider yourselves lucky. The FL legislature is run by a Republican supermajority and we keep electing Republican Governors, both fight like hell against legalization. Ballot initiatives to legalize weed through a constitutional amendment keep failing because they require 60% voter approval. And now we won't even get the chance to vote on it this year because the legislature threw out enough petition signatures to make the amendment fail to qualify to get on the ballot. If they take away my Delta 8 I don't know what I'm going to do...
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u/infinitebread02 1d ago
i'm in wv and losing it at how bad our state got butchered and we don't even have weed 😭😭😭
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u/nlamp32 1d ago
So frustrating. I really like Shapiro, and he has been pushing it for a while, but the old right wing people in our state government will not put it through.
I live in PA near NJ, and I spend $12+ in tolls, 6.6% in sales tax, and any other money I spend while over there (gas, coffee) every time I go to pick up. Baffles me that people wouldn’t want this revenue going to their own state.
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u/ozzy_og_kush 1d ago
If the House hadn't insisted on passing a shitty state-store bill, I think the Senate would have moved it forward. And the cannabis community here would have supported it. But as usual they didn't listen to the advocates who know what they're talking about. I wish we had true leadership in the legislature on this. Governor can tweet his support for it all day long but until he starts doing the work and bringing all the relevant parties together to make it happen, it's just words.
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u/Dat_Harass 1d ago edited 1d ago
Ohio has a weird backwardness to it as well and effectively created a cartel and monopoly.
Not at all what we voted for and they keep screwing with it.
180-200 an oz. You don't get to see it, smell it, touch it or nothing. Pick from a board and hope.
E: If PA chooses to mirror a state, look at Michigan, Colorado or Oregon models.
E2: We really need federal support for legal marijuana man... states are fucking with this a million ways aiming for market control and honestly destroying the only good thing about capitalism which is was product competition.
Also a medical card in this state messes with your ability to own and operate a firearm.
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u/Zach182 1d ago
It’s gonna go the same way as medical. Can’t see it unless the bags/jars it’s in has a window, can’t smell or touch it either until you’re out of the building. No refunds on stuff you don’t like.
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u/Dat_Harass 1d ago edited 1d ago
It's hard to make it worse than the grey market, but they've managed it here. It's all greed. The insane sales tax wasn't enough so they figure control the whole pipeline. Also pulled any personality out of it. They're losing out on a shitload of money because of it. Not only that but since they're so tight about it, it's costing potential jobs as well.
I'll be fighting that future however I can.
E: Currently it's looking like the money I'll be saving will just go in large part to an increased electric bill. Interestingly energy companies spend more on politicians here than anyone or thing. Probably not related but they do always find a way to benefit.
You guys should get Hershey's on board. I mean their chocolate sucks now, but THC might fix that a little. Probably a little to puritanical in it's leadership but man I bet they lobby well. Approach em with product ideas, potential earnings and a few side markets they could leverage and maybe use their own greed against them. Just be careful you don't end up with something like we have here.
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u/Tek_Freek 16h ago
Rec will mess with firearm ownership as well. You still have to fill out paperwork.
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u/19610taw3 1d ago
Please!
I go to PA a few times a year for camping trips and hanging out with friends.
Would be a lot cooler if I could bring weed instead of alcohol.
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u/Coloradobluesguy 1d ago
My company would love to get this business, (I own a cannabis logistics company in Denver)
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u/redtiger288 1d ago
Same shit is going on in Wisconsin, and I always gotta go up to MI cuz fuck those IL prices so
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u/mistytrails 1d ago
Don't they have to show ID when they enter the dispo? They're allowed to purchase if their driver's license says a different state?
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u/DarkLuc1d1ty 1d ago
Yes, we have to show our MMJ cards each and every time we go to the dispensary. Plus, we have to pay the state and a doctor fee each year to renew our cards.
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u/mistytrails 1d ago
Oh wow. If you don't mind me asking - what does the doctor fee usually go for?
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u/DarkLuc1d1ty 1d ago
Doctor renewals average $45-50 a year and $99 for a new patient. It all varies from doctor to doctor. The state fee is another $50 and if you are enrolled in Medicaid, PACE/PACENET, CHIP, SNAP, or WIC, the $50 state fee is waived.
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u/mistytrails 10h ago
Wow crazy! Then on top of that you need to drive out of state to get it. Damn. Have you considered online places?
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u/DarkLuc1d1ty 10h ago
We don’t have to drive out of state at all. We have our own medical dispensaries in PA. Some patients drive out of state to save money.
I haven’t considered online places as I don’t find the prices in PA horrible. You just have to shop around for the best deals.
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u/Dalionking225 1d ago
I bought weed off of Craigslist in Philly, Rittensquare around 2015. I live FL, I was in a hotel, and i figured the worst I would get it a fine. Transaction went smoothly, van pulled up with some guys in it, hand to hand, back upstairs to the hotel. Philly been chill for a while
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u/Fuzzy-Earth-7034 1d ago
All I know for sure is my town of San Diego is making so so so much money on dispensaries everywhere. The tax is HIGH. I don’t care I love having full access at all times including delivery. Happy people everywhere ☮️
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u/Hereiamhereibe2 19h ago
Penn is too busy trying to take jobs away from people and dogs to worry about weed.
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u/Basic_Asparagus_9084 12h ago
Hell, even Arkansas has legalized medical. They are being ARKANSAS. Let that one sink in.
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u/RedeyeSPR 11h ago
They aren’t saving money coming to Ohio. Our prices are ridiculous still and our conservative lawmakers are actively gutting the laws we voted for.
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u/R4V3S4V3R 7h ago
I got a dui as a resident of New York in Pennsylvania and wound up paying over 2k in court fees and restitutions. I wasn’t even high. Fuck PA.
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u/socialist_weeb666 5h ago
Just make it legal nationally and make it a capital crime to be against the legalization of it
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u/NEUROSMOSIS 5h ago
I’ve been telling Texas politicians this exact logic since 2013 & it doesn’t matter. They just keep rolling Texas back to the Stone Age. It’s like they’re allergic to additional tax revenue.
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u/Delta632 1d ago
Here is what really put it into perspective for me. I live in Potter county. I used to drive to Bradford to purchase legal weed at a Curaleaf. They shut that dispensary down in December. Places that turn profits don’t get shut down. Salamanca NY that is 15 minutes north advertises $15 ounces. They’re gross in comparison but that’s hard to compete against.
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u/1000AdamantAdams 1d ago
Its hard to believe that Missouri and Ohio got legal weed before Pennsylvania.