There’s nothing like a pandemic to change political thinking about marijuana legalization. That’s what is happening in Pennsylvania, as some Republican legislators are having a change of heart about legalizing recreational marijuana in order to plug a hole in the state budget that has been ravaged by the corona virus-related economic downturn. The lawmakers, who until recently had opposed such a move, are looking at an estimated $4 billion in tax losses, and see that other states—including Illinois, Colorado and California—are reaping a tax windfall from pot sales, spurred by a surge of panic buying during the pandemic.
While experts agree that tax revenue from marijuana alone would not solve Pennsylvania’s budget problem, the extra funds would of course be helpful. Still, what legislators are not counting is the extra cost to healthcare and law enforcement that legalization is likely to incur. While the pandemic continues to impact state government finances and operations, rushing through recreational marijuana legalization to help lower the budget deficit is not sound reasoning—and could in the long run have a negative effect on communities and public health.
Meanwhile, an appeals court in Michigan has upheld an injunction against the state’s ban on flavored vaping products, making the order unenforceable for the time being. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s public emergency declaration in September against flavored vaping products was aimed at stopping the surge in teen nicotine use and addiction, but the judges described it as “government overreach.” It’s not clear if the state will continue to litigate the issue in the courts, allowing vaping companies in the meantime to continue luring young people with flavored products.