Shoppers swinging through a popular antiques and farmers’ market this weekend in Berks County may find themselves in the midst of a cultural revolution.
The Pennsylvania Cannabis Fall Marketplace is back for a third year at Renninger’s Antique and Farmers’ Market, 740 Noble St. just outside Kutztown in Maxatawny Township. It is free, open to the public and family and leased-pet friendly, organizers say on the event’s Facebook page. The hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
The event comes the same week that two state lawmakers from western Pennsylvania unveiled new legislation to decriminalize, regulate and tax adult-use, recreational marijuana statewide. The proposal was not immediately listed on the state Legislature’s website, but it will be labeled House Bill 2050, said sponsors state Reps. Jake Wheatley and Dan Frankel, both D-Allegheny.
It’s unclear if House Speaker Bryan Cutler, R-Lancaster, will bring the measure up for a vote during the 2021-22 legislative session. Cutler two years ago said he opposed legalization of recreational, adult-use marijuana, in “the midst of an opioid epidemic.” His view had not changed as of a year ago, his opposition shared by Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman, R-Centre County, pennlive.com reported. Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf is a strong proponent of the legalization push.
The Democrats’ bill would make it legal for anyone 21 and older to purchase and consume recreational marijuana in Pennsylvania.
The proposal also would provide for direct participation in the cannabis industry by individuals in communities that have been disproportionately impacted by the criminalization of marijuana, and by small diverse and disadvantaged businesses, laying the foundation for enhancing social and economic equity for individuals and communities that have been and continue to be adversely impacted by the criminalization of marijuana, the lawmakers said in a news release Tuesday.
“I’m once again championing the effort to legalize adult-use recreational marijuana in Pennsylvania,” stated Wheatley, who first introduced similar legislation in 2017. “We’ve heard from residents across the state, and the overwhelming majority agree it’s time to pass this initiative.
“Not only would it create jobs and generate much-needed revenue, but it contains important social justice provisions that would eliminate the aggressive enforcement of simple marijuana possession laws in marginalized communities.”
H.B. 2050 also would establish multiple grant programs that would benefit small, minority and women-owned businesses in Pennsylvania. These programs would be funded by revenue collected from marijuana sales tax. In the end, this legislation would have lasting economic and social justice impacts in the commonwealth.
“Failed cannabis policies of the past have resulted in the worst of all possible worlds: insufficient protection of the public health, aggressive enforcement that disproportionately harms communities of color and zero revenue for this commonwealth,” stated Frankel, who is minority chairman of the House Health Committee. “With this legislation, Pennsylvania can begin to repair the historical harms and reap the benefits of a fact-based approach to regulating the cultivation, commerce and use of cannabis for adults over 21 years old.”
If passed, Pennsylvania would join 16 other states, including neighboring New York and New Jersey, in legalizing adult-use recreational marijuana, the lawmakers said.
This weekend’s cannabis festival features over 250 vendors, live music and more. Ticketed panel discussions are scheduled Saturday on adult use of cannabis and Sunday on medical use, including a review of Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana program created under legislation signed into law by Wolf in April 2016.
Founded in Scranton in 2015, the Pennsylvania Cannabis Festival first shifted to Kutztown for a fall 2019 event, and a fall event was held in 2020, as well. A spring version returned to Renninger’s this past April following a 2020 cancellation due to the coronavirus.
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Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com.
