Pennsylvania House passes bill to legalize adult-use cannabis
May 7, 2025
Pennsylvania House passes marijuana legalization bill
LEFT ONE PERSON WOUNDED. GOOD AFTERNOON. I’M SUSAN SHAPIRO. THAT BREAKING NEWS? DAUPHIN COUNTY COMMISSIONER GEORGE HARTWICK WAS AT THIS MORNING’S COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING FOR THE FIRST TIME IN WEEKS. HARTWICK HAD NOT ATTENDED A MEETING SINCE EARLY APRIL AFTER BEING CHARGED WITH DUI AFTER A CRASH IN A COUNTY OWNED VEHICLE. COMMISSIONER HARTWICK SAYS HE’S BEEN IN REHAB FOR 28 DAYS AND VOWED TO EMBRACE SOBRIETY AND NEVER DRIVE A COUNTY VEHICLE AGAIN. HARTWICK SAID HE INTENDS TO STAY IN OFFICE AND TRY TO INSPIRE OTHERS STRUGGLING WITH ADDICTION AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. HARTWICK WAS OFFICIALLY CHARGED WITH DUI AFTER COURT DOCUMENTS SHOWED HE ADMITTED TO DRINKING A HALF BOTTLE OF VODKA BEFORE CRASHING THE CAR. THE CRASH HAPPENED IN A COUNTY PARKING GARAGE BEFORE A COMMISSIONERS MEETING. REAL ID ENFORCEMENT HAS GONE INTO EFFECT TODAY AT AIRPORTS AND FEDERAL BUILDINGS. THE FIRST FLIGHTS WITH THE REQUIREMENTS IN PLACE TOOK OFF FROM HARRISBURG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT THIS MORNING. NEWS EIGHT’S JAKE REYES WAS THERE. HIRE SAYS THROUGHOUT THE MORNING THEY HAD NO ISSUES WITH TRAVELERS NOT HAVING A REAL ID, BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS, IF YOU DON’T HAVE ONE, YOU DON’T NEED ONE TO BOARD A DOMESTIC FLIGHT. EVEN IF YOU DON’T HAVE A PASSPORT. FOR NOW, SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY KRISTI NOEM ANNOUNCED THAT IF YOU DON’T HAVE THE GOLD STAR ON THE TOP RIGHT CORNER OF YOUR ID, YOU CAN FLY, BUT YOU SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR EXTRA SCREENING. YOU COULD BE DIVERTED TO A DIFFERENT LINE. SO BECAUSE OF THIS, AIRPORT OFFICIALS SAY YOU SHOULD GIVE YOURSELF AN EXTRA 30 MINUTES TO ARRIVE BEFORE YOUR FLIGHT IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A REAL ID. SECURITY CHECKPOINTS WILL ALSO BE ACCEPTING PASSPORTS AND TRIBAL IDENTIFICATION, AND REAL ID WAS A RECOMMENDATION BY THE NINE OVER 11 COMMISSION AND SIGNED INTO LAW IN 2005. IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ROLLED OUT IN 2008, BUT IMPLEMENTATION HAS BEEN REPEATEDLY DELAYED UNTIL NOW. ONE TRAVELER TOLD US SHE DOESN’T HAVE HER REAL ID, BUT DOES HAVE HER PASSPORT, AND THIS IS WHAT SHE HAD TO SAY. ON HER WAY TO SAN DIEGO. YOU KNOW WHAT? ON OUR WAY HERE, I DID SAY, PAT, DID YOU BRING MY PASSPORT? BECAUSE REAL IDS TODAY. SO I ACTUALLY FORGOT ABOUT IT. AND UNTIL I WAS DRIVING, I WAS LIKE, OH MY GOSH, I’M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET ON THE FLIGHT. HE SAID, YOU’RE GOING TO GO HOME AND I’M LEAVING WITHOUT YOU. AND SECRETARY NOEM SAYS 81% OF TRAVELERS ALREADY HAVE IDS THAT COMPLY WITH REAL ID REQUIREMENTS. NOW, IF THAT’S NOT YOU, SAYS THAT YOU CAN WAIT UNTIL THE SUMMER TO GET YOUR REAL ID WHEN LINES ARE NOT AS LONG. REPORTING AT THE HARRISBURG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, JAKE REYES, NEWS EIGHT. LOOKING LIVE FROM VATICAN CITY, WHERE 133 CARDINALS HAVE STARTED THE PROCESS TO SELECT THE NEXT POPE. THE FIRST VOTE IS EXPECTED TO RESULT IN A NEW PONTIFF, BUT WILL LIKELY IDENTIFY CONTENDERS. NBC’S JAY GRAY IS AT THE VATICAN. WELL, THERE IS A PALPABLE ENERGY AND ANTICIPATION HERE THAT SEEMS TO BE GROWING AS WE’VE NOW ENTERED THE CONCLAVE. DAY ONE OF THE CONCLAVE. IT STARTED WITH A MASS EARLY THIS MORNING FOR THE CARDINALS, THEN A BREAK WHERE THEY HAD LUNCH AND DISCUSSED THINGS. AND NOW WE GET INTO THE FIRST DAY AND WHAT WILL LIKELY BE THE FIRST VOTE. AND WHILE WE WON’T SEE A POPE, MOST AGREE IT’S STILL A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THIS PROCESS. THE FIRST VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE LEADING CANDIDATE. FOR EXAMPLE, IN THIS CONCLAVE, CARDINAL PAROLIN IS CONSIDERED THE LEADING CANDIDATE. WELL, IF HE GETS FEWER VOTES THAN WAS EXPECTED, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SAY, OH, HE MAYBE IT’S NOT HIM. SO LIKELY ONLY THAT ONE VOTE TODAY. AND THEN YOU GET INTO THE ROUTINE OF THIS CONCLAVE ON THE FIRST FULL DAY. TOMORROW YOU’LL HAVE TWO VOTES IN THE MORNING. A BIT OF A BREAK. TWO VOTES IN THE EVENING, AND THEN THEY GO BACK TO THEIR VATICAN DORMS. THEY CAN DISCUSS. THERE’S NO CURFEW. THEY CAN TALK. THEY CAN DO WHATEVER THEY WANT. BUT ONCE INSIDE THAT SISTINE CHAPEL, THE ONLY SOUNDS THAT ARE HEARD ARE THE COUNTING OF THE VOTES. WE’LL CONTINUE TO WATCH THE SITUATION HERE, CONTINUE TO WATCH FOR THE WHITE SMOKE AND THE ELECTION OF A NEW POPE FOR THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. BUT FOR NOW, THAT’S THE LATEST FROM HERE AT THE VATICAN. I’M JAY GRAY, NBC NEWS. OUR COVERAGE OF THE VATICAN CONCLAVE CONTINUES IN THE SECOND HALF HOUR OF NEWS EIGHT AT NOON, WITH A LOOK AT HOW CHURCH OFFICIALS FROM THE U.S. COULD AFFECT THE CHOICE OF THE NEXT POPE. AND YOU CAN ALSO FIND MORE COVERAGE AT OUR WEBSITE DOT COM. LOOKING LIVE FROM OUR SKYCAM NETWORK. A BEAUTIFUL DAY HERE IN THE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY. METEOROLOGIST MIKE SUSKO IS HERE WITH MORE ON THE FORECAST. AFTER ALL THAT RAIN YESTERDAY, THE SKIES HAVE CLEARED, MIKE. YES THEY HAVE. SUSAN. AND WE’RE SEEING A BEAUTIFUL DAY ACROSS THE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY. IT’S VERY PLEASANT OUT THERE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE’RE ALSO SEEING THAT DROP IN HUMIDITY THIS AFTERNOON. SO ENJOY IT WHILE YOU CAN BECAUSE SHOWERS DO RETURN TO THE FORECAST TOMORROW AND FRIDAY. BUT THEY DO MOVE OUT. HOWEVER, JUST IN TIME FOR THE WEEKEND, LOOKS LIKE WE’LL HAVE A SUNNY MOTHER’S DAY WEEKEND AHEAD FOR MOM’S. THAT’S GOOD NEWS, BUT CURRENT TEMPERATURES AND CONDITIONS ACROSS THE AREA, A MIX OF SUN AND CLOUDS HERE IN YORK AND TEMPERATURES ARE IN THE 60S, 66 IN HARRISBURG AS WELL AS YORK, LEWISTOWN. YOU’RE AT 66 AS WELL 65, IN LANCASTER, CARLISLE, 68, IN CHAMBERSBURG, SITTING AT 64. STORM TEAM LIVE RADAR NETWORK SHOWING SOME OF THOSE PUFFY CLOUDS HERE, ESPECIALLY SOUTH OF THE TURNPIKE. OTHERWISE, IT IS QUIET. THAT LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM THAT WAS HANGING AROUND THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS THAT IS NOW OFF TO THE NORTH AND EAST, AND WE’RE SEEING DRIER CONDITIONS. SO YOUR 12 HOUR FORECAST WILL GET UP TO 74 TODAY WITH A MIX OF SUN AND CLOUDS. WINDS WILL BE A LIGHT OUT OF THE NORTHWEST HERE, ONLY AROUND FIVE TO MAYBE 12MPH HERE. BUT ENJOY YOUR WEDNESDAY. WE’LL TIME OUT THAT RAIN FOR YOU COMING UP IN JUST A LITTLE BIT. THANK YOU. MIKE SWATARA TOWNSHIP. POLICE IN DAUPHIN COUNTY SAY A MAN ACCUSED OF SHOOTING SOMEONE LAST NIGHT JUST TURNED HIMSELF IN. THE SHOOTING HAPPENED AT THE TRIPLE B BAR ON DERRY STREET AFTER AN ALTERCATION. 21 YEAR-OLD DAKOTA SAUNDERS, OF ELIZABETHTOWN, IS CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED HOMICIDE, AGGRAVATED ASSAULT AND RECKLESSLY ENDANGERING ANOTHER PERSON. A SWATARA TOWNSHIP POLICE SERGEANT DISCOVERED THE VICTIM AFTER HEARING THE GUNSHOTS. THE VICTIM WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL AND IS BEING TREATED FOR MULTIPLE GUNSHOT WOUNDS. NEW AT NOON FROM LANCASTER COUNTY, A 14 YEAR-OLD BOY FROM HARRISBURG IS CHARGED WITH FLEEING OR ATTEMPTING TO ELUDE OFFICERS AND SIX ADDITIONAL OFFENSES AFTER A HIGH-SPEED CHASE. OFFICERS CHASED THE TEEN AFTER A CALL FOR A RECKLESS DRIVER IN MOUNT JOY BOROUGH. THEY SAY AT ONE POINT, HE DROVE OFF THE ROADWAY ONTO A SIDEWALK WHERE PEDESTRIANS WERE WALKING, NEARLY STRIKING THEM. POLICE SAY THE TEEN ALSO DROVE THE WRONG DIRECTION INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND FAILED TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN. THE VEHICLE INVOLVED WAS STOLEN. NEW AT NOON, PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE 2026 ANNUAL BUDGET AND THE 20 2636 CAPITAL PLAN. NEWS 8 TRAFFIC ANCHOR REGINA REGINA AHN HAS MORE. THE TURNPIKE HAS A NEARLY $460 MILLION OPERATING BUDGET, LESS THAN 2% MORE THAN THE LAST BUDGET. THE PA TURNPIKE PROJECTS $1.8 BILLION OF REVENUE IN THE NEW YEAR. NEARLY 1 BILLION OF THAT WILL BE USED TO FUND DEBT SERVICE. SOME OF THE MAJOR PROJECTS IN THE NEW BUDGET ARE EXPANDING OPEN ROAD TOLLING WEST OF READING, BERKS COUNTY, AND SOME BRIDGE REPLACEMENTS. DESPITE TOLL INCREASES, TRAFFIC VOLUME ON THE TOLL ROAD IS UP ALMOST 1.5% COMPARED TO THE SAME PERIOD IN 2024, AND COMMERCIAL VEHICLE TRAFFIC VOLUME CONTINUES TO BE 15% MORE THAN IN 2019. TOLL REVENUES ARE PROJECTED TO GROW 7% NEXT YEAR. THE PA TURNPIKE RECEIVES NO TAX DOLLARS AND IS SUPPORTED ONLY BY TOLL REVENUE. REGINA REGINA AHN WGAL NEWS EIGHT. THE STATE SENATE HONORED LATE WEST YORK BOROUGH POLICE OFFICER ANDREW DUARTE YESTERDAY WITH A CONDOLENCE RESOLUTION. SENATORS DON KEEFER AND KRISTIN PHILLIPS-HILL SPOKE ABOUT DUARTE, WHO WAS KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY IN FEBRUARY DURING THE SHOOTING AT UPMC HOSPITAL. WE CANNOT BEGIN TO FATHOM THE PAIN AND THE GRIEF THAT YOU AND YOUR FAMILY FEEL, BUT PLEASE KNOW THIS YOUR SON IS A WARRIOR. MANY PEOPLE ARE STILL ALIVE BECAUSE OF HIS QUICK REACTION. A WARRIOR CONFRONTS AND DOES NOT BACK DOWN FROM EVIL. AND ON FEBRUARY 22ND, YOUR SON CONFRONTED EVIL. YOUR SON IS A WARRIOR AND HE IS OUR HERO. AND DUARTE MOTHER WAS THERE. AS YOU HEARD THE REFERENCE, THE SENATE ALSO. SENATE ALSO HELD A MOMENT OF SILENCE IN DUARTE’S MEMORY. NEWS EIGHT IS LOOKING INTO THE USE OF SHOTGUNS BY POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN THE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY AFTER THE YORK COUNTY DA REVEALED THAT OFFICER ANDREW DUARTE WAS KILLED BY PELLETS FROM A FELLOW OFFICER’S SHOTGUN. WE REACHED OUT TO POLICE DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE VALLEY, AND STATE POLICE TELL US THEY’RE MOVING AWAY FROM USING SHOTGUNS. A SPOKESPERSON SAID THE DEPARTMENT RECENTLY DETERMINED IT APPROPRIATE TO TRANSITION FROM SHOTGUNS AND RIFLES, AND TO EXCLUSIVELY USE THE 223 CALIBER RIFLE, WHICH OFFERS ADVANTAGES INCLUDING A LONGER EFFECTIVE RATE. EXCUSE ME? THE SPOKESPERSON ALSO SAID THE STATE POLICE CONSISTENTLY REEVALUATE THE EQUIPMENT NEEDS, INCLUDING TRANSITION TO DIFFERENT WEAPONS. AND NO OTHER POLICE DEPARTMENTS RESPONDED TO OUR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE USE OF SHOTGUNS. A BILL IS HEADED TO THE STATE SENATE THAT WOULD HELP BUILD MORE ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS. THE HOUSE PASSED A BILL TO BRING EV CHARGERS INTO A PRIVATE PROGRAM THAT DOES NOT USE TAXPAYER MONEY. THE BILL HELPS USE FUNDING TO BUILD CHARGERS NEAR BUSINESSES, SHOPPING CENTERS, AND TOURIST ATTRACTIONS. THE BILL HAS ALREADY BEEN ADOPTED IN 21 STATES. FAMILIES AFFECTED BY DRUNK DRIVERS ARE HEADING TO THE STATE CAPITOL, PUSHING FOR CHANGES TO A SAFETY PROGRAM. NEWS EIGHT’S GABRIELLE THOMAS REPORTS. MOTHERS AGAINST DRUNK DRIVING ADVOCATES AND GRIEVING FAMILIES ARE URGING LAWMAKERS TO CHANGE THE IGNITION INTERLOCK SYSTEM THAT THEY SAY IS PUTTING LIVES AT RISK BY LAW, PENNSYLVANIA REQUIRES DUI OFFENDERS TO USE IGNITION INTERLOCK DEVICES, WHICH PREVENT A VEHICLE FROM STARTING IF THE DRIVER IS IMPAIRED. BUT THE PROCESS FROM THE OFFENSE TO THE INSTALLATION CAN TAKE UP TO 90 DAYS DUE TO LICENSE SUSPENSIONS AND COMPLICATED PAPERWORK, WHICH COULD DELAY GETTING THE DEVICE INTO CARS. NOW, TWO STATE REPRESENTATIVES, DEMOCRAT ED NELSON, WHO COVERS PART OF PHILADELPHIA COUNTY, AND REPUBLICAN KERRY BENNINGHOFF, WHO COVERS PART OF CENTER AND MIFFLIN COUNTY, ARE PROPOSING NEW LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE THE STATE’S IGNITION INTERLOCK PROGRAM BY CREATING A SPECIAL LICENSE FOR THOSE WHO USE THE DEVICE. IT WOULD ALSO CUT OUT LONG WAIT TIMES AND WILL ENSURE THAT ANY TIME SPENT DRIVING WITH THE SYSTEM COUNTS TOWARD LEGAL REQUIREMENTS. WE DON’T WANT TO HAVE THE ISSUE GET BOGGED DOWN IN THE IN THE WEEDS TOO MUCH. IT’S IMPORTANT YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE ALL THE TECHNICAL ASPECTS WORK WELL, BUT WE WANT BROADER UNDERSTANDING THAT THE SYSTEM, AS IT’S CURRENTLY CONSTRUCTED, DOES NOT WORK EFFECTIVELY AND IS DOING A DISSERVICE TO PEOPLE WHO REALLY WANT TO TAKE THE RIGHT STEPS AFTER MAKING A POOR DECISION LIKE DRUNK DRIVING, THE BILL HASN’T HIT THE FULL HOUSE YET, BUT ONCE IT DOES, IT WILL GO TO THE COMMITTEE. REPORTING HERE IN LANCASTER COUN
Pennsylvania House passes marijuana legalization bill
The Pennsylvania House has approved a bill that would create a system to allow adult use of marijuana. The final vote was 102-101.Video above: Headlines from WGAL News 8.The bill would allow cannabis to be sold from state-run stores, much like liquor and wine have traditionally been sold in Pa.House Bill 1200 moves on to the Pennsylvania Senate, where it faces an uncertain future. Governor supports legalizationGov. Josh Shapiro has repeatedly expressed support for legalizing recreational marijuana. In his 2024 budget address he said:”I ask you to come together and send to my desk a bill that legalizes marijuana. But that bill should ensure the industry is regulated and taxed responsibly.Shapiro has argued that Pennsylvania is losing out on the marijuana industry, pointing out that neighboring states have legalized it. As part of his pitch, Shapiro also called on state legislators to ensure that those who were convicted for nonviolent possession of small amounts of marijuana have their records expunged.
The Pennsylvania House has approved a bill that would create a system to allow adult use of marijuana.
The final vote was 102-101.
Video above: Headlines from WGAL News 8.
The bill would allow cannabis to be sold from state-run stores, much like liquor and wine have traditionally been sold in Pa.
House Bill 1200 moves on to the Pennsylvania Senate, where it faces an uncertain future.
Gov. Josh Shapiro has repeatedly expressed support for legalizing recreational marijuana.
In his 2024 budget address he said:
“I ask you to come together and send to my desk a bill that legalizes marijuana. But that bill should ensure the industry is regulated and taxed responsibly.
Shapiro has argued that Pennsylvania is losing out on the marijuana industry, pointing out that neighboring states have legalized it.
As part of his pitch, Shapiro also called on state legislators to ensure that those who were convicted for nonviolent possession of small amounts of marijuana have their records expunged.
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