Pennsylvania Governor Says Cannabis Prohibition Clogging Prisons, Hurting Families

Gov. Tom Wolf says Pennsylvania needs to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana possession in systematic fashion, and remains guarded about the kind of recreational legalization in place in several western states.

Wolf said Monday some municipalities have stopped arresting people for possessing small amounts. But he says the state should act because too many people are still going to prison for marijuana possession and that’s clogging prisons and hurting families.

Wolf spoke on WITF-FM’s Smart Talk program.

Wolf is stopping short of endorsing the kind of full legalization of recreational use that’s taken place in Colorado, Washington, Oregon and Alaska.

In April, Wolf signed legislation legalizing a medical marijuana program in Pennsylvania. The Department of Health says it’ll take until early 2018 to make medical marijuana available to eligible patients.

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