Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro's (D) reelection campaign is drawing attention to a 2020 survey in which his Republican challenger, State Treasurer Stacy Garrity, opposed recreational marijuana legalization—a stance she has since dodged in public.
Garrity completed a Pennsylvania Family Council questionnaire while running for treasurer in 2020. Asked "Should marijuana be legalized for recreational use?" she answered "N." Since then, she has claimed no "policy position" on the issue while contending Shapiro "way, way overstated" its revenue potential. Her campaign did not respond to requests for comment, including on whether the Trump administration's federal rescheduling move affected her view.
Shapiro campaign spokesperson Sam Reposa said: "While Stacy Garrity wants Pennsylvania to continue to lose out on critical revenue that could be invested into our schools, public safety and small businesses, Governor Shapiro is continuing to fight to get this done."
The governor's office called federal rescheduling an "important step" that "adds support" to the legalization push. On 4/20, Shapiro wrote on social media: "Pennsylvanians who want to buy recreational marijuana are already driving across the border to one of our neighboring states who've legalized it. That's hundreds of millions in revenue going out of state instead of being spent here in Pennsylvania."
The Democratic-controlled House passed a legalization bill last year placing sales in state-run dispensaries; the Republican Senate has neither acted on it nor advanced an alternative. In March, the Senate Law and Justice Committee approved a bill creating a Cannabis Control Board (CCB) to oversee the medical marijuana program and intoxicating hemp products, with potential adult-use authority if legalization passes. Last month, the House Health Committee approved a bill permitting terminally ill patients to use medical cannabis in hospitals. The House also passed Shapiro's $53.2 billion budget, which projects marijuana revenue despite legalization not yet occurring.
Pennsylvania's Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) projects legalization would yield $140 million in its first year (2027–2028) under a 20% wholesale excise tax, 6% state sales tax, and licensing fees, climbing to $432 million by 2030–2031. Shapiro's office offers lower projections: $36.9 million in year one, rising to $223.8 million by 2030–2031. The governor has separately cited $1.3 billion over five years.
A recent poll found 69% of Pennsylvania likely voters support adult-use legalization—72% of Democrats, 67% of Republicans, and 64% of independents.
