THE KEYSTONE STATE. TOM. WELL, IT’S MEAN AND, JERRY, THAT ORDER CLASSIFIES CANNABIS AS A LESS DANGEROUS DRUG THAN IT PREVIOUSLY WAS UNDER SCHEDULE ONE. IT DOESN’T LEGALIZE IT, THOUGH, FOR ADULT RECREATIONAL USE, BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE STILL SEE THIS AS A STEP TOWARD MAKING LEGALIZATION MORE POSSIBLE. THE ORDER I AM ABOUT TO SIGN IS NOT THE LEGALIZATION, OR IT DOESN’T LEGALIZE MARIJUANA IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM. BUT PRESIDENT TRUMP ALSO ACKNOWLEDGED HIS ORDER WILL MAKE CANNABIS RESEARCH EASIER AND ALLOW FOR CANNABIS BUSINESSES TO GET MORE TAX BREAKS IN PENNSYLVANIA, LEGALIZATION ADVOCATES SAY IT WAS A BIG STEP. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AT LEAST AT THIS LEVEL, IS RECOGNIZING, I THINK, WHAT IS REALITY OUT THERE, AND WE NEED TO START TO LOOK AT THAT HERE IN PENNSYLVANIA AS AS WE FIND OURSELVES SURROUNDED BY EVERY OTHER STATE WHO HAS LEGALIZED ADULT USE CANNABIS. OPPONENTS OF LEGALIZATION SAY THERE IS SOME DISAPPOINTMENT IN THE PRESIDENT’S ORDER, ESPECIALLY IN TERMS OF HOW IT BENEFITS COMMERCIALIZED CANNABIS. IT HASN’T CHANGED. IS HIGH POTENCY THC BEING ADDICTIVE TO MANY FAMILIES, INCLUDING YOUNG PEOPLE USING. SO I THINK THERE’S A PERCEPTION PERHAPS THAT THIS IS IT’S GOING TO BE MEDICINE. IT’S NOT GOING TO BE HARMFUL. IT’S JUST NOT THE CASE. NOW, REMEMBER EARLIER THIS YEAR THERE WAS A VOTE BY THE STATE HOUSE WITH A DEMOCRAT SUPPORTED BILL THAT WOULD HAVE HAD CANNABIS SOLD BY STATE STORES IN PENNSYLVANIA. HOWEVER, IT WAS SCRAPPED BY SENATE REPUBLICANS. AND AT THIS POINT, I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER SAYS THEY’VE GOT MORE PRESSING ISSUES TO DEAL WITH, LIKE SKILL GAME REGULATION AND TAXES IN THE UPCOMING YEAR. IN OUR HAR
Trump’s executive order on marijuana reclassification sparks debate in Pennsylvania
Updated: 8:12 PM EST Dec 19, 2025
President Donald Trump’s executive order reclassifying marijuana as a less dangerous drug has sparked discussions in Pennsylvania about the potential for adult-use recreational legalization of Cannabis.The order classifies cannabis as less dangerous than it was as a Schedule 1 drug, which some see as a step toward making legalization more possible.President Trump acknowledged that his order would make cannabis research easier and allow for cannabis businesses to get more tax breaks, though it does not legalize the drug at the federal level.In Pennsylvania, legalization advocates say it’s a big step. “The federal government, at least at this level, is recognizing, I think, what is reality out there and we need to start to look at that here in Pennsylvania as we find ourselves surrounded by every other state, who has, you know, legalized adult use cannabis,” said a legalization advocate.” said Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Pittsburgh, who authored a legalization bill that was passed by the state House this year.But that proposal, which would have allowed for Cannabis to be sold at state-operated stores, was scrapped in the Republican-controlled Senate.In a statement Friday, Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman said the issue of legalization should be handled at the federal level, and there are more pressing issues, like regulating skill games, that require the legislature’s attention.”At this time, we have very complex issues with a higher level of urgency to address, such as gaming reform, to provide clarity and ensure public safety,” he said.Opponents of legalization say there is some disappointment in the president’s order, especially in terms of how it benefits commercialized cannabis. “What hasn’t changed is high potency THC being addictive to many families, including, you know, young people using so I think there’s a perception perhaps that this is, it’s going to be medicine. and that’s just not the case,” said Dan Bartkowiak of the Pennsylvania Family Institute.
HARRISBURG, Pa. —
President Donald Trump’s executive order reclassifying marijuana as a less dangerous drug has sparked discussions in Pennsylvania about the potential for adult-use recreational legalization of Cannabis.
The order classifies cannabis as less dangerous than it was as a Schedule 1 drug, which some see as a step toward making legalization more possible.
President Trump acknowledged that his order would make cannabis research easier and allow for cannabis businesses to get more tax breaks, though it does not legalize the drug at the federal level.
In Pennsylvania, legalization advocates say it’s a big step.
“The federal government, at least at this level, is recognizing, I think, what is reality out there and we need to start to look at that here in Pennsylvania as we find ourselves surrounded by every other state, who has, you know, legalized adult use cannabis,” said a legalization advocate.” said Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Pittsburgh, who authored a legalization bill that was passed by the state House this year.
But that proposal, which would have allowed for Cannabis to be sold at state-operated stores, was scrapped in the Republican-controlled Senate.
In a statement Friday, Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman said the issue of legalization should be handled at the federal level, and there are more pressing issues, like regulating skill games, that require the legislature’s attention.
“At this time, we have very complex issues with a higher level of urgency to address, such as gaming reform, to provide clarity and ensure public safety,” he said.
Opponents of legalization say there is some disappointment in the president’s order, especially in terms of how it benefits commercialized cannabis.
“What hasn’t changed is high potency THC being addictive to many families, including, you know, young people using so I think there’s a perception perhaps that this is, it’s going to be medicine. and that’s just not the case,” said Dan Bartkowiak of the Pennsylvania Family Institute.