Reality Check: Why Weed?

Reality Cheque: Why Weed?

Equally Lt. Governor John Fetterman continues his statewide marijuana tour, WURD'due south afternoon host contends there are more pressing issues to consider

Mar. 15, 2019

At that place are lot more things to worry about, and fix, in Pennsylvania other than pot.

The Keystone Land's poverty rate is a piddling over the national average and ranks 23 rd out of 50 states, forth with a child poverty rate that'southward 17 percent. Virtually 1 in every 8 Pennsylvanians are dealing with food insecurity, along with ane in 6 children. That's 40 percent of households with children that receive SNAP benefits, which is 62 percent of the total, co-ordinate to the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities.

It is the xiv thursday most polluted land (out of all 56 U.Due south. states and territories), according to Pollution Data Site's Scorecard, in terms of total toxic chemical releases by country. Its flagship urban center, Philadelphia, ranks high on the American Lung Clan's most polluted metropolis lists, and equally the state receives an overall course of "C-" on the national infrastructure report menu, drinking water systems in the Commonwealth received a "D." And when compared with other states, Pennsylvania ranked 38 th on a 2022 United states of america News & World Report state pedagogy performance listing.

These challenges don't even scratch the surface. Nor practise they fully capture the poverty-stricken picture in Philadelphia, hotbed of some of the worst socio-economical and environmental indicators in the country. Philadelphia—particularly black Philadelphia —was largely responsible for giving Gov. Tom Wolf and running mate Lt. Gov. John Fetterman the electoral advantage he needed to win his second term over Republican nominee Scott Wagner in 2018. A state-wide listening tour on recreational marijuana, like the one Fetterman is currently doing , doesn't exactly say "thanks."

Pot is neither the land's No. 1 issue, nor among its most prioritized when residents are asked. Neither is it that crucial of a priority for Pennsylvania's black residents, despite the fact they represent a disproportionate share of the increase in marijuana arrests throughout the country, especially in the Philadelphia region. In Philly alone , black residents make upwards 76 percent of all marijuana related arrests; in the Philly suburbs , they are 40 pct of marijuana arrests while more than a quarter of all such arrests statewide. That's an extension of the distressed state of black life in Philly, its suburbs and beyond, aggravated by the continued beingness of worsening socio-economical indicators.

How well-nigh a statewide tour to address the struggles with public schools? What about talking to folks about that poverty rate, or about jobs? What about public condom? Or, how about taking the fourth dimension and energy to address the environment?

That'due south why when he does show upwardly here (something non yet scheduled ) Philly residents would exercise well to give Fetterman an earful on a grisly list of problems that far outweigh the ideological disharmonism over who gets to smoke weed. And why they should need a listening tour that is more relevant to their everyday struggles. How near a statewide bout to address the struggles with public schools? What nigh talking to folks across the urban center and state about that poverty charge per unit, or about jobs? What about public safe? Or, how well-nigh taking the time and free energy to address the surround, worsened by fossil fuel industry pollution that Wolf placates? Philadelphia residents, especially the African American ones, weren't voting for a cannabis-friendly governor. They voted for the candidate they hoped could address these fundamental structural bug plaguing the urban center.

For sure, legalizing weed would have its benefits—similar an estimated $600 meg in additional revenue that could be used to fund schools or infrastructure projects. Colorado and Washington saw an additional $250 one thousand thousand and $320 million, respectively, in "cannabis-related taxes and fees in 2017," according to Forbes' Nick Kovacevich. Harrisburg is watching that closely, as well as the acquirement trickling in to the x states that have thus far legalized recreational use, something that could generate more money and prove less of a regulatory hassle than medicinal marijuana use. While taxes for recreational marijuana still stand for pocket-sized shares of the overall state budgets—information technology's only 2 percent of the Colorado land budget, and 1.two pct of Washington land's upkeep, according to an Associated Press assay —it's generating enough to either back up various programs or stash away in rainy twenty-four hours funds.

Pot is neither the land'south No. 1 effect, nor amongst its nearly prioritized when residents are asked. Neither is it that crucial of a priority for Pennsylvania's black residents, despite the fact they stand for a asymmetric share of marijuana arrests.

It may exist that Wolf, Fetterman and the state Democrats have finally stumbled upon a budget savior in legalizing weed—more and so than the Governor's push to raise $4.5 billion with a severance tax on the state's massive and polluting natural gas industry to fix the ailing infrastructure, just which continues meeting potent resistance from Republican lawmakers. Last month a nib to legalize recreational marijuana was introduced in Harrisburg, with several Democratic co-sponsors. However, Republican leadership has opposed the idea, despite the fact that their constituents across the state accept indicated they favor the change.

That shows how the topic of pot presents a creative span or plug-in to the whitest, almost rural and suburban locations in the land, places normally unfriendly (and, at times, outright hostile) to bluish state overtures. Support for the legalized use of marijuana among Pennsylvania voters has climbed astronomically, from simply 22 percent in 2006 to 59 percent in 2017, according to Franklin & Marshall College polling . It is perhaps the most connective of policy topics— similar to how it operates in social or living room settings—and it appears to defy partisan lines and polarization.

For sure, legalizing weed would have its benefits—like an estimated $600 meg in additional revenue that could exist used to fund schools or infrastructure projects.

This could be something that positively distinguishes Democratic state leadership from bah-humbug Republicans amidst the white working-to-center class heading in to 2022 and beyond. It stumps well. Those listening tour townhalls take get standing room only with more often than not white residents. They evidence that whites—contrary to long-held racial stereotypes— practise utilise marijuana at roughly the same charge per unit as blacks exercise, with white Millennial pot usage higher than that for everyone else. And now with relaxed law enforcement over marijuana in Pennsylvania these aforementioned folks are looking to accept advantage of a booming cannabis economy. Budding white middle-class entrepreneurs are already thinking how they tin penetrate the market, every bit well.

That's an attractive proposition for Trump Country voters in Pennsylvania who gave the Commonwealth a manner to the current clown in the White House, and state Democrats are cyberbanking on it working equally a defence force mechanism to retake the state for president in 2020.

But let's get real: What Democrats really demand to take back the country in 2022 is Philadelphia, and black Philadelphia in particular. African American voters who helped Barack Obama sail to victory in Pennsylvania stayed home in large numbers in 2016. Without them, Hillary Clinton lost the land—and the election. A listening bout on quality-of-life in Pennsylvania, gauging the pillar economic and social challenges state residents face, would accept been far more effective than a listening tour on pot. And making his 2nd and last term nearly those issues would give Wolf a legacy he could accept with him to a possible Senate race—and to national Democrats looking for him to deliver the state.

Charles D. Ellison is Executive Producer and Host of "Reality Check," which arrogance Monday-Thursday, four-7 p.m. on WURD Radio  (96.1FM/900AM). Check out The Denizen's weekly segment on his show every Tuesday at 6 p.m. Ellison is also Chief of B|East Strategy, c atch him if you can @ellisonreport on Twitter.

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