Last week, the Pennsylvania House passed a bill to legalize marijuana for adult use in Pennsylvania. For too long, the subject of marijuana legalization has been legislated on without consideration of medical research and public health.
As the only physician in our legislature and the first one since the mid-1960s, I have viewed it as my responsibility to bring the medical and public health perspective to this debate. It is clear that marijuana is less dangerous than tobacco and alcohol, both of which are legal and regulated. But it is also clear that marijuana is not benign.
I was proud to add my voice to how regulation of potency, packaging, and marketing can move us away from failed prohibition to a responsible adult-use marijuana market and help pass legalization through our State House.
Pennsylvanians have been asking for this for years, and my colleagues and I are delivering. Will you make a contribution today to help me continue to represent medical evidence and public health in the legislature?
Together we can continue to move forward in a steady and positive direction.
Sincerely,
Rep. Arvind Venkat, MD
