Pennsylvania Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro unveiled his 2025-26 budget on Tuesday. It's a budget that adds up to over $51.4 billion.
Shapiro addressed the PA General Assembly with the message that the commonwealth is on the rise.
One of the focuses of his budget was the legalization of marijuana in PA. Shapiro say it’s long overdue to regulate and tax adult-use cannabis.
“Letting this business operate in the shadows, it doesn’t make sense,” said Shapiro. “And, by doing nothing, we’re making Pennsylvania less competitive.”
Pennsylvanians who want to buy cannabis are driving across the border to neighboring states.
“We’re losing out on an industry that over the first five years will bring in 1.3 billion dollars in revenue to our commonwealth,” said Shapiro.
Shapiro asked members for a bill that legalizes adult-use cannabis and expunges the records of people who have been convicted for nonviolent possession of small amounts of marijuana.
He is also pushing to solve more problems by regulating so-called skill games.
“If we want Pennsylvania to compete and win, we need to take some of the money going into those slots and put them in our state coffers so we can maintain our reserves and keep building on our progress.”
Shapiro also pledged an additional $526 million dollars to fund public education.
“If we want Pennsylvania to compete and win, we need to take some of the money going into those slots and put them in our state coffers so we can maintain our reserves and keep building on our progress.”
“This budget also continues our support for school repairs, mental health, free breakfast, student-teacher stipends, special education and a whole lot more,” said Shapiro.
Get more information on Shapiro's budget here.