Will PA Legalize Cannabis in 2025?
This past weekend, Pittsburghers had a lot to celebrate. Easter, Passover, and of course, the other high holy day: 4/20. And we like to think that some of our state lawmakers got in on the fun too! A couple of representatives, including Pittsburgh rep. Emily Kinkead, wrote a new memo about how recreational cannabis could get legalized. This debate over legalization has come up over and over again here in Pennsylvania, so we're revisiting host Megan Harris' conversation with SpotlightPA reporters Ed Mahon and Stephen Caruso to figure out the political climate, the potential hurdles, and exactly how cannabis sales could even work.
**This episode originally aired on January 27, 2025.
Get more from City Cast Pittsburgh when you become a City Cast Pittsburgh Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm.
Notes and references from today’s show:
- A handful of Pa. doctors approved 1/3 of medical pot cards in a single year. Experts question the quality of care. [Spotlight PA]
- Prior misconduct rarely an obstacle for doctors in Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana program [Spotlight PA]
- Spotlight PA investigation spurs call for more oversight of who can be a medical marijuana doctor [Spotlight PA]
- Thousands more Pennsylvania medical professionals could approve cannabis patients under proposals [Spotlight PA]
- Legal cannabis likely won’t be in this year’s budget, but supporters say there’s a silver lining [Spotlight PA]
Learn more about the sponsors of this April 23rd episode:
Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST
Aura Frames - Get $35-off plus free shipping on the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST
Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm.
Want more Pittsburgh news?
- Sign up for our daily morning Hey Pittsburgh newsletter.
- We’re on Instagram @CityCastPgh.
- Text or leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893.
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Subscribe To Our Newsletter
Stay connected to City Cast Pittsburgh and get ready to join the local conversation.
Latest Episodes
Create Your Own Pittsburgh Food Tour
Looking for your next fall getaway? What about a curated road trip with lots of tasty stops and local history? Our state's tourism site i...
‘Your City Could Be Better’: How One Oregon City is Lowering Energy Costs — Presented By City Cast Pittsburgh
What’s a seemingly small project in Pittsburgh that’s made a big difference? In the Oregon suburb of Tualatin, a drinking water pipe has...
UPMC Yields to Trump, County Bans Big Data Centers & Goodbye Millennial Gray?
UPMC just placed a decade-long moratorium on gender-affirming care for patients under 19 and agreed to pay the federal government $950,00...
A Warrant, a Budget & Pittsburgh’s Missing $250M
Former Mayor Ed Gainey is under investigation and facing allegations of improper contracts, questionable financial decisions, and potenti...
Pittsburgh’s Flock Camera Problem
Allegheny County the most Flock cameras and automated license plate readers in PA, according to crowdsourced data. Host Megan Harris is w...
Can $25M Make Smithfield Cool Again?
In the midst of Downtown’s larger $600 million makeover, Smithfield Street’s been waiting its turn. Crews are breaking ground today on th...
Paid Parental Leave Proposal Gets a Makeover
After weighing over 1,400 public comments — mostly from parents, health care workers, and small business owners — the county health depar...
‘Your City Could Be Better’: How Philly Is Reducing Violence With Parks — Presented By City Cast Pittsburgh
Would Pittsburgh be better with fewer vacant, blighted lots? In Philly, the answer is overwhelmingly yes, with significant drops in crime...
Ripping Out Skill Games, Mandatory Fun & RIP Annie Dillard
Will state police start ripping skill games out of convenience stores, vape shops, and other spots? That's what could happen if lawmakers...
Pittsburgh Restaurant Empires, Explained
Did you know a ton of Pittsburgh's most influential dining spots are run by the same six restaurant groups? Some are massive, some are lo...