Will Pennsylvania follow Minnesota by allowing cannabis in liquor stores?

This post originally appeared on Ben's LinkedIn Newsletter, Infused Insights. You can read and leave comments here.

Pennsylvania is considering a bill that would legalize adult-use cannabis, with sales through liquor stores. The proposal would allow home cultivation of up to five plants and expunge some cannabis-related convictions. The measure has bipartisan support but faces opposition from some lawmakers and anti-legalization groups.

Will it happen?

Cannabis is currently illegal for recreational use in Pennsylvania. Home of industry advocate and senator, John Fetterman, the state does have a medical program as well as strong momentum with decriminalization. But still, allowing cannabis sales in the mainstream marketplace as the first cut of adult use in the swing state would be a bold prediction. My heart, which has become more hardened and conservative over my cannabis years, is going to have to lean 'no' on this one, but I'm more than willing to be happily surprised.

What does it mean?

While there's no certainty as to whether we'll see cannabis in liquor stores in the Keystone State, this bill does have the opportunity to normalize the assertion that cannabis belongs in liquor stores. Minnesota allowance of low-dose hemp-derived THC in the mainstream marketplace was a great first shot across the bow, but this bill is the start to potential legislative trend.

While not infused beverage specific, it's not a far stretch of the imagination to see what form factor would take center stage in such a venue. The infused beverage category in Minnesota already has, and similarly, had no specificity that promoted beverage over other form factors. It was the consumers and operators that were here for it; and much like them, so am I.

Ben's Take

Well, I guess all of the above is my take, but as a representative of the cannabis beverage category, I believe we all really need to focus on this opportunity. I strongly believe that low dose cannabis beverages can be the tip of the spear into the mainstream marketplace. That cannabis beverage could outpace the broader cannabis legalization movement. We must leverage the fact that alcohol is already setup to distribute and sell "adult use" products and, right or wrong, it's a trusted framework that already exists.

Removing ourselves from the debate of hemp-derived vs. cannabis strategies for a second, truly getting cannabis infused beverages accepted into the mainstream marketplace is the dream. I believe it's our next great front. We can do it!

Aside...

I'm starting this new channel that combines my interests of all things cannabis --infused beverage, broader industry, technology, politics, advocacy, news, etc. -- with my efforts around "thought-leadership" and podcasting, with my generally positive (sometimes cynical) disposition. My goal is to provide concise takes on current events and be more than just an aggregator of information. I won't be afraid to post my opinions and predictions, though I must reinforce that they are my own.

Please, let me know what you think. I thrive off feedback. And of course... subscribe!

Cheers! -B.