Legalized adult-use marijuana in Pennsylvania has gained another Republican supporter.

Sen. Mike Regan, R-Cumberland/York, has been circulating a co-sponsorship memorandum signaling Regan’s intention to introduce legislation legalizing adult-use marijuana in the state. Regan explained his rationale in a weekend guest essay circulated to newspapers in his Senate district.

Regan helped write the state’s medical marijuana program in 2016 while he was a member of the state House of Representatives, noting that 500,000 people in Pennsylvania have received prescriptions for medical marijuana since then.

“I want to build off the success of that program while ensuring its continued viability for the industry and its patients.

I also want to make sure that Pennsylvanians receive their fair share from the sale of adult-use marijuana, not the cartels and gangs whose profits are comparable to Fortune 500 companies,” Regan wrote in his op-ed.

Regan’s bill, which hasn’t been filed yet, would legalize adult use for those ages 21 and over, establish a new regulatory control board much like New York’s program does and remove penalties for use and possession of marijuana by adults. Those who purchase marijuana would not see any change in their ability to purchased firearms. Regan also said his legislation would address DUI enforcement, and develop education and deterrents for underage use and possession.

According to the legislative memorandum Regan, which Regan filed Monday, money raised by his legalized marijuana program would partially benefit the Pennsylvania State Police and invest in the state’s roads and bridges.

Republicans in the Pennsylvania statehouse have typically opposed marijuana legalization bills, some of which have been introduced since the early 1980s by Democrats. Gov. Tom Wolf and Lt. Gov. John Fetterman have been vocal in their support of marijuana legalization bills.

“For those questioning my sponsorship of such legislation, it is important to recognize that legalization of adult-use marijuana in Pennsylvania is inevitable,” Regan wrote. “As chairman of the Senate Law and Justice Committee and a former member of law enforcement, rather than sit idly by and allow others to shape the legislation, I am stepping up to be a leader on the issue, as I did on medical marijuana. And I am doing so using a common-sense, bipartisan, bicameral approach that will provide Pennsylvanians access to a safe product, create thousands of jobs, level the playing field with neighboring states, support law enforcement and our communities, and more importantly, defund the deadly drug cartels who have wreaked so much havoc on the commonwealth and our country for so many years.”

Earlier this year, Sen. Dan Laughlin, R-Erie, became one of the first Republicans to publicly support legalized marijuana in the state. Laughlin and Sen. Sharif Street, D-Philadelphia, announced a joint plan in February legalize adult-use cannabis, create a state-run system for growing and selling the drug and expunge records for nonviolent cannabis-related offenses. Laughlin and Street said the proposal also prioritizes licensee applicants who’ve suffered disproportionately from the war on drugs and encourages the growth of smaller operations.

“We will proceed with caution,” Laughlin said earlier this year. “It’s going to take a lot of phone calls and emails to get moving through the committee process and to the floor for a vote.”

Legalized adult-use marijuana in Pennsylvania has gained another Republican supporter.

Sen. Mike Regan, R-Cumberland/York, has been circulating a co-sponsorship memorandum signaling Regan’s intention to introduce legislation legalizing adult-use marijuana in the state. Regan explained his rationale in a weekend guest essay circulated to newspapers in his Senate district.

Regan helped write the state’s medical marijuana program in 2016 while he was a member of the state House of Representatives, noting that 500,000 people in Pennsylvania have received prescriptions for medical marijuana since then.

“I want to build off the success of that program while ensuring its continued viability for the industry and its patients.

I also want to make sure that Pennsylvanians receive their fair share from the sale of adult-use marijuana, not the cartels and gangs whose profits are comparable to Fortune 500 companies,” Regan wrote in his op-ed.

Regan’s bill, which hasn’t been filed yet, would legalize adult use for those ages 21 and over, establish a new regulatory control board much like New York’s program does and remove penalties for use and possession of marijuana by adults. Those who purchase marijuana would not see any change in their ability to purchased firearms. Regan also said his legislation would address DUI enforcement, and develop education and deterrents for underage use and possession.

According to the legislative memorandum Regan, which Regan filed Monday, money raised by his legalized marijuana program would partially benefit the Pennsylvania State Police and invest in the state’s roads and bridges.

Republicans in the Pennsylvania statehouse have typically opposed marijuana legalization bills, some of which have been introduced since the early 1980s by Democrats. Gov. Tom Wolf and Lt. Gov. John Fetterman have been vocal in their support of marijuana legalization bills.

“For those questioning my sponsorship of such legislation, it is important to recognize that legalization of adult-use marijuana in Pennsylvania is inevitable,” Regan wrote. “As chairman of the Senate Law and Justice Committee and a former member of law enforcement, rather than sit idly by and allow others to shape the legislation, I am stepping up to be a leader on the issue, as I did on medical marijuana. And I am doing so using a common-sense, bipartisan, bicameral approach that will provide Pennsylvanians access to a safe product, create thousands of jobs, level the playing field with neighboring states, support law enforcement and our communities, and more importantly, defund the deadly drug cartels who have wreaked so much havoc on the commonwealth and our country for so many years.”

Earlier this year, Sen. Dan Laughlin, R-Erie, became one of the first Republicans to publicly support legalized marijuana in the state. Laughlin and Sen. Sharif Street, D-Philadelphia, announced a joint plan in February legalize adult-use cannabis, create a state-run system for growing and selling the drug and expunge records for nonviolent cannabis-related offenses. Laughlin and Street said the proposal also prioritizes licensee applicants who’ve suffered disproportionately from the war on drugs and encourages the growth of smaller operations.

“We will proceed with caution,” Laughlin said earlier this year. “It’s going to take a lot of phone calls and emails to get moving through the committee process and to the floor for a vote.”