Rob Greene: Freedom In Pennsylvania means cannabis legalization
As the District Attorney of Warren County, I have advocated for cannabis legalization for years. I believe that Pennsylvania should take a leading role in the cannabis industry by implementing sensible regulations and developing a sustainable market that benefits our state, our residents, and the criminal justice system. This isn’t a new revelation for me. As I have discovered, it is an opinion held by many, including law enforcement and veterans around our wonderful state.
No matter where I go across this Commonwealth, people share their stories highlighting how cannabis has positively impacted their lives or people they are close to, including disabled veterans and seriously ill patients in their families. Some are even former criminal defendants struggling with addiction that have found a way out of the darkness with cannabis assisted rehabilitation.
As a Republican District Attorney serving in a predominantly conservative area, I regularly receive an overwhelmingly positive response to my stance on cannabis. This is because whether you are liberal or conservative, cannabis is not a traditional political issue that falls into clear categories. Two-thirds of Pennsylvania agrees with me that we should have a safe, legal, and regulated market — far more than any politician or party. This is not a partisan position; it is a rational position founded on an interest in public safety for local communities and cannabis users alike.
As a public official who works with law enforcement officers daily, I see first-hand how our failed patchwork of laws has made our state more dangerous to live in. It allows the illicit market to thrive, threatening our communities and draining law enforcement resources that could be used for violent crime and serious threats to our neighborhoods. The failure of the state government to act has created a Wild West of questions, confusion, and missed opportunities to make progress while redirecting resources to areas of need.
I’ve served as a criminal defense attorney, and whether I was defending or prosecuting a case, I have actually seen cannabis transform lives. I know many former criminal defendants and other users of “hard drugs” who have beat opioid addiction by using cannabis. Research has shown that opioid death rates go down at least 25 percent in most states that have legalized recreational cannabis. That’s a big deal.
I’ve spoken with countless others who have given me their own stories, whether law enforcement officers, veterans, defendants or just people who work at the courthouse. People come to me with personal cannabis stories that have touched their lives and those of their loved ones. Compare this to the fact that I have never spoken with someone who had a specific negative example regarding cannabis use, not once! Other than getting arrested for it.
Even if you’re personally opposed to recreational marijuana use, how can you be personally against letting responsible adults decide for themselves? This is the United States of America, the land of the free. Why are we behind – not only specifically in Pennsylvania, but in the United States – why are we so far behind Canada, Germany, Israel, Ireland and other European countries that have legalized marijuana?
One thing that troubles me is the fact that we have a system of laws around marijuana possession that most Pennsylvanians don’t support, and that puts law enforcement in a bad position. Why charge a person with a crime that a jury doesn’t support? Will they convict someone of possession if they disagree with the law? What will the judge do if he or she thinks it’s unfair? We owe it to law enforcement to sensibly regulate cannabis so that they can have clarity as to the law. This will allow them to enhance public safety and be the good guys once again, not one that goes around arresting grandma on her porch for smoking a joint.
Pennsylvania should lead in medical marijuana research and cannabis farming. We should set the standard for adult use with sensible regulation providing clear guidance to law and supporting small businesses across the state. We should realize the economic benefits of a safe and regulated market that can help fund state and local programs. And most importantly, we should give back freedom to the People of this Commonwealth!
Rob Greene is the district attorney of Warren County, Pennsylvania.
When the state does get around to legalizing marijuana, make sure the seeds are available to the public.
Just as there are microbrewery bars there should be independent growers allowed to market their crop through store fronts.
That’s what freedom would look like.
On Friday, January 12, 2024, Franklin County Free Press reported that Mr. Greene had resigned from his position as District Attorney of Warren County, Pennsylvania, citing his disagreement with the state’s ban on recreational marijuana. In an interview with The Center Square on his last day in office, Greene stated that prosecuting marijuana cases was a waste of law enforcement resources. As D.A., Greene argued that public safety was not threatened by legalization. The now-former D.A. obtained a medical marijuana card and said he would not seek a fourth term in office. However, due to federal law, Greene was required to surrender his firearm license to the county sheriff upon announcing his medical cannabis use. He subsequently filed a lawsuit challenging the revocation of his firearm license. Broad + Liberty editors… come on already.
On Friday, January 12, 2024, Franklin County Free Press reported that Rob Greene had resigned from his position as District Attorney of Warren County, Pennsylvania, citing his disagreement with the state’s ban on recreational marijuana.
1. This Broad + Liberty website currently shows two (2) comments have been made regarding this article, in addition to this comment, but my computer screen does not display them.
2. If the Franklin County Free Press report is correct about the timing of Mr. Greene’s resignation, then the tense used within this article seem misleading at best. Perhaps the use of recreational drugs has done more harm than realized? Perhaps financial motivations were part of the positions being advocated here, too?