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Department of Agriculture to administer proposed adult‑use cannabis program, secretary says
Summary
Secretary Redding told the House appropriations panel that the governor’s budget would put the Department of Agriculture in charge of regulating adult‑use cannabis and includes $40 million for start‑up operations and a revolving loan fund.
At the budget hearing, Secretary Redding said the governor’s proposal would make the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture the primary state regulator for an adult‑use cannabis market and that the budget includes $40,000,000 to set up operations and a revolving loan or credit program.
Representative DeVanzo asked whether the department requested the funding. Redding answered directly: “Proposed by me,” and explained the administration envisions two permit pathways—one prioritizing farmer applicants and another allowing current medical‑marijuana growers to participate if they choose.
Redding said the proposal differs from other states because Pennsylvania would be the only state administering adult‑use cannabis through its agriculture agency and that permitting would prioritize farmers: “It’s the only state that has prioritized in the permitting the opportunity for farmers to actually have a permit to grow.”
Committee members asked whether stakeholders had been solicited; Redding said the department had not formally solicited comment on the adult‑use proposal and that the department has experience from the industrial hemp program and medical program to inform implementation, noting the agriculture agency had about 580 hemp growers at peak participation.
Lawmakers indicated questions remain about enforcement, coordination with the Pennsylvania State Police and market impacts for traditional farmers; members also asked for additional stakeholder outreach and written implementation detail.
