The Commonwealth Prevention Alliance takes a strong stand when it comes to legalization of recreational marijuana. In fact, one board committee is dedicated solely to anti-legalization advocacy, and has been hard at work in recent months. They have developed a position paper which can be found on the CPA website which highlights the facts that support this stance. Members of the CPA have been using this resource and other materials during stops along the Lt. Governor’s “Listening Tour” throughout the state of Pennsylvania. The CPA encourages you to see when the “Listening Tour” will be in your area, or share your support of prevention on the Lt. Governor’s website.

Additionally, CPA Region groups have taken up the cause, and have dedicated large portions of their meetings to education on the issue. In Region 1 a panel discussion on recreational marijuana legalization was accompanied by a showing of the movie “Chronic State”, a documentary on the impact of marijuana normalization on a community. Region 3 invited Dale Quigley, Deputy Coordinator of the National Marijuana Initiative for the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Initiative Program and Sue Thau, a Public Policy Consultant representing Community and Anti-Drug Coalitions of America to join them virtually to discuss the impacts marijuana legalization has had throughout the nation, and potential concerns for Pennsylvania.

The CPA advocacy committee’s current project is hosting a breakfast and informational session titled “Legalizing Marijuana in Colorado- Impacts to Public Health and Public Safety” which will be presented by Dale Quigley in person at the Harrisburg Capitol Building on March 20th to Pennsylvania Legislators and their staff. You can be a part of this movement by starting a conversation with your state Senator and Representative and asking them to attend. The CPA encourages you to actively take steps to protect our youth and community and keep prevention at the forefront!