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Major marijuana multistate operators are betting big on Pennsylvania to be the next state to legalize adult-use marijuana.
According to Spotlight PA, MSOs Trulieve Cannabis Corp. and Cresco Labs were among 26 marijuana companies that spent more than $1.6 million combined in 2024 to convince Pennsylvania legislators and politicians to approve an adult-use market in the state.
Trulieve was the top spender with more than $210,000 in donations, followed by Cresco at $150,000, Spotlight PA reported, citing state disclosure forms.
According to Spotlight PA’s analysis, the other big spenders were:
CannTech PA, $90,770
Curaleaf Holdings, $90,000
Verano Holdings, $90,000
Trulieve operates 21 medical marijuana dispensaries in Pennsylvania, according to the Florida-based MSO’s most recent earnings report.
Cresco added three stores in Pennsylvania last year and plans to open more, the Chicago-headquartered MSO said in its most recent earnings report.
CannTech PA is a subsidiary of Miami-based MSO Ayr Wellness.
With a relatively robust MMJ program that’s also subject to license caps, Pennsylvania is considered one of the top potential adult-use markets in the United States.
It’s also believed to be the state where recreational marijuana legalization is most likely to happen in the near future.
In his annual budget address last month, Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro called on state legislators for the third straight year to legalize adult-use marijuana.
The state’s lawmakers have introduced bills in the past that have failed because of partisan roadblocks.
It’s unclear if lawmakers will honor Shapiro’s request – which he repeated on Saturday, and pass a recreational cannabis measure.
H/T: mjbizdaily.com