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Pennsylvania residents say 'yes' to recreational marijuana

With more states legalizing recreational use, residents weigh-in on what they think about weed.

COLUMBIA COUNTY, Pa. — "If it's sold not on the streets, it could save a lot of lives," said Mikayla Kile of Bloomsburg.

"I don't like it," said Bonnie Shoeman. "I don't think it should be legal."

These are just some of the reactions you get when talking about marijuana in Pennsylvania sees opinions from both sides.

Following Tuesday nights general election, West Virginia is now the only state bordering Pennsylvania that still has not legalized the drug for recreational use.

Pennsylvania is one of 38 states that allows medical marijuana, a projected billion-dollar industry according to online data.

 While some think that's enough for the Keystone state others we spoke with here in Columbia County think it should be legalized recreationally.

"Just give them the opportunity to do it. There's a lot of people out there that aren't causing any problems, just let them do it," said Sean Oakum of Bloomsburg. 

He remembers all the PSA's and DARE programs he saw when he was a kid that talked about how bad Marijuana was.

Decades later, he thinks the pros of recreational use outweigh the cons.

"Can it be abused yes, but I mean sometimes you gotta take the good with the bad," said Oakum.

"I would vote for it cause I'm all about a person's private freedoms and rights," said Walter Shoeman.

If a question like legalizing Marijuana Is on the ballot in 2024, Shoeman will vote yes.

The Bloomsburg native says just like alcohol and Tobacco, Marijuana use is fine by him as long he's not involved.

"I don't see why we shouldn't. It's supposed to be a free country and I have no opinion on it," said Shoeman. "Like I said if someone wants to smoke a little marijuana that's on them as long as it doesn't affect me. Fine."

In Pennsylvania, marijuana is currently classified as a Schedule 1 drug. This means, by definition, that marijuana is regarded as having a significant potential for abuse with no medical value.

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