civus
BillENACTED

Bill 210206

Providing for the submission to the qualified electors of the City of Philadelphia of an amendment to Article VIII, Chapter 5 of The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter, entitled “Referenda Approved by the Voters,” by adding a new section providing that the citizens of Philadelphia call upon the Pennsylvania General Assembly and the Governor to pass legislation that will decriminalize, regulate, and tax the use, and sale to adults aged 21 years or older, of cannabis for non-medical purposes.

Introduced Mar 11, 2021Committee on Law and GovernmentOfficial record: City of Philadelphia via Legistar

Introduced by

Councilmember Green

How members voted

  1. Vote on Jun 10, 2021 · CITY COUNCIL

    Aye (17)

    Councilmember DombCouncilmember GreenCouncilmember GymCouncilmember OhCouncilmember SquillaCouncilmember JohnsonCouncilmember JonesCouncil President ClarkeCouncilmember HenonCouncilmember Quiñones SánchezCouncilmember BassCouncilmember ParkerCouncilmember O'NeillCouncilmember BrooksCouncilmember GauthierCouncilmember Gilmore RichardsonCouncilmember Thomas

From the floor

Passages in the official transcripts that cite this file number. Every quote links to its exact place in the record.

  1. “Okay. 01:23:32 Perfect. Yes. I am Cherron Perry-Thomas and I am the co-founder of DACO, the Diasporic Alliance for Cannabis Opportunities, and we've hosted a 01:23:42 cannabis conference at Temple University for Black and Brown communities, exposing them to the opportunities in cannabis since 2018. As the social equity advocate 01:23:55 Stated Meeting June 10, 2021 for All Together Now PA, we are working to create a…”

    Ms. Perry-Thomas · Stated Meeting, June 10, 2021 · Jun 10, 2021 · official transcript, this passage

  2. “My name is Tauhid Chappell, he/him pronouns. I'm testifying in support for Bill 210206 sponsored by Councilmember Derek Green. For the past decade, I've been 01:26:32 using marijuana as a patient to help with my autoimmune deficiency disorder called ulcerative colitis. Beyond being a medical marijuana patient, I'm also a Philadelphia cannabis journalist who has 01:26:40 reported on ongoing injustices and inequities w…”

    Mr. Chappell · Stated Meeting, June 10, 2021 · Jun 10, 2021 · official transcript, this passage

  3. “Bill Cobb. Peace and love. I'm calling to support Bill No. 210206 introduced March 11th by 01:31:47 Councilmember Derek Green. As a lifelong resident of 51 years in the City of Philadelphia, a former member of the City of Philadelphia Special Committee of Criminal Justice 01:32:00 Reform, and then my last position as a National Deputy Director at the American Civil Liberties Union where I ran their largest campaign t…”

    Mr. Cobb · Stated Meeting, June 10, 2021 · Jun 10, 2021 · official transcript, this passage

  4. “Good morning. My 01:34:04 name is Judy Wicks. I live in Philadelphia in the 8th Ward. I am speaking in favor of Bill 210206. I am a retired entrepreneur and the founder of All Together Now Pennsylvania, a 01:34:19 Stated Meeting June 10, 2021 non-profit with a mission to relocalize supply chains producing our basic needs, including food, clothing, building materials, and plant medicines. Our work 01:34:28 includes th…”

    Ms. Wicks · Stated Meeting, June 10, 2021 · Jun 10, 2021 · official transcript, this passage

  5. “Thank you, Council President. This resolution and 02:03:25 Stated Meeting June 10, 2021 6/10/21 - STATED - 2ND READING the companion Bill No. 210206 provides an opportunity for the citizens of the City of Philadelphia to weigh in on this issue. 02:03:37 Some years ago the General Assembly moved forward with medical cannabis legislation that provided medical cannabis to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and, more speci…”

    Councilman Green · Stated Meeting, June 10, 2021 · Jun 10, 2021 · official transcript, this passage

  6. “The ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. Mr. Decker, please read the title of Bill No. 210206. 02:10:26”

    Council President Clarke · Stated Meeting, June 10, 2021 · Jun 10, 2021 · official transcript, this passage

Status timeline

  1. Mar 11, 2021Introduced and Referred · CITY COUNCIL
  2. Apr 21, 2021HEARING NOTICES SENT · Committee on Law and Government
  3. Apr 21, 2021HEARING HELD · Committee on Law and Government
  4. Apr 21, 2021REPORTED FAVORABLY, RULE SUSPENSION REQUESTED · Committee on Law and Government
  5. Apr 22, 2021SUSPEND THE RULES OF THE COUNCIL · CITY COUNCIL
  6. Apr 22, 2021READ AND ORDERED PLACED ON NEXT WEEK'S SECOND READING CALENDAR · CITY COUNCIL
  7. Apr 22, 2021ORDERED PLACED ON THIS DAY`S FIRST READING CALENDAR · CITY COUNCIL
  8. Jun 10, 2021READ AND PASSED · CITY COUNCIL
  9. Jun 23, 2021SIGNED · MAYOR

Official documents

Documents open on the City of Philadelphia’s legislative site.

Full text

Read the full text as published

..Title Providing for the submission to the qualified electors of the City of Philadelphia of an amendment to Article VIII, Chapter 5 of The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter, entitled "Referenda Approved by the Voters," by adding a new section providing that the citizens of Philadelphia call upon the Pennsylvania General Assembly and the Governor to pass legislation that will decriminalize, regulate, and tax the use, and sale to adults aged 21 years or older, of cannabis for non-medical purposes. ..Body THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA HEREBY ORDAINS: SECTION 1. There shall be submitted for the approval or disapproval of the qualified electors of the City of Philadelphia at the election to be held November 2, 2021, the amendment to The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter contained in Resolution No. 210215, approved by Council on June 10, 2021, and filed in the Office of the Clerk of Council. SECTION 2. There shall be placed on the ballot the following question to be answered "Yes" or "No" by the qualified electors participating in the election: Shall The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to call upon the Pennsylvania General Assembly and the Governor to pass legislation that would decriminalize, regulate, and tax the use, and sale to adults aged 21 years or older, of cannabis for non-medical purposes? SECTION 3. The Clerk of Council is hereby directed to (i) certify to the Board of Elections, within five days of this Ordinance becoming law, a copy of this Ordinance and Resolution No. 210215; and (ii) to have printed in pamphlet form, in sufficient number for general distribution, the proposed amendment to The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter as set forth in Resolution No. 210215 together with the ballot question set forth in Section 2 of this Ordinance. SECTION 4. The Clerk of Council is hereby directed to cause to be published one time, during the (3) weeks preceding the election on November 2, 2021, in three (3) newspapers of general circulation in the City and in the Legal Intelligencer, the proposed amendment to The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter, together with the ballot question set forth in Section 2 of this Ordinance, and further, at such other time and in such other manner as the Clerk may consider desirable. SECTION 5. The Mayor is hereby authorized and directed to issue a proclamation giving at least thirty (30) days' notice of such election. The Clerk of Council shall cause a copy of the proclamation to be published in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation in the City, and in the Legal Intelligencer once a week for three consecutive weeks during the period of thirty days prior to the election. One such publication may be combined with the publication of the notice required by Section 4 of this Ordinance. SECTION 6. The appropriate officers are authorized and directed to take such action as may be required for the holding of an election on the ballot question set forth in Section 2 of this Ordinance as provided for by the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. ..End 2