Gov. Tom Wolf’s request for legislation to legalize recreational marijuana in Pennsylvania drew responses across the spectrum from both sitting legislators and the candidates vying to win the Senate seat for the 25th District, currently held by Sen. Joe Scarnati, R-Brockway.

Wolf spoke Tuesday, asking legislators to sponsor a bill to legalize recreational marijuana, with focus on dividing the funds earned between existing small business grant funding and restorative justice programs that will help repair harm related to marijuana criminalization.

Rep. Martin Causer, R-Turtlepoint, voiced disapproval of the governor’s request for legislation, noting that current struggles within the state make that potential move unwise.

“I think it would be a mistake to legalize recreational marijuana. I know we have major drug problems in this state and to legalize recreational marijuana would exacerbate that problem,” Causer said. “The governor himself last year when running for re-election said he did not support legalizing, and now he has had an about-face.

“One thing about Governor Wolf, he’s always looking for more money to spend, and this is another way to bring more money into the state to spend. I think it would be a mistake.”

When asked if now was the best time to focus on recreational marijuana and legalization, Causer was firm in his response.

“I don’t think there’s ever a good time to address it as an issue. I don’t agree with it. I will say that we have many more pressing needs than debating recreational marijuana. I mean, there are still a significant number of people out of work. The legislature is focused on economic recovery, getting people back to work, getting the economy going again, and the governor is focused on recreational marijuana. I think that’s misguided.”

A request for a comment from Scarnati on the governor’s announcement Tuesday also garnered a dissenting response.

A spokesperson said, “Senator Scarnati is not supportive of legalizing recreational marijuana, and has long voiced that recreational marijuana comes with too many risks and unanswered questions.”

Meanwhile, Democratic candidate Margie Brown, who is vying to replace Scarnati following his retirement at the end of the year, showed a different stance.

“I’m pleased to see that Governor Tom Wolf is calling on our state’s legislature to legalize recreational marijuana to bring needed revenue to Pennsylvania,” Brown said in a statement released Tuesday afternoon. “My opponent (Rep. Cris Dush) vocally opposes recreational marijuana legislation. But I understand that the difference between legally using medicinal marijuana and illegally using recreational marijuana often comes down to the ability to pay for a license and the cost of approval from specialized doctors (an annual $50 ID card fee plus $100-$200 for annual doctor fee).”

Brown also shared the perspective that the use of marijuana will continue, whether efforts to legalize are successful or not. Brown noted, “the difference is that other states are regulating the quality of these products for safer use and taxing these products for much-needed revenue.”

Brown further noted that “Legalization is fiscally and socially responsible,” while pointing out Colorado’s cannabis industry has generated more than one billion in tax revenue since legalization occurred in January 2014.

“Meanwhile, Pennsylvania is spending funds to arrest and charge our citizens for marijuana offenses,” Brown said.

A request for comment from Cris Dush, who is also vying for the 25th District Senate seat, did not receive a response.