Josh Shapiro on Drugs

Legalized cannabis will bring in $1.3 billion in new revenue

Understand that drug addiction is a disease, not a crime

It's time to catch up, legalize, regulate and tax marijuana

Has taken on Pharma over opioid epidemic

Supports legalization, expunging non-violent convictions

After research I support legalizing recreational marijuana

Shapiro's announcement comes two days after Gov. Tom Wolf made a similar announcement that he supports it. Lt. Gov. John Fetterman and Auditor General Eugene DePasquale, both Democrats, have long supported the idea, too. However, leaders of the Republican-controlled Legislature have pushed back forcefully and said they oppose it.

Stopped the Fox drug ring from pushing their poisons

"The Fox drug ring sold more than $1 million in heroin and crack cocaine in Luzerne County," Shapiro said. "They were selling $3,000 worth of drugs every day for more than a year--pushing their poisons into Wilkes Barre. The people of Luzerne County are fed up with this epidemic. We hear you, and we're taking action. Today we shut down the Fox drug ring."

Collaborating with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, the Office of Attorney General obtained court approval for a wiretap on the cohort of drug dealers. The surveillance obtained evidence of drug sales and planned trips to New York City to re-stock their supply of heroin and crack cocaine for sale in Wilkes Barre.