Lt. Gov. Fetterman plans to tour Pa. to talk about pot

Governor Tom Wolf is taking yet another step toward full-throated support of recreational marijuana.

After hinting that he’d be open to the idea late last year, Wolf’s lieutenant governor, John Fetterman, is kicking off a listening tour to discuss the issue statewide.

The newly elected second-in-command and former mayor of Braddock has vocally supported recreational marijuana for a long time.

Wolf, in contrast, is cautious on the issue. While pushing to legalize medical pot in his first term, he said he didn’t plan to widen the availability any more. And while he more recently said New York and New Jersey’s moves to legalize are on his radar, he has always stopped short of endorsing the move for Pennsylvania.

Fetterman said his multi-month, statewide project won’t necessarily result in concrete policy changes — though it might. And he said it’s not about his own opinion on the subject.

“My views are no secret,” he said. “Anyone who has Google can find out. But in my capacity and role here, I’m in service to the commonwealth to find out where voters are at.”

Legal pot divides the legislature. When Wolf appeared to soften his stance, Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman released a blistering statement calling him “reckless and irresponsible.”

Fetterman said Corman and other opponents are welcome on his tour too.