Tag: pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Lawmakers Push To Protect Medical Marijuana Patients In Child Custody Cases After Father Loses Rights Over THC Test

Pennsylvania lawmakers are taking action to clarify that a person’s status as a medical marijuana patient cannot be used against them in parental custody rulings in family court.

While state statue clearly stipulates that lawful use of medical cannabis “shall not by itself be considered by a court in a custody proceeding,” a father’s recent experience losing custody rights after testing positive for THC metabolites has exposed an apparent implementation issue.

After David Levi—a registered medical cannabis patient with severe arthritis—sought financial support from his daughter’s mother in family court, his use of marijuana became a determining factor, contrary to what’s prescribed under state law.

“By the time they were done with me, I became a drug user—not a prescribed user—and that’s my tagline” in the eyes of the court, Levi told Marijuana Moment. “And two days before my father died, I got an email, and it was that the judge had ordered to take away all of my rights as a father.”

“I went from 50-50 custody to not being able to drive my daughter, and I’m only allowed to have overnight visits with her every other week,” he said.

Sen. John Kane (D) learned about his constituent’s story and, last week, circulated a cosponsorship memo to build support for forthcoming legislation to both clarify the existing statute and also make it so a person’s medical cannabis patient status cannot be used to determine child custody or to justify a drug test in a custody case.

“To treat his pain without using addictive opioids, my constituent obtained a medical marijuana card and began using this medication to treat his arthritis,” Kane wrote. “Medical marijuana has allowed him to manage his pain, maintain his work, and remain an attentive father to his three-year-old daughter.”

“Despite following the guidelines set forth by Pennsylvania’s Medical Marijuana Act, the constituent found himself in a custody battle that has threatened his rights as a father and penalized him based on his status as a medical marijuana patient,” he said, adding that current statute “prohibits the lawful use of medical marijuana as a determinant of child custody.”

“However, in my constituent’s case, his use of medical marijuana was used against him to determine child custody,” the senator said. And to address the issue, he will be filing legislation to “amend Title 23 Section 5328 to prohibit the use of medical marijuana from being used to determine child custody or the sole reason to order a drug test in child custody cases.”

The text of the bill hasn’t been filed yet. But on the House side, a Republican lawmaker has since committed  to work on the issue as well, Levi said.

Keep reading

Democrats Normalized The Same Political Violence That Torched PA Governor’s Mansion

Political violence flared again in Pennsylvania on Sunday in another troubling example of an apparent nutjob who seemingly imbibed the leftist paradigm that legitimizes the use of force.

Cody Balmer — the Harrisburg man accused of torching the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion while Gov. Josh Shapiro, his family, and some guests slept inside — was charged Sunday with terrorism, attempted homicide, aggravated arson, and other related charges, according to a Pennsylvania State Police criminal complaint.

State police say Balmer was captured on several security cameras, and a woman contacted police and said that “her ex-paramour, Cody Balmer [38] was the individual responsible for setting the fire.” She told police he confessed to her and “wanted her to call police to turn him in.” Soon, he was outside police headquarters where he approached a state trooper and turned himself in, the complaint said.

Balmer told police he put gasoline from his lawnmower into two beer bottles and carried these homemade Molotov cocktails and a sledgehammer from his house, on a nearly four-mile walk through Harrisburg, to the mansion. Security cameras show he scaled the fence, broke a window, threw one bottle into the piano room, then broke another window, went inside, and deployed the second one to burn the dining room.

Balmer told police he knew it was possible Shapiro could be inside the mansion and might get injured, and when asked what he would have done if Shapiro had caught Balmer inside the home, Balmer “advised he would have beaten him with his hammer,” the complaint said. “During the interview, Balmer admitted to harboring hatred towards Governor Shapiro.”

“This type of violence is not OK,” Shapiro said in a press conference on Sunday, and he is right. But this type of violence is celebrated by Democrats and their left-wing media.   

Keep reading

Media Working Overtime to Distort the Politics of Alleged Arsonist Who Burned Pennsylvania Governor’s Mansion

Cody Balmer, the suspect who allegedly burned the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion, while Governor Josh Shapiro and his family were in it, is now known to be a far left socialist and BLM supporter.

That is not how the media is reporting on him.

A memo must have gone out because at least two liberal media outlets are emphasizing the fact that Balmer was ‘critical of the Democrats.’

What might a person infer from that last part? That he’s a right winger? Is that why they media is doing this? Or are they trying to imply that Democrats are dealing with threats just like Republicans? Either way, it’s completely dishonest.

See this report from ABC News (emphasis is ours):

Arson at Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s residence was ‘domestic terrorism’: Fire chief

Cody Balmer, who is suspected of starting a fire on Sunday at Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s residence, was denied bail at his arraignment on Monday.

Balmer — a mechanic who had previously expressed disdain for Democrats on social media — was arrested in connection with the fire early Sunday, sources familiar with the suspected arsonist told ABC News.

Way down at the bottom of the article is this part:

“The attacker was not a fan of Trump I understand just from what I’ve read and from what I’ve been told,” said Trump, adding that he was not informed of the motive in the incident. “The attacker basically wasn’t a fan of anybody’s. Probably just a whack job. And certainly a thing like that cannot be allowed to happen.”

Sources familiar with Balmer said his public grievances with the Democratic party were primarily related to financial issues.

Absolutely nowhere does the article describe the suspect as left or far left.

Over at CNN, same thing. This guy expressed disdain for Democrats.

Keep reading

Pennsylvania Judge Convicted of Shooting Sleeping Boyfriend in Head

A Pennsylvania judge was convicted of shooting her sleeping boyfriend in the head.

Sonya McKnight, a magisterial judge in Dauphin County, shot her sleeping boyfriend in the temple last February after the victim, Michael McCoy tried to end their relationship and told her to move out.

McCoy, who miraculously survived but is now blind in one eye, told police he woke up “with massive head pain” and couldn’t see. McKnight tried to convince him that he shot himself.

McKnight was convicted of attempted murder and aggravated assault on Wednesday.

This wasn’t the first time McKnight shot a romantic partner. She reportedly shot her ex-husband in the groin after an argument over furniture. She wasn’t charged for that shooting because she said she was acting in self-defense.

NBC News reported:

A Pennsylvania judge was convicted Wednesday of attempted murder and other counts for shooting her boyfriend in the head as he slept last year, officials said.

A jury convicted Sonya McKnight, a magisterial judge in Dauphin County, on one count each of attempted murder and aggravated assault, the Cumberland County District Attorney’s Office said.

“There were two people in that house, and only two people in that house,” District Attorney Sean McCormack told reporters after the verdict. “And one of them, the one who was shot, said he did not shoot himself.”

The shooting happened Feb. 10, 2024, at a home in Harrisburg after the victim, Michael McCoy, tried to end his one-year relationship with McKnight, authorities said in a probable cause statement.

McCoy told detectives that he had been asleep for about an hour or two when he awoke “with massive head pain” and could not see, police have said in an affidavit.

Keep reading

Another Day, Another Alleged Would-Be Trump Assassin Charged

Less than a week after a horrifying survey found more than half of self-identified leftists believe killing President Donald Trump would be justifiable, a Pennsylvania man has been charged with threatening to murder the president and other U.S. officials. 

Shawn Monper, 32, of Butler — the same Pennsylvania community where Trump came within a fraction of an inch of being assassinated last July — faces federal charges of making threats to assault and murder Trump, DOGE advisor and Tesla founder Elon Musk, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, and others, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. 

“I want to applaud the outstanding and courageous investigative work of the FBI and the Butler Township Police Department, who thankfully identified and apprehended this individual before he could carry out his threats against President Trump’s life and the lives of other innocent Americans,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi in a press release. 

Monper, who allegedly took to YouTube as “Mr. Satan,” made a series of threatening statements between Jan. 15 and last weekend, according to the criminal complaint. On Tuesday, the FBI National Threat Operations Section (NTOS) “received an emergency disclosure,” the Justice Department said. A subsequent federal investigation determined “Mr. Satan” was residing at Monper’s residence, according to the DOJ. 

Keep reading

GOP Pennsylvania Senator Calls For Legalizing Marijuana And Using Tax Revenue To Create State ‘Legacy Fund’ For Long-Term Investments

A Republican Pennsylvania senator is calling for the creation of a state “legacy” fund, using tax revenue from adult-use marijuana sales and gaming to make long-term investments in the Commonwealth’s economy.

In an op-ed published in The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Tuesday, Sen. Dan Laughlin (R) said “we must ensure that today’s tax revenue is not just spent in the moment but invested wisely to benefit future generations.” And he’s proposing the “Pennsylvania Legacy Fund” as a means of achieving that.

As the legislature once again debates various cannabis legalization proposals, the senator is making the case that, beyond using any resulting tax revenue to fund day-to-day projects and public services, the state should earmark a portion of those tax dollars for a fund to “provide a sustainable source of prosperity that lasts for generations.”

“Legalization isn’t a matter of if anymore—it’s when,” the senator, who has sponsored bipartisan reform proposals, said. “Ohio took the step in 2023, and every year we wait, we lose tax revenue to neighboring states. A well-regulated cannabis market in Pennsylvania could generate hundreds of millions of dollars annually through sales taxes and licensing fees.”

“These funds could be directed into the Legacy Fund, ensuring that revenue from this emerging industry contributes to long-term investments in education, infrastructure, and other critical needs. Additionally, legalization would create jobs, support local businesses, and reduce the prevalence of the illegal and unregulated market. It is imperative that Pennsylvania takes action now to stay competitive and reap the benefits of this inevitable shift.”

Laughlin said his proposal would work by having cannabis and gaming tax revenue deposited into a “carefully managed investment fund,” which would include a “diversified portfolio of stocks, bonds, and real estate.”

Keep reading

Pennsylvania Lawmakers File Bill To Help Small Farmers Enter Marijuana Industry If The State Enacts Legalization

Pennsylvania Democratic lawmakers have introduced a bill that would allow farmers and other small agriculture operators to sell marijuana they cultivate to existing growers and and processors if the state moves to legalize adult-use cannabis.

As the legislature once again takes up the issue of marijuana legalization, Rep, Melissa Shusterman (D) and five colleagues filed the legislation on Thursday in a bid to ensure that the industry is inclusive to small farmers, creating a permitting process so they’re able to make inroads with larger operators.

“As more and more states legalize adult-use cannabis, it is only a matter of time before Pennsylvania does the same,” Shusterman said in a cosponsorship memo. “When adult-use cannabis is finally legalized in Pennsylvania, it is my belief that everyone should have accessible and equitable entry into the adult-use cannabis industry, including farmers and small enterprises.”

“Enabling local cultivation would allow Pennsylvania farmers and their communities to benefit from the legalization of adult-use cannabis. Moreover, this legislation would protect participation in the industry by farmers in the Commonwealth,” she said. “The legalization process must ensure PA’s farmers have fair access to this new market so that sales revenue and profits remain in PA.”

Whether the Pennsylvania legislature does legalize marijuana this session remains to be seen, with mixed opinions among Democratic and Republican leadership about the prospects of reform. Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) also included the policy change in his latest budget request.

But if prohibition is ended, the new bill would take a number of steps to provide for equitable access to industry participation.

Keep reading

3 Pennsylvania Officials Plead Guilty To Election Fraud – And 2 Are Still In Office

In the dumpy little borough of Millbourne, Pennsylvania, three elected Democrats cheated in the 2021 election in almost every imaginable way. Their candidate, one of the three cheaters, still lost his bid for mayor by some 30 votes. Two are still in office as of April 4, according to a phone call to the borough hall.  

The three pleaded guilty April 1 to a host of election fraud offenses at separate hearings before United States District Judge Harvey Bartle III. 

To examine their scheme is to see in play many of the red flags election integrity experts have warned about. It is a textbook for cheaters to study, and they will, unless Pennsylvania changes some laws to make it harder to cheat.   

Tiny Millbourne Borough, population 1,300, lies in the greater Philadelphia metro area and is about eight blocks long, or .1 square mile of mostly run down, cookie-cutter apartment buildings. There are bars on windows and spent old cars on lawns. It’s claim to fame is the Millbourne Train Station to Philly; the Philadelphia Sikh Society, the main building in town; and now, election fraud.

Keep reading

Pennsylvania Man Caught on Camera Carving Swastika into Tesla Makes Another Incredibly Dumb Move That Leads to His Identification and Arrest

Radical leftists across the country have been vandalizing Teslas and setting Tesla dealerships on fire across the country all because of their blind hatred of Elon Musk. But in a twist, one of these unhinged losers decided to make things easy for law enforcement this week.

As NBC 10 Philadelphia reported, an unidentified male was caught on tape vandalizing a Tesla in the parking lot of a Planet Fitness in Doylestown Borough on Monday. The Bucks County Courier Times reported the man responsible for the vandalism is 55-year-old Chadd Ritenbaug of Doylestown Township.

The Central Bucks Regional Police Department said the suspect was caught on the car’s cameras parking next to the Tesla and getting out of his silver-colored Lexus. The video then showed him squatting behind the vehicle and proceeding to scratch a swastika into the Tesla moments before 9:30 a.m.

But instead of running away, Ritenbaugh thankfully made another incredibly foolish move that came back to haunt him.

After vandalizing the Tesla, Ritenbaugh walked into Planet Fitness and scanned his membership card with the staff at the front desk. He proceeded to work out as if nothing happened.

Ritenbaugh’s decision enabled police to identify him using his gym membership card and his Pennsylvania Driver’s License photo.

Ritenbaugh is charged with misdemeanor counts of criminal mischief, harassment, and two counts of summary harassment and disorderly conduct. Patch reports Ritenbaugh was arraigned on March 28 before Judge Mark Douple.

His bail has been set at $25,000.

This incident is made more ironic by the fact that Ritenbaugh apparently has a LinkedIn account which shows he owns a company called Black Car Service of Bucks County, PA. The company also happens to be hiring right now.

Keep reading

Voter ID Alone Won’t Make Pennsylvania’s Elections Trustworthy

Pennsylvania, which cemented itself as a true swing state in the last few presidential elections, does not currently require voter ID at the polls, other than for first-time voters. The rumblings about the need for Pennsylvania voter ID are intensifying, and yet another in a long string of bills was just introduced.

Social media punditry — by self-proclaimed experts — would lead the casual observer to believe that voter ID is the answer to all election integrity woes in the United States. While requiring voters to prove they are who they say they are does make elections more secure, the reality tends to be more complicated, especially in Pennsylvania. The state’s elected Republicans should understand that voter ID by itself will not solve Pennsylvania’s election integrity challenges — larger reform is needed.

While the Keystone State actually has a voter ID law on the books, signed into law in 2012 by Republican Gov. Tom Corbett, it has never been enforced due to lawsuits immediately filed against it, eventually resulting in a court order declaring it unconstitutional. The legal hijinks that resulted in the invalidation of the law irritated the Republicans in the Pennsylvania legislature, resulting in many new proposals for Voter ID laws that never made it past the drawing board, thwarted by Democrats in the legislature and by Democrat governors.

Keep reading