PA Cannabis Legalization Update
PA Marijuana Legalization Bill Videos / Adult Use Marijuana Legalization Bill
7-21-2025 Well despite the need for lawmakers to find new revenue sources, the recreational marijuana won't be part of this years PA State budget.
PA Senators Dan Laughlin (R., Erie) and Sharif Street (D., Philadelphia) bothadvocates for cannabis ligalization unveiled a new proposal. The bill would legalize adult use cannabis for 21 and over. It would also allow existing medical marijuana dispensaries to apply for a permit to sell recreational marijuana if they pay a $100,000 fee. Others say the fee shoud be higher like neighboring states which can charge up to $1 million.
7-11-2025 Senators Dan Laughlin (R) and Sharif Street (D) push to legalize adult cannabis use in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania Senate Bill 120, introduced on July 10, 2025, by
Senators Dan Laughlin and Sharif Street, proposes to legalize
adult-use cannabis in Pennsylvania. The
bill would establish a regulated and equitable framework for
cannabis use, including the creation of a Cannabis Control Board and
a Cannabis Regulation Fund. It
also addresses issues like disproportionately impacted areas,
business regulations, enforcement, laboratory testing, advertising,
and taxation.
Four other Democrats have also signed on
with their support of the bill, which would:
- Establish a Cannabis Regulation
Board with "general and sole regulatory authority" over the
conduct of cannabis business establishments and related
activities. The board would partner with the Department of
Community and Economic Development in facilitating grants and
loans
- Establish a Cannabis Regulation
Fund, 40% of which would go to the Cannabis Regulation Board,
15% to the board to alleviate the financial burden of medical
cannabis, 10% for abuse and treatment services, 10% for local
law enforcement to enforce the act, and 25% for the general
fund.
- Allow DCED to establish grant and
loan funds with regulation fund money for disproportionately
impacted area and small business applicants.
- Establish a 14% effective tax that
would give: 10% to municipalities with cannabis businesses,
proportional to the number of businesses in each; 10% to
counties in which a cannabis business establishment is located
in an unincorporated part of the county; and 80% to regulation
fund
- Establish a Cannabis Clean Slate
that expunges criminal records for violators of The Controlled
Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act for nonviolent
marijuana offenses.
7-6-2025 PA Senators that are aginst the bill to legalize recreational marijuana.
A specific bill aimed
at legalizing recreational marijuana in Pennsylvania (House Bill
1200) was rejected by the Senate Law and Justice Committee. Here are
some senators who voted against or expressed opposition to this
particular legalization plan:
- Senator Lisa Boscola (Democrat, Lehigh
Valley): Joined Republicans in voting against House Bill 1200 in
committee.
- Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward
(Republican, Westmoreland): Is not a supporter of legalization.
- Senator Devlin Robinson (Republican,
Allegheny): Opposed the bill, citing concerns about marijuana's
federal illegality.
5-26-2025 Another PA Senator launches his new version of a bill to legalize marijuana in Pennsylvania.
Senator Marty Flynn (D) says his bill called the Keystone Cannabis Act would include a outline that would work for the cutivation, distribution, and sales of cannabis to adults 21 and over.
From what I am gathering is that his bill would take the State controled liquor stores idea out of the picture and leave it to the privetly owned dispenceries. Pa would get their piece of the action though taxation. This bill would have a better shot at passing among Republicans to move forward with legalization.
As for now neither side can decide what to do about the gamming and cannabis industry. Meanwhile Pennsylvania is loosing millions of dollars in tax revenue from both, while the surrounding states are raking in the bucks. Come on guys, gets your heads out of your ass and pass some legislation.
5-14-2025 Bill to legalize recreational marijuana in Pa. dies in state senate committee.
They went at it again with no success to the Cannabis Health and Safety Act. What are the sticking points? The bill proposes to legalize adult-use in the state, the clearing of cannabis related criminal records, and the sales would be operated through the state liquor stores. There is your sticking point!
Operating through the state run liquor stores is not a good idea according to Pa. State Rep. Dan Laughlin, the state store of selling cannabis will never pass in the Senate.
Gov. Josh Shapiro who is in favor of the bill is looking at the $500 million in revenue from taxes and licensing that would be related to the sales of recreational marijuana. We are loosing tons of money that is going to surrounding states that have already taken steps to legalize cannabis.
So, the two parties will continue to clash because they don't know what to do about marijuana reform. Why not just look around at the other states that have great success with legalization and follow their lead.
Future Outlook
The path to adult-use cannabis legalization in Pennsylvania remains uncertain. While Governor Josh Shapiro supports legalization, the specific model for sales and regulation is a key point of contention between the House and Senate. Bipartisan efforts continue to explore alternative approaches, such as allowing existing medical cannabis businesses to transition to the recreational market.
Harrisburg, Pa. - In its first four years of legal sales, Pennsylvania can anticipate $1-1.4 billion in adult-use cannabis tax revenue, according to a report released by the Marijuana Policy Project.
Based on revenue projects from Arizona, Maryland, and Michigan, and assuming 16% in total taxes at retail, MPP anticipates that Pennsylvania would generate between $105 and $236 million in tax revenue in its first year of legal cannabis sales, and between $320 and $610 million by year four.
PA Marijuana Legalization Bill Videos
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