Pennsylvania Tries Again With Fresh Adult-Use Bills
July 15, 2025Two new bills in the Pennsylvania House and Senate have achieved bipartisan support for legalizing adult-use cannabis in the Keystone State. The bills mark the latest of many attempts to get adult-use laws passed through the GOP-controlled state government. If the effort is successful, Pennsylvania—which already has a large medical market—could anticipate $1-$1.4 billion in adult-use cannabis tax revenue in its first four years of legal sales, according to the Marijuana Policy Project.
Despite the momentum building in both houses—as well as support from Governor Josh Shapiro—legalization is anything but guaranteed. With the state budget more than two weeks overdue, Republican Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman is not onboard. In a Facebook post he said, “I do not see a prevailing view for legalization of recreational marijuana within our caucus as part of the current budget.” Critics of Pittman’s approach point to budgetary concerns and the potential for cannabis tax revenue to prevent tax increases in the Keystone State.
The latest Senate bill is co-sponsored by Republican Dan Laughlin and Democrat Sharif Street and would create the state’s Cannabis Control Board and Cannabis Regulation Fund, which would, in conjunction, be responsible for licensing business and producers, ensuring sales and excise taxes are collected, and establishing testing standards, among other duties. The Senators’ proposal would also clear many past cannabis convictions and offer a path for marginalized communities to enter the industry.
In the House, new legislation sponsored by Democrat Emily Kinkead and Republican Abby Major hit many of the same points as the Senate bill, albeit with different language. The Representatives propose creating the Keystone Cannabis Authority and the corresponding Community Opportunity Fund. Those organizations would be responsible for regulating cannabis business, ensuring testing standards, collecting taxes, and providing opportunities for individuals with prior convictions. In addition to Kinkead and Major’s bill, Democrat Amen Brown has stated that he will introduce a House companion piece to Senators Laughlin and Street’s bill.—Shane English
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