PA Moves Closer To Legalizing Recreational Marijuana

PENNSYLVANIA — The state House on Wednesday approved a bill that would permit people 21 or older to legally purchase recreational marijuana. The legislation does not alter the state’s existing medical cannabis system.

Under the Cannabis Health and Safety Act, officials predict the hybrid marketplace will generate more than $2.2 billion for the state in its first two years. The bill’s co-sponsors, Democrats Rick Kajewski of Philadelphia and Dan Frankel of Pittsburgh, contend the legislation is a comprehensive plan centering on public health, community repair and economic opportunity.

“Pennsylvania families deserve a modern cannabis policy that reflects science and compassion, not stigma,” said Frankel. “We are ready to work with our Senate colleagues to get this across the finish line.”

Key elements of the bill include:

Automatic expungement of records for low-level cannabis offenses.Targeted reinvestment in communities disproportionately impacted by the war on drugs. Public health safeguards that include THC limits, restrictions on marketing and packaging, and measures to prevent accidental ingestion. Support for small businesses that creates opportunities for local entrepreneurs and avoids industry dominance by large, out-of-state corporations. Maximizing state revenue and accountability with publicly owned and accountable retail stores.

Gov. Josh Shapiro called for the legalization of marijuana and will sign the bill into law if the Senate approves it.

In his proposed 2025-26 state budget address in February, he noted that almost all of Pennsylvania’s neighbors have legalized adult use cannabis – including New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Ohio.

Shapiro asserted that Pennsylvania is currently at a competitive disadvantage and losing out on revenue and new businesses to those states. According to Shapiro, executives from neighboring states with cannabis stores on the border have reported that up to 60 percent of their customers are from Pennsylvania.