Pennsylvania Senators Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Legalize Recreational Cannabis

LOS ANGELES- Pennsylvania lawmakers today announced the introduction of two parallel bipartisan bills aimed at legalizing adult-use recreational cannabis. The effort builds on mounting momentum amid state budget pressures and growing public support.

In the Senate, Republican Sen. Dan Laughlin (R‑49) and Democratic Sen. Sharif Street (D‑3) unveiled Senate Bill 120 on July 10. The legislation would permit adults aged 21-plus to possess up to 30 g of flower, 5 g of concentrate, and 1,000 mg of THC in infused products. The bill proposes a newly created independent Cannabis Control Board responsible for licensing, seed-to-sale tracking, product testing, public health education, and criminal record expungement for non-violent cannabis offenses.

Coinciding with this, in the House, Rep. Emily Kinkead (D‑Allegheny) and Rep. Abby Major (R‑Armstrong/Westmoreland) introduced House Bill 20 on July 16. This proposal similarly advocates for an independent regulatory commission, clean slate policies, and measures to foster social equity and public safety. It further estimates the creation of over 30,000 new jobs and emphasizes revenue retention currently lost to neighboring states.

The dual-track approach reflects increased urgency as Pennsylvania confronts fiscal challenges. Gov. Josh Shapiro has publicly supported legalization, projecting potential revenue of $250–500 million annually—resources that could bolster Medicaid, public transit, and education.

However, passage remains uncertain. Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R) has indicated that there is no current majority in the GOP caucus to include legalization in the budget package, while industry stakeholders debated store models—state-run versus private retail—during earlier negotiations.