Two new bipartisan bills to legalise adult-use cannabis have been introduce by lawmakers in Pennsylvania, reiginiting hopes for advocates and potentially making the state the 25th in the US to push through such legislation.
The latest House proposal, unveiled on Monday, is co-sponsored by Democratic Representative Emily Kinkead and Republican Representative Abby Major, with backing from eight other legislators across the aisle. It seeks to legalise the personal use and possession of cannabis for adults, establish a new regulatory body, the Keystone Cannabis Authority’, and introduce a tax and licensing framework to oversee cultivation, retail, and testing.
This comes just days after Republican Senator Dan Laughlin and Democratic Senator Sharif Street introduced a parallel bill in the Senate, aimed at creating a unified oversight structure for both medical and adult-use cannabis under a new Pennsylvania Cannabis Control Board. Democratic Representative Amen Brown has since announced he will file companion legislation in the House.
The two new proposals add momentum to an increasingly crowded field of cannabis reform bills in the state, where lawmakers from both parties now appear to agree on the need for legalisation but remain divided over the shape it should take.
Earlier this session, the House passed a separate bill that would have legalised adult-use sales through a network of state-run dispensaries. That bill was rejected by a Senate committee, with critics including Abby Major arguing against government-controlled retail.
Advocates say the new legislation reflects voter sentiment and economic urgency. A spokesperson for advocacy group ResponsiblePA said this week that the state is facing a growing budget gap and that ‘communities across this state would benefit immensely from the jobs brought by regulated cannabis.’
The group also pointed to the risk of losing federal funding for essential services like healthcare and transport if revenue opportunities such as cannabis taxation are missed.
Governor Josh Shapiro, who has consistently supported cannabis reform, has said the state is losing tax revenue to neighbouring states like Maryland and New Jersey, which have already legalised adult use. In an interview earlier this year, the governor framed legalisation as a question of competitiveness and liberty.
Despite growing bipartisan support, legislative progress has stalled amid disagreements between the Democrat-controlled House and the Republican-led Senate. Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman has indicated that legalisation is unlikely to be part of the state’s upcoming budget. However, Senator Laughlin has suggested cannabis revenues could be a viable alternative to tax increases.
Senator Street, a long-time advocate for reform, described the bill as focused on ‘justice, jobs and responsible regulation,’ with provisions to expunge low-level cannabis offences, support small and minority-owned businesses, and reinvest in communities disproportionately impacted by prohibition.
The renewed legislative push comes amid growing public and institutional support. Recent surveys show a majority of Pennsylvania voters back legalisation, and state agencies from agriculture to law enforcement have signalled readiness to implement a regulated framework if lawmakers act.
Nonetheless, political challenges remain. As the state nears a budget deadline, some lawmakers are pushing for cannabis reform to be included in fiscal negotiations. Others are proposing a longer-term strategy.
Meanwhile, other proposals continue to emerge. Democratic Senator Marty Flynn has signalled plans to introduce a further bill, while bipartisan calls grow to allow small farmers to participate in a future adult-use market. Regulatory updates to the state’s medical cannabis programme are also moving through the legislature.
The post Pennsylvania Lawmakers Renew Push for Cannabis Legalisation with Bipartisan Support appeared first on Business of Cannabis.
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The latest House proposal, unveiled on Monday, is co-sponsored by Democratic Representative Emily Kinkead and Republican Representative Abby Major, with backing from eight other legislators across the aisle. It seeks to legalise the personal use and possession of cannabis for adults, establish a new regulatory body, the Keystone Cannabis Authority’, and introduce a tax and licensing framework to oversee cultivation, retail, and testing.
This comes just days after Republican Senator Dan Laughlin and Democratic Senator Sharif Street introduced a parallel bill in the Senate, aimed at creating a unified oversight structure for both medical and adult-use cannabis under a new Pennsylvania Cannabis Control Board. Democratic Representative Amen Brown has since announced he will file companion legislation in the House.
The two new proposals add momentum to an increasingly crowded field of cannabis reform bills in the state, where lawmakers from both parties now appear to agree on the need for legalisation but remain divided over the shape it should take.
Earlier this session, the House passed a separate bill that would have legalised adult-use sales through a network of state-run dispensaries. That bill was rejected by a Senate committee, with critics including Abby Major arguing against government-controlled retail.
Advocates say the new legislation reflects voter sentiment and economic urgency. A spokesperson for advocacy group ResponsiblePA said this week that the state is facing a growing budget gap and that ‘communities across this state would benefit immensely from the jobs brought by regulated cannabis.’
The group also pointed to the risk of losing federal funding for essential services like healthcare and transport if revenue opportunities such as cannabis taxation are missed.
Governor Josh Shapiro, who has consistently supported cannabis reform, has said the state is losing tax revenue to neighbouring states like Maryland and New Jersey, which have already legalised adult use. In an interview earlier this year, the governor framed legalisation as a question of competitiveness and liberty.
Despite growing bipartisan support, legislative progress has stalled amid disagreements between the Democrat-controlled House and the Republican-led Senate. Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman has indicated that legalisation is unlikely to be part of the state’s upcoming budget. However, Senator Laughlin has suggested cannabis revenues could be a viable alternative to tax increases.
Senator Street, a long-time advocate for reform, described the bill as focused on ‘justice, jobs and responsible regulation,’ with provisions to expunge low-level cannabis offences, support small and minority-owned businesses, and reinvest in communities disproportionately impacted by prohibition.
The renewed legislative push comes amid growing public and institutional support. Recent surveys show a majority of Pennsylvania voters back legalisation, and state agencies from agriculture to law enforcement have signalled readiness to implement a regulated framework if lawmakers act.
Nonetheless, political challenges remain. As the state nears a budget deadline, some lawmakers are pushing for cannabis reform to be included in fiscal negotiations. Others are proposing a longer-term strategy.
Meanwhile, other proposals continue to emerge. Democratic Senator Marty Flynn has signalled plans to introduce a further bill, while bipartisan calls grow to allow small farmers to participate in a future adult-use market. Regulatory updates to the state’s medical cannabis programme are also moving through the legislature.
The post Pennsylvania Lawmakers Renew Push for Cannabis Legalisation with Bipartisan Support appeared first on Business of Cannabis.
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