PA House of Representatives passes state-stores legalization bill

On May 7, 2025, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed a bill (HB 1200) to legalize cannabis for adults from state-run stores. Less than one week later, the Pennsylvania Senate Law and Justice Committee defeated the bill, 7-3. Some members, including Committee Chair Dan Laughlin, expressed support for legalization, but opposition to the state-run stores approach.

MPP has serious concerns that — due to federal prohibition — the state-run stores model could prove a costly boondoggle that never results in legal access. But it’s past time the Senate treated adults like grown-ups, and legalized and regulated cannabis.

If you live in Pennsylvania, you can use our advocacy software to let your state senator know you want them to support a workable legalization law.

Senate Law and Justice Committee Chairman Dan Lauglin (R) and Sen. Sharif Street (D) have circulated a bipartisan co-sponsorship memo for their own bill.

Meanwhile, Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) included cannabis legalization in his 2025 and 2024 budget proposals. Both Laughlin and Senate President Kim Ward have called on Shapiro to take an active role in shaping legalization. Laughlin said, “I believe that, if there’s a path to getting adult-use cannabis passed, the governor himself is going to have to roll his sleeves up and help do some of the work …  I know it’s going to be a vigorously discussed process, so I look forward to working…to try and get a passable version through the Senate, through the House and off to the governor.”

Federal funds for Pennsylvania have become unpredictable, and the economy has begun a downturn. Legalization in Pennsylvania would generate hundreds of millions in new tax revenue each year to support residents’ wellbeing.

While 54% of Americans live in legal cannabis states, Pennsylvania lags far behind. It is one of only 19 states where adults can be incarcerated simply for possessing cannabis. According to government data, there were more than 11,000 arrests for cannabis possession in 2023 alone. Five of Pennsylvania’s six neighboring states have legalized adult-use cannabis — and they are generating the economic growth and tax revenue from cannabis sales to Pennsylvanians.

Let your PA state senator know it’s past time Pennsylvania modernizes its cannabis laws. Then, check out our LegalizePA campaign website.

Other 2025 Cannabis Bills

Several additional bills have been proposed to reform cannabis laws in the Keystone State:

• SB 76 — would allow for medical cannabis home cultivation, which is an important option for patients — many of whom cannot afford to purchase cannabis at dispensaries.
• SB 75 and HB 578 would reduce the penalty for possession of up to 30 grams of marijuana or eight grams of hashish from possible jail time to a summary offense carrying a fine of up to $25. It also imposes a fine of up to $100 for smoking cannabis in public.
• HB 533 would allow medical cannabis for any serious condition, rather than limiting it to an enumerated list.
• HB 878 would stop criminalizing unimpaired medical cannabis patients for having small amounts of THC in their system while driving.

Pennsylvania’s medical cannabis law

MPP was honored to work hand-in-hand with amazing Pennsylvania advocates, including moms, to pass medical cannabis legislation in 2016. Less than two years after the governor signed Pennsylvania's medical cannabis law – Act 16— into law, dispensaries began selling medical marijuana to patients and caregivers in February 2018. Since then, there have been several improvements made to the program.

Changes have included allowing patients to purchase more medical cannabis, and removing language that steered chronic pain patients to try more dangerous painkillers first. Check out our full summary of Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana law here.

You can also learn more on MPP’s medical marijuana page. If you want to learn more about becoming a registered patient, visit the health department's website.

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