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A bill to legalize recreational marijuana in Pennsylvania has taken a significant step forward. On Monday (May 5), the House Health Committee approved the Cannabis Health and Safety Act with a 14-12 vote along party lines. This bill, known as House Bill 1200, now moves to the full State House of Representatives for consideration.
The bill, sponsored by Democratic State Representative Rick Krajewski, aims to legalize adult marijuana use and expunge certain cannabis-related criminal records. It proposes a "hybrid" regulatory system, allowing cannabis sales in publicly owned retail stores, similar to the state's wine and liquor outlets. The bill also permits adults over 21 to purchase cannabis and allows home cultivation of up to two mature and two immature plants with a permit.
Representative Krajewski emphasized the importance of regulating the cannabis market, stating, "With legalization, we have the opportunity to rein in a market that is completely deregulated in terms of potency, content, or labeling." The bill also includes provisions for social equity, small business advantages, and penalties for unauthorized sales.
The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board would regulate the cannabis industry under this legislation. Despite the bill's advancement, it faces opposition from Republicans, who have raised concerns about the federal classification of marijuana as a Schedule I substance and the speed of the bill's progression through the legislative process.
The bill's future depends on passing both the State House and Senate. While Democrats control the House, the Senate remains under Republican leadership, where the bill has received a lukewarm response. Governor Josh Shapiro has included a cannabis legalization framework in his 2025-26 budget proposal, estimating that a 20% tax on wholesale cannabis could generate $536.5 million for the state.