Pennsylvania Senators Introduce Bipartisan Adult-Use Cannabis Legalization Bill

Pennsylvania senators Dan Laughlin (R) and Sharif Street (D) introduced bipartisan Senate Bill 120 to legalize adult-use cannabis for those aged 21 and older, potentially making Pennsylvania the 25th state to do so. The bill permits possession limits of 30 grams of flower, 5 grams of concentrate, and 1,000 milligrams of THC in infused products, while establishing a Cannabis Regulation Board to oversee a licensed, regulated, and taxed cannabis industry. It also includes provisions for automatic expungement of non-violent cannabis convictions and the release of eligible inmates. The legislation aims to protect consumers through product testing, age verification, and marketing restrictions, while maintaining employer rights to enforce drug-free workplace policies. Despite the bill's introduction amid budget negotiations and advocacy highlighting cannabis tax revenue as a potential alternative to tax increases, Pennsylvania Senate Republican leadership has expressed skepticism about including legalization in the current budget talks. Recreational cannabis is already legal in 24 states, including most of Pennsylvania's neighbors, and the bill reflects ongoing efforts to address social justice and regulatory concerns associated with cannabis legalization.