In a straight party-line 102-101 vote, the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives advanced House Bill 1200 that would legalize recreational marijuana in the Commonwealth.
It is the farthest an adult-use recreational cannabis bill has advanced in the legislative process since the state legalized medical marijuana a decade ago.
The bill now heads to the Senate where it faces stiff headwinds from a 27-23 GOP majority in the chamber.
“For far too long, cannabis prohibition was used as a weapon against Black and brown communities. Today, we took a major step toward a meaningful repair and durable justice,” co-sponsor Rep. Rick Krajewski (D-Philadelphia) said. “This bill is about building a legal marketplace that puts working Pennsylvanians first, delivering hundreds of millions to the neighborhoods most devastated by criminalization and preventing a harmful corporate takeover of the market.”
“This is a victory for common sense, public health and communities who have paid the highest price under prohibition,” said co-sponsor Rep. Dan Frankel (D-Allegheny), who chairs the House Health Committee. “We cannot allow the missteps of other states to stop us from ending the harmful policies of cannabis prohibition. Instead, we have the opportunity to chart a new course that protects public health and benefits Pennsylvanians whether they use cannabis or not.”
Not everyone is enamored with the bill, including its supporters such as ResponsiblePA, who called for the legislation to be improved as it goes to the Senate.
“A bill passing out of the House today is an important first step to set the stage for more meaningful, bipartisan discussions — bringing in the Senate and the Governor as part of ongoing budget negotiations. We must fix this bill as we know a majority of Pennsylvanians oppose a state-run cannabis retail model. Voters want a practical solution — not a bill that is going to face legal challenges and cost thousands of jobs for everyday, hardworking Pennsylvanians.”
House Republican Leader Jesse Topper (R-Bedford/Fulton) said the flawed process leading to House Bill 1200 resulted in a flawed bill that demanded opposition.
“The bill to legalize marijuana in Pennsylvania was introduced at the end of the day Sunday and then rushed through a committee vote on Monday afternoon, a move that stifled debate and potential amendments,” Topper said. “That flawed process led to a seriously flawed piece of legislation that creates an unnecessary government monopoly over the sale of marijuana, contains significant constitutional concerns, and fails to deliver on promised state revenue by cannibalizing the sales of legalized marijuana into new programs and state giveaways.
“If Democrats were serious about getting this legislation done, the process they used would have reflected that,” Topper said. “Unfortunately, this product was too rushed, too deeply flawed, and too far-ranging to garner any support from the House Republican Caucus.”
Supporters argue that there’s been enough debate about recreational cannabis since the House and Senate held six different hearings on the topic in 2024.
Other opponents include moneyed cannabis interests that say the state already has a robust medical marijuana market that should be expanded, and that the state store model, which hasn’t been attempted in any other state, could lead to criminal liability for the commonwealth because cannabis is still federally illegal.
Governor Josh Shapiro has called for the legalization of marijuana as part of his state budget.
“Pennsylvania families deserve a modern cannabis policy that reflects science and compassion, not stigma,” Frankel added. “We are ready to work with our Senate colleagues to get this across the finish line.”
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