Pennsylvania Moves Closer to Legal Weed: House Committee Advances Recreational Marijuana Bill

Pennsylvania Moves Closer to Legal Weed: House Committee Advances Recreational Marijuana Bill

Big news out of Pennsylvania: the push to legalize recreational cannabis just gained momentum.

On May 6, House Bill 1200 narrowly passed the Pennsylvania House Health Committee in a 14-12 vote along party lines. The bill, led by Democratic lawmakers, would legalize adult-use cannabis and sell it through a new system of state-run stores—separate from the state's existing liquor outlets.

Governor Josh Shapiro has been a vocal supporter of legalization, aiming to launch adult-use sales by January 2026. However, this bill differs significantly from the governor’s own proposal. Most notably, it hands oversight of recreational cannabis sales to the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board and omits language related to restorative justice efforts—an area many advocates hoped would be addressed.

Still, HB 1200 includes expungement provisions for people previously convicted of non-violent cannabis possession offenses.

Economic Stakes and Public Opinion

Shapiro’s $51.5 billion proposed state budget anticipates major revenue from legal cannabis:

• $15.6 million from an adult-use cannabis tax

• $11.4 million from retail sales tax

• Over $500 million from licensing fees

Despite some opposition—particularly from Republican lawmakers who object to relying on cannabis as a budget solution—public support for legalization is strong. A February 2025 poll from ResponsiblePA shows that 68% of Pennsylvania voters favor adult-use legalization. National data from Pew Research shows 88% of Americans support legal cannabis in some form.

State Rep. Maureen Madden, a bill co-sponsor, emphasized the need for lawmakers to align with voter sentiment. “When over 70% of our constituents say we want recreational cannabis, and we keep ignoring them, we're missing out on a whole stream of funding,” she said at a recent town hall.

What’s Next?

HB 1200 now heads to the full House for debate. But its path remains uncertain in a divided legislature—Democrats hold a slim one-vote majority in the House, while Republicans control the Senate 27-23.

As momentum builds, one thing is clear: Pennsylvania is no longer on the sidelines of cannabis reform. Whether or not lawmakers reach a consensus, the conversation is advancing—and fast.