House passes landmark cannabis bill, moving Pennsylvania closer to safe, equitable legalization
Rep. Rick Krajewski and Rep. Dan Frankel May 7, 2025 | 5:14 PM
HARRISBURG, May 7 – The Pennsylvania House of Representatives made history today by passing legislation sponsored by Reps. Rick Krajewski and Dan Frankel to legalize adult-use cannabis, advancing a comprehensive plan that centers on public health, community repair and economic opportunity.
"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," Krajewski 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 Frankel, 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."
The legislation, shaped by extensive hearings and input from public health experts, criminal justice reform advocates, and small business leaders, offers a clear roadmap for responsible legalization in the commonwealth.
Key elements of the bill include:
- Automatic expungement of records for low-level cannabis offenses and investments in restorative justice.
- Targeted reinvestment in communities disproportionately impacted by the war on drugs.
- Robust public health safeguards, including THC limits, restrictions on marketing and packaging, and measures to prevent accidental ingestion.
- Support for small and diverse businesses, creating opportunities for local entrepreneurs and avoiding domination by large, out-of-state corporations.
- Maximizing state revenue and accountability with publicly owned and accountable retail stores.
As structured in the Cannabis Health and Safety Act, the hybrid marketplace is projected to bring in more than $2.2 billion dollars for the commonwealth in the first two years.
The legislation, which would leave the medical cannabis program unchanged, now heads to the Senate.
"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."
###