Just minutes after the Pennsylvania House gave final approval to HB 1200, a proposal to legalize recreational cannabis, the chair of a key Senate committee made clear the bill stands no chance, at least in its current form.
Senator Dan Laughlin, who serves as chair of the Senate Law and Justice Committee, took to social media this afternoon to double down on his opposition to the House-approved measure, which would legalize marijuana and establish state-run retail outlets.
In a post that included a photo of himself with a bold message, Laughlin said, “There is zero chance that the state store model will make it through the Senate. That idea is DOA!”
HB 1200, which passed the House earlier in the day by a narrow 102-101 margin, would legalize the possession and purchase of marijuana for those 21 and older, and establish a statewide system of Pennsylvania Cannabis Stores modeled after the state’s existing liquor system. Adults would also be allowed to grow up to two mature and two immature marijuana plants at home.
But with the bill now heading to the Republican-controlled Senate, its future is uncertain—particularly with opposition from Laughlin, a longtime proponent of marijuana legalization who has supported private licensing models. Republicans control he chamber 27 to 23.
Laughlin has previously co-sponsored bipartisan legislation to legalize marijuana but has consistently opposed a state-controlled retail system. As chair of the Law and Justice Committee, he would be in a key position to hold or advance the bill once it reaches the Senate.
His post, which was published just minutes after the House’s final vote, strongly suggests that HB 1200 will face major revisions—or stall entirely—unless the state store model is removed.
