A new bill to legalize recreational marijuana has been filed in the Pennsylvania Senate with bipartisan backing.
Senate Bill 120, introduced today by State Senator Daniel Laughlin (R) and five Democratic co-sponsors—State Senators Sharif Street, Nikil Saval, John Kane, Tim Kearney and Marty Flynn—has been referred to the Senate Law and Justice Committee for consideration.
If passed into law, SB 120 would legalize marijuana possession and personal use for adults 21 and older, establish a Cannabis Control Board to oversee the new industry, and implement a dual tax system including both sales and excise taxes on marijuana products. It also includes broad licensing provisions for dispensaries, cultivators, and micro-cultivators, as well as social equity measures aimed at communities disproportionately impacted by marijuana prohibition.
The measure allows current medical marijuana businesses to apply for adult-use sales permits and creates a new licensing framework for small businesses and social equity applicants. Additionally, the bill includes provisions for the expungement of certain past marijuana-related offenses through a “Cannabis Clean Slate” program.
Under the proposal, adult-use consumers would be able to purchase and possess marijuana flower, concentrates, and edibles. All products would be tracked through a seed-to-sale system, and regulations would cover everything from packaging and advertising to security and storage. A newly created Cannabis Regulation Fund would receive revenue from licensing fees and taxes.
Governor Josh Shapiro (D) has voiced support for marijuana legalization, including it in his 2025–26 budget proposal. If SB 120 gains traction and becomes law, Pennsylvania would become the 25th recreational cannabis state.
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