Pennsylvania Adult-Use Bill Would Put Retail Cannabis in Liquor Stores

A bill proposed in Pennsylvania would legalize cannabis for adults and sell cannabis products through the state’s liquor store system, Erie Now News reports. The measure would also expunge low-level cannabis convictions and allow individuals to grow up to six cannabis plants. 

State Sen. Dan Laughlin (R) told Erie New Now that while he supports broad cannabis legalization, he does not support the proposal to sell it through the liquor store system. 

“Honestly, I don’t think the state should be selling liquor in the first place, let alone adult-use cannabis. I know obviously there’s some proposals out there to do just that, but quite frankly, if we’re going to get a bill through the legislature and on the governor’s desk, it’s not going to include that.” — Laughlin to Erie News Now 

Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro is including legalizing and taxing adult-use cannabis in the 2023-2024 executive budget. If approved, adult-use cannabis revenues in Pennsylvania could be worth $188 million by 2028.  

Former Gov. Tom Wolf (D) also included adult-use cannabis legalization in at least one of his budgets but the provisions were removed before the final passage of the budget law after pushback from lawmakers. During his two terms as governor, Wolf issued 627 pardons for cannabis-related crimes.