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Pennsylvania may become the next legal state

Pennsylvania is one of 19 states where people can still be jailed for simple cannabis possession. Most neighboring states — all except West Virginia — have legalized it, and voters strongly support legalization. But without a ballot initiative process, only the legislature can make it law.

Now, change might be coming. Governor Josh Shapiro (D) has called for legalization in his 2024 and 2025 budgets. On May 7, 2025, the House of Representatives passed a legalization bill (HB 1200) in a 102-101 vote, though federal law could stand in the way of the bill’s state-run stores approach.

In the Senate, the Law and Justice Committee swiftly voted down the state-run stores bill in a 3-7 vote. But two members, including Committee Chair Dan Laughlin (R), made it clear they support legalization, they just oppose the state stores approach. .Senate President Kim Ward (R) has said if legalization is going to happen, the governor needs to lead the way. Sen. Laughlin echoed that sentiment saying, “if there’s a path to getting adult-use cannabis passed, the governor himself is going to have to roll his sleeves up and help do some of the work."