Pennsylvania has tried multiple times to advance adult-use cannabis legalization legislation without success. The latest attempt, named the Keystone Cannabis Act, will be introduced soon by State Senator Marty Flynn.
"I will soon introduce legislation to legalize adult-use cannabis in Pennsylvania, establishing a responsible framework for cultivation, distribution, and retail sales to adults aged 21 and over. This legislation represents a commonsense opportunity to modernize our cannabis laws by delivering lasting economic benefits to communities across the Commonwealth while balancing individual liberty with public safety," he wrote in a memo.
The bill recommends a regulatory structure under an independent commission, comprised of members of the Departments of Health, Agriculture, Community and Economic Development, Attorney General, and State Police, will oversee cultivation, processing, testing, and retail operations.
It also includes a Commonwealth Community Reinvestment Fund that will redirect taxes collected from legal sales into revitalizing rural communities through the creation of the RAEIZ (Rural Area Economic Investment Zone) Program, including grants for community redevelopment, attracting new business, and expanded agricultural operations. It will also seek expansion of the City Revitalization & Investment Zone Program by redefining the program as the Community Revitalization & Investment Zone, while funding local infrastructure improvements and grants to municipalities to support law enforcement, public health, and educational programs focused on substance use prevention and mental health.
The bill also prioritizes licenses for applicants from communities disproportionately impacted by cannabis prohibition and includes expungement provisions for certain non-violent cannabis-related convictions. It includes dedicated funding for public education campaigns and substance abuse prevention.
"Adults should be free to make their own decisions about cannabis use—just as they do with alcohol and tobacco—without unnecessary government interference. A regulated market also helps eliminate the black market and improves consumer safety. In fact, cannabis is a botanical cousin of hops, a primary ingredient in beer," wrote Flynn. "In short, legalization is no longer a question of if, but when—and Pennsylvania should not be left behind as our neighbors to the north, south, east, and west in New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, and Ohio all move forward. It is high time to create a cannabis economy that reinvests tax dollars into our communities thereby creating even more revenue, promotes freedom while ensuring safety and security, stimulates economic growth, and invests in the communities that need it most."
