PA Senator Unveils ‘Keystone Cannabis Act' Weed Legalization Bill

Forbes

26-05-2025

A Pennsylvania Democratic senator has unveiled the Keystone Cannabis Act, a bill to legalize ... More marijuana for adults and regulate sales of recreational weed.
A Pennsylvania senator last week unveiled the highlights of a new plan to legalize cannabis for adults and regulate sales of recreational marijuana in the state. Democratic state Sen. Marty Flynn sent out a memo seeking co-sponsors for the upcoming weed legalization bill, known as the Keystone Cannabis Act, online cannabis news source Marijuana Moment reported on Monday.
Flynn distributed the sponsorship memo on Wednesday, just a week after a Senate committee derailed a separate weed legalization bill passed by the House of Representatives earlier this month. If passed by the legislature and signed into law by Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro, the bill would legalize the possession, purchase and use of cannabis for adults aged 21 and older. The bill will also contain provisions designed to prevent youth access to marijuana and discourage impaired driving by cannabis consumers.
'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,' Flynn wrote in the May 21 memo about the upcoming bill.
Under Flynn's plan, the state would establish an independent commission to oversee the cultivation, processing, testing and sales of cannabis to adults. The commission would be 'comprised of members of the Departments of Health, Agriculture, Community and Economic Development, Attorney General, and State Police,' according to the sponsorship memo.
The legislation also includes cannabis tax provisions that are estimated to generate approximately $500 million per year. Revenue would be directed to a Community Reinvestment and Infrastructure Fund, which would be used to revitalize rural communities and expand the City Revitalization and Investment Zone Program.
The fund would also distribute grants to local governments 'to support law enforcement, public health, and educational programs focused on substance use prevention and mental health.' Additionally, the cannabis tax revenue would fund local infrastructure improvements, such as roads, bridges, public transit, water systems, and broadband expansion.
The Pennsylvania Capitol in Harrisburg.
Flynn's cannabis legalization plan for Pennsylvania also includes provisions to protect public health and safety, such as strict testing, packaging and labeling rules for cannabis products. The upcoming bill will include dedicated funding for a public education campaigns and substance abuse treatment programs.
'Adults should be free to make their own decisions about cannabis use—just as they do with alcohol and tobacco—without unnecessary government interference,' said Flynn. '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.
'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,' he continued. '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.'
Flynn sent the memo to his colleagues in the Senate, seeking co-sponsors for his upcoming cannabis legalization bill. If Pennsylvania legalizes recreational marijuana, it will join the 24 states that have legalized cannabis for adults.