Senator Marty Flynn takes a run at adult use

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.

Key Provisions:

• Legalization for Adults 21+: This bill legalizes the possession, purchase, and consumption of cannabis for adults, while maintaining strong safeguards to prevent youth access and impaired driving.
• A Well-Regulated Market: 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, ensuring safety, transparency, and fairness in the marketplace.
• Commonwealth Community Reinvestment Fund: Revenues generated through cannabis sales—projected to exceed $500 million annually—will be deposited into a Community Reinvestment and Infrastructure Fund.  These funds will be directed to:
  • 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.
  • Expansion of the City Revitalization & Investment Zone Program by redefining the program as the Community Revitalization & Investment Zone, thereby allowing more areas to realize its benefits.
  • Critical Local infrastructure improvements, such as roads, bridges, public transit, water systems, and broadband expansion.
  • Grants to municipalities to support law enforcement, public health, and educational programs focused on substance use prevention and mental health.
• Social Equity Measures: The bill prioritizes licenses for applicants from communities disproportionately impacted by cannabis prohibition and includes expungement provisions for certain non-violent cannabis-related convictions.
• Public Health and Safety: Cannabis products will be subject to strict labeling, packaging, and testing standards. The bill includes dedicated funding for public education campaigns and substance abuse prevention.  Further, the legislation will mandate rigorous testing of all cannabis products by independent, certified laboratories to ensure product safety, potency, and purity. Strict standards will be enforced to prevent falsified results or conflicts of interest, and testing facilities will be subject to regular audits and state oversight.

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.

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.

I respectfully invite you to join me in co-sponsoring this important legislation.