The Pennsylvania Senate rejected legislation to remove oversight of the state’s medical cannabis program from the Department of Health and establish a new and independent Pennsylvania Cannabis Control Board, PennLive reports.
Authored by state Sen. Dan Laughlin (R), the proposal would also have granted the new agency regulatory power over intoxicating hemp products, as well as over any future adult-use cannabis market in the state.
Laughlin said he knew the proposal would be opposed by some Republicans, but that he didn’t know until the last minute that Democrats were going to unite against the proposal. Lawmakers rejected the bill 23-27 on Wednesday, with six Republicans opposed and two Democrats in support.
“I knew it was a risk putting it up for a vote, because there were some discussions going back and forth.” — Laughlin, in a statement
Lawmakers, however, followed up the rejection with a vote allowing the bill to be reconsidered later.
“We’re going to take another pass at this,” Laughlin said. “I’m not sure exactly when, but hopefully before the end of June.”
Meanwhile, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) supports legalizing adult-use cannabis and included cannabis tax revenues in his 2026-2027 state budget plan.
