If you are paying attention to the cannabis industry in the Mid-Atlantic, Philadelphia is the place to be next week. On April 18, the Pennsylvania Convention Center will host the 2026 Pennsylvania Cannabis Convention (PACC). This year’s gathering feels distinctly different, fueled by real, promising progress on the adult-use legalization front that is shifting conversations from speculative to strategic.
Pennsylvania already boasts one of the country’s most robust medical programs, generating over $1.7 billion in annual sales and ranking as the sixth-largest cannabis retail market in the U.S., despite not yet having an adult-use framework. While these numbers already rival or surpass the total sales of many established recreational states, analysts estimate the current medical program captures only about 35% of the state’s true $5 billion cannabis demand. Transitioning to a fully regulated adult-use market would allow Pennsylvania to reclaim that massive untapped revenue currently lost to the illicit market and border-state dispensaries.
Recent reporting underscores that the political stars are finally starting to align toward adult-use. Governor Josh Shapiro has made adult-use legalization a centerpiece of his 2026–27 budget proposal, framing it not just as criminal justice reform, but as an economic engine projected to bring in over $720 million in first-year revenue and licensing fees. He is consistently putting pressure on lawmakers to get a bill over the finish line, noting that Pennsylvania is losing out while almost every bordering state runs a lucrative adult-use program.
This momentum is heavily influencing the programming and topics at the convention. When you look at the schedule, the core educational tracks perfectly capture a market in transition. The day kicks off with a fireside chat featuring Jim Belushi of Belushi’s Farm, bringing a high-profile, boots-on-the-ground perspective to the event. From there, the programming shifts into the operational and regulatory realities of running a cannabis business in the state, with sessions like “Inside the Grow” detailing how licensed Pennsylvania cultivators are actively preparing for market expansion.
For anyone looking to understand the current friction points and future roadmap, the session “Cannabis in Pennsylvania: An Industry Leaders Roundtable” will be essential viewing. Moderated by Meredith Buettner, Executive Director of the PA Cannabis Coalition, the panel brings together senior leaders from operators like INSA, Restore Dispensaries, and Curaleaf to offer candid perspectives on regulatory challenges, market pressures, and business sustainability as the industry evolves.
Crucially, the convention isn’t just looking at how to open the market, but how to build it responsibly. The Parabola Center for Law and Policy is bringing an incredibly timely panel to Philadelphia titled “Built to Fail or Built to Last? Equity Lessons from Legal States.” With Pennsylvania actively shaping its approach to adult-use legalization, policy experts from New York, New Jersey, and Virginia will be examining what has actually worked to create real access for small businesses and equity applicants, and what structural tools Pennsylvania must adopt to ensure the market works for a broad range of participants.
I’ll be attending the convention as press, and I am eagerly looking forward to walking the floor and sitting in on these sessions. Getting out from behind the desk and hearing directly from the advocates, operators, and experts who are shaping the state’s industry in real time is invaluable.
The progress being made in Harrisburg right now is highly promising, and the market’s potential is undeniable. If you want to understand where Pennsylvania cannabis is heading and connect with the people driving it forward, come join the fun and learning in Philadelphia next week!
