As Pennsylvania Senate Democrats push to force a floor vote on marijuana legalization, a group of House members has introduced a separate bill aimed at steering medical cannabis licenses toward small, diverse and disadvantaged businesses.
The measure, filed by Rep. Nathan Davidson (D) and seven cosponsors, would add one dispensary permit in each geographic region of the state reserved for a disadvantaged, diverse or small business. It would also require regulators to publish an annual list of surrendered or revoked medical cannabis licenses and open reapplication specifically to those business categories.
Under the bill, a "disadvantaged business" is one majority-owned or controlled by people subject to racial, ethnic or cultural bias. A "diverse business" is a disadvantaged, minority-owned, women-owned, or veteran-owned business certified by a third party. A "small business" employs 100 or fewer people and isn't a subsidiary of a larger corporation.
Davidson said in a cosponsorship memo that the medical program's original diversity goals "has not been met due to multistate corporations dominating the Commonwealth's medical cannabis industry," leaving smaller operators unable to compete for permits. "This legislation will give these businesses the initial opportunity to compete for these permits," he wrote, urging colleagues to co-sponsor it.
Separately, Senate Democrats filed a discharge resolution to force a bipartisan legalization bill out of committee and onto the floor. A recent poll found most Pennsylvania voters back legalization and largely blame Republican lawmakers for the delay. Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) has repeatedly urged passage and included legalization revenue in his last several budget proposals. Republican gubernatorial nominee Stacy Garrity has vowed to veto any legalization bill, saying Senate Republicans "are never going to pass it," while running mate Jason Richey called legalization potentially "catastrophic."
In April, the House passed Shapiro's budget, which counts on future recreational marijuana revenue. The state's Independent Fiscal Office estimated in February that legalization could generate nearly $500 million annually by 2028. A governor's office spokesperson called federal marijuana rescheduling under the Trump administration an "important step" supporting legalization efforts.
Separately, Sen. Dan Laughlin (R) blamed Shapiro for the defeat of his bill, SB 49, which would have created a seven-member Cannabis Control Board overseeing medical marijuana and hemp products, and potentially recreational cannabis if legalized. Most Republicans backed it while nearly all Democrats opposed it. Laughlin said Shapiro "asked for a 'no' vote" from Democrats. Spokesperson Rosie Lapowsky said the administration supports comprehensive regulation but "Senate Bill 49 does not substantively advance those goals." The bill also would have restricted hemp THC products to align with new federal limits. The Senate later voted to reconsider the bill. The House separately passed legislation allowing terminally ill patients to use medical cannabis in hospitals.
