PHILADELPHIA, PA − September 25, 2026 − Senate Democratic Policy Committee Chair Nick Miller (D-14) hosted a policy hearing on Adult-Use Cannabis in Pennsylvania with Senator Sharif Street. The hearing examined updates to Pennsylvania’s adult use cannabis laws, focusing on enforcement and safety, social and economic impacts, and key criminal justice reforms.
“Our hearing today underscored the need for legislation that balances economic opportunity with strong safeguards that protect public safety, provide clear enforcement guidelines, and support our communities and families,” said Senator Miller. “Our focus must remain on creating thoughtful policy that is responsible, transparent, and serves the best interests of all Pennsylvanians.”
“Today’s hearing made clear that Pennsylvania can no longer afford to treat adult-use cannabis through a system built around prohibition and criminalization,” said Senator Street. “For years, I have worked across party lines to build a responsible framework that protects public safety, creates economic opportunity, and finally addresses the inequities created by the disproportionate enforcement in Black and brown communities. Legalization must be about more than creating a new marketplace. It must be about correcting the damage caused by decades of injustice, making sure eligible Pennsylvanians can clear past cannabis records, and ensuring that the communities most impacted by prohibition have a meaningful opportunity to participate in the legal economy. I thank Senator Nick Miller for convening this important policy discussion and for bringing together voices from across Pennsylvania. The testimony we heard today reinforces the need for legislation that is responsible, equitable, and grounded in the realities facing Pennsylvanians. Pennsylvania has an opportunity to replace an outdated policy with a regulated adult-use system that prioritizes public safety, individual rights, criminal justice reform, and economic opportunity. I intend to continue working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to move that conversation forward.”
Dr. Oren Gur, Director of Research and DATA Lab, Office of Philadelphia District Attorney Krasner, testified in support of a well-regulated adult-use framework.
“Every neighboring state on that map offers a lesson. New Jersey and Maryland phased licensing carefully and converted existing medical operators, avoiding the worst oversupply problems,” said Gur. “New York is the clearest cautionary tale: a slow licensed rollout paired with weak enforcement let thousands of illegal shops open before a task force had to clean it up after the fact—Pennsylvania should fund enforcement from day one instead.”
Assistant District Attorney Shawn Baldwin from the Office of Philadelphia District Attorney Krasner testified how after Philadelphia decriminalized possession of small amounts of marijuana in 2014, monthly arrests dropped by 78% and have remained below 100 per month since 2015. This shift freed police and prosecutors to focus on more serious crimes and saved the city an estimated $3.75 million annually due to lower enforcement costs.
Other states show similar trends New Jersey saw marijuana’s share of drug arrests fall from 60% before legalization to just 2% by 2024.
“These numbers all lead to a simple conclusion: Legalization would allow police, prosecutors, and courts to allocate resources towards more important priorities, while yielding significant savings for taxpayers in municipalities across Pennsylvania,” said Baldwin.
Chris Lindsey, ATACH’s Director of State Advocacy and Public Policy, testified about his experience shaping medical and adult‑use cannabis laws nationwide. He explained how legalization functions in practice and why it is often misunderstood. While many view it as simply loosening restrictions or promoting use, he emphasized that its real‑world implementation is far more nuanced.
“Cannabis is already widely available in Pennsylvania to anyone who wants it, young or old, from every background and walk of life, and it has been for years,” said Lindsey. “Adults buy it across a state line or online, or get it from a local dealer, a friend, or a relative. Where cannabis is already this available, legalization comes down to three things: Reform, rules, and revenue.”
ATACH urged the General Assembly to adopt comprehensive adult‑use legalization through a regulated market built on Pennsylvania’s existing medical framework. They recommended placing all intoxicating cannabinoid products under a single regulator, dedicating part of licensing and tax revenues to enforcement against unlicensed sellers, setting taxes at levels that allow legal businesses to compete effectively, and providing relief for individuals with past convictions for conduct that legalization would make lawful.
Meredith Buettner Schneider, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Cannabis Coalition, presented testimony on the legalization and regulation of adult-use cannabis in the Commonwealth.
“PCC therefore believes the Commonwealth should establish an independent cannabis regulator rather than place an expanded cannabis marketplace within an existing administrative agency that is simultaneously responsible for numerous unrelated programs and priorities,” said Schneider. “That body should also include meaningful operational expertise. PCC’s Adult Use Principles recommend including individuals with experience operating cannabis businesses within highly regulated markets.”
Kevin Caldwell, Senior Manager of Legislative Affairs for the Marijuana Policy Project has been working on reforming cannabis policy since 1995.
“In all of the conversations around legalizing cannabis for adults, too often the conversation centers around tax revenue, which is an important aspect,” said Caldwell. “All actions have perceived and real societal costs associated with them, and cannabis is no different. Depending on what side of the argument you find yourself on often decides what data is used, or more importantly, how that data is analyzed.”
Testifiers for the hearing included:
- Office of Philadelphia District Attorney Krasner
- Former Warren County District Attorney, and PA Bar Association Ethics and Professional Responsibility Committee Member Rob Greene
- Cannabis Coalition of Pennsylvania
- American Trade Association of Cannabis and Hemp (ATACH)
- Marijuana Policy Project
Senator Nick Miller was elected Policy Chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus in December 2024.
Footage of the hearing, as well as the written testimony of the panel, is available at PASenate.com/policy. Photographs and downloadable videos are available upon request.
Learn more about the PA Senate Democrats commitment to protecting our commonwealth’s needs and other legislative priorities at www.PASenate.com.
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Testimony
Policy Perspectives and Data Analysis
- Assistant District Attorney Shawn Baldwin, Office of Philadelphia District Attorney Krasner
- Dr. Oren Gur, Director of Research and DATA Lab, Office of Philadelphia District Attorney Krasner (PowerPoint Version)
Lessons Learned from Former Prosecutor
- Attorney Robert Greene, Former Warren County District Attorney, and Member, PA Bar Association Ethics & Prof. Responsibility Committee
Operational and Industry Practices
- Meredith Buettner, Executive Director, Cannabis Coalition of Pennsylvania
- Chris Lindsey, Director of State Advocacy and Public Policy, American Trade Association of Cannabis and Hemp (ATACH)
- Kevin Caldwell, Senior Manager of Legislative Affairs, Marijuana Policy Project
Experiences in Outside Markets and States
- Seth Murphy, M.S., Founder and CEO, MAS Alliance, LLC., Federalsburg, Maryland
- Martin Marshall, Fmr. Councilman-at-Large, Laurel City, Maryland