Latest News from State Capitol and 55th District

May 8, 2025

To Legalize or Not to Legalize: The Question of Recreational Marijuana Use in PA 

As legislators, it’s our job to write and vote on the laws of Pennsylvania. These are big decisions that often affect a lot of people. But rarely are we faced with a more impactful vote than the choice we had to make this week.

House Bill 1200 passed the House this week on a party-line vote, with all 102 Democrats voting for the bill, and all 101 Republicans voting against it. I was a no vote. It would allow people 21 and older to purchase marijuana for recreational use, mainly through publicly owned stores overseen by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board.

Advocates of the bill have argued that recreational marijuana is no more harmful than alcohol, while providing some medicinal benefits to people with certain medical conditions. Also, the governor used projected revenue from a tax on recreational marijuana sales to help balance his budget proposal.

However, critics say marijuana is addictive, and legalization in other states has led to upticks in emergency room visits and Poison Control reports involving infants and children. In fact, a report from the Centennial Institute claims that for every dollar Colorado gained in tax revenue from legalizing recreational marijuana, the state spent roughly $4.50 to mitigate the effects of legalization, with most costs being attributed to increased demands on health care.

Additionally, the bill itself mandates that we save 10% of the revenue generated from marijuana sales for addiction-related causes. While the intention behind this provision may seem positive, it raises a critical concern. By legalizing marijuana, we are essentially profiting from a substance that has the potential to foster addiction and negatively impact individuals and families. This contradictory approach – collecting revenue while simultaneously attempting to address the consequences of that very revenue source – is flawed and morally questionable.

First and foremost, I believe voting in favor of this measure goes against the oath I’ve taken to uphold, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of Pennsylvania. House Bill 1200 violates the Pennsylvania Constitution because the Constitution protects a citizen’s right to appeal, but the bill states that the Court of Common Pleas decisions on whether a marijuana retail location is too close to a church, school or private residence is not subject to appeal. That is unconstitutional, and voting for it would go against my duty as a state representative to uphold our state Constitution.

Issues with the legislation could have been mitigated by the ability for communities to opt out, or even opt in, to the program, giving residents the ability to keep marijuana sales out of their communities if they choose. Unfortunately, that won’t be the case with this bill. People have no way of objecting to stores deemed too close to a playground, a Little League baseball field, a library or even a drug rehabilitation center.


This proposal calls for the drug to be sold in state-run stores operated by the Liquor Control Board, which is a disastrous policy decision. The state store model equates to a massive expansion of government, shutting out private citizens from entering the market.

Also, legalizing recreational marijuana will be a burden on industry in our Commonwealth. Workplace litigation will likely spike, and employer liability and health care costs will almost certainly rise. Do we want someone high while operating equipment that will put others in danger?

Part of the reason for increased health care costs is because THC, the compound that causes the “high” in marijuana, has become much more concentrated in today’s cannabis. Back in the 1960s, marijuana was 3% THC. However, this bill would allow for the sale of marijuana with up to 25% THC. The negative effects associated with marijuana usage are much more problematic with high THC levels.

This bill may also lead to more problems on the road. Many states that have legalized recreational marijuana have seen upticks in traffic casualties across the board. That’s not to mention the fact that there’s no roadside test to determine whether people are driving high, forcing officers to stay with suspects while their blood is tested.

Another problem with this bill is that it allows consumption starting at age 21. Several studies have shown marijuana negatively impacts brain development, which doesn’t end until age 25. Marijuana is also bad for babies in utero, but this bill allows marijuana to be sold to pregnant women.

To make matters worse, this 173-page bill was introduced on Sunday, and the House Health Committee vote came roughly 24 hours later, along with the deadline to file amendments. That didn’t give us the appropriate amount of time to check with all the different stakeholders affected by legalization of recreational marijuana.

I get that legalizing could bring in additional tax revenue, but it is not worth jeopardizing the health and safety of our children. Let’s find a better way to balance this budget, for the kids’ sake.

Here are some additional news topics and reminders I would like to share.

Shredding Event Planned – Do you have files that need to be destroyed? Bring them to my Mobile Shredding Event, Wednesday, May 21, at the Washinton Township/Export District Office, Donal Plaza, 105 Pfeffer Road, Suite 5, in Export, from 4-6 p.m. We have partnered with the Westmoreland Food Bank to merge this event with a food drive to help local families. Consider bringing an optional donation of a non-perishable food item in a non-glass container.

Senior Expo Scheduled – Join Sen. Joe Pittman, Rep. Abby Major and me on Thursday, May 22, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., for a Senior Expo hosted at the Lower Burrell VFW Post 92. We’re bringing together experts and resources to help seniors thrive. Come explore information on: 

   • Health care and health screenings. 
   • Nutrition and exercise. 
   • Fire and personal safety. 
   • Financial planning and government savings programs. 

Don’t miss this free and informative event designed to support your well-being and independence.


Representative Jill Cooper
55th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Jordan Frei
724.875.8450
jfrei@pahousegop.com
RepJillCooper.com / Facebook.com/RepJillCooper