A Pennsylvania Republican senator is making the case for marijuana legalization, arguing that regulating and taxing the industry is actually the most conservative position on the issue. Sen. Dan Laughlin (R) is preparing to introduce a bipartisan bill alongside Sen. Sharif Street (D) that aims to bring adult-use cannabis sales under state control while tackling the black market.
A Conservative Case for Legalization
Laughlin isn’t just supporting marijuana reform—he’s flipping the script on how it’s traditionally framed. While many conservatives have long opposed legalization, he sees it as the most practical and responsible approach.
“We already have a pretty thriving cannabis industry in Pennsylvania through our medical program,” he told CBS 21 News in a Sunday interview. “And quite frankly, if we’re honest with ourselves, we have a thriving black market right now too.”
That’s the reality, he says, and ignoring it doesn’t make the issue disappear. Instead of continuing prohibition, he believes the state should take control of the situation—legalizing, regulating, and taxing the industry just like alcohol.
Fighting the Black Market
For Laughlin, legal cannabis isn’t just about individual freedom. It’s also about weakening illegal drug sales and protecting public health.
“If people are honest, there’s no shortage of cannabis in Pennsylvania right now,” he pointed out. “I would like to try to take it out of the black market’s hands as much as we can and keep it out of the hands of people under the age of 21.”
By legalizing adult use, the state can impose age restrictions and quality standards, which isn’t possible with underground sales. Right now, he argues, illegal dealers operate without oversight, and that means no guarantees on product safety.
One of the key selling points of his bill? Bringing marijuana under government regulation will allow for proper taxation, giving Pennsylvania a new revenue stream while ensuring that consumers get a safer product.
Weed Easier To Get Than Alcohol?
Laughlin also made a striking comparison between cannabis and alcohol, suggesting that the black market has made marijuana more accessible to minors than legally sold liquor.
“If you actually talk to people that are under the age of 21—talk to some high school kids—and ask them, ‘honestly, is it harder to get a bottle of vodka or a bag of weed?’ Most of the ones that I talked to say they can have cannabis basically delivered to their door in 20 minutes or less because they know people,” he said.
That’s a problem, he argues, that legal regulation could help solve. Alcohol sales are strictly monitored, with ID requirements and penalties for selling to minors. A legal marijuana market could follow the same model, creating a safer environment while cutting off illicit sales networks.
The Bill in the Works
While full details of the legislation haven’t been released, Laughlin and Street have been working on a proposal that would:
- Expand Pennsylvania’s existing medical marijuana program to include adult-use sales
- Establish a regulatory framework similar to alcohol laws
- Implement taxation policies that generate state revenue
- Impose safeguards to prevent underage access
- Reduce penalties for minor marijuana-related offenses
Pennsylvania isn’t alone in considering this shift. Neighboring states like New York and New Jersey have already moved forward with legalization, creating a patchwork of policies that Pennsylvania residents are navigating in different ways—including crossing state lines to buy cannabis legally.
Political Landscape and Public Opinion
The question now is whether Pennsylvania’s GOP-led legislature is ready to embrace the shift. Polls suggest that public sentiment is increasingly on the side of legalization, with a growing number of Republicans nationwide softening their stance on cannabis.
Laughlin’s position reflects a broader trend among some conservatives who see marijuana regulation as a states’ rights issue, an economic opportunity, and a practical way to reduce the harms of prohibition. Whether that argument sways enough lawmakers in Harrisburg remains to be seen.
But as Pennsylvania’s black market continues to thrive and its neighbors move forward with legal sales, the pressure to act is only increasing.
