HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — The legalization of adult-use cannabis has just gotten one step closer to becoming a reality in Pennsylvania.

On Monday, the Cannabis Health & Safety Act (House Bill 1200) was approved by the House Health Committee by a 14-12 party-line vote. The cannabis legalization bill now moves to the state House of Representatives for consideration.

HB1200 was introduced by Reps. Rick Krajewski (D-Philadelphia) and Dan Frankel (D-Allegheny) earlier this month. The proposed legislation would regulate cannabis, establish Pennsylvania Cannabis Stores and a Cannabis Revenue Fund, and more.

“Pennsylvanians are using cannabis. We’ve got to be honest about that,” said Rep. Krajewski. “Think of something like a coffee shop, a consumption lounge, things like that. People where where people can purchase and consume small amounts of cannabis.”

Furthermore, HB1200 would clear criminal records for those convicted of cannabis-related offenses, reinvest tax revenue into communities that legislators say were harmed by the War on Drugs, implement public health protections, and more.

Republican Charity Grimm Krupa (R-Fayette County) says for every dollar the state would make, they’d invite several more in societal ills like addiction, DUI, and lost productivity.

“I think it will be the downfall of society,” said Rep. Charity Grimm Krupa (R-Fayette County). “The idea that we’re doing it to increase revenue is ridiculous.”

However, the bill passed out of committee 14-12 on a straight party line vote, even though members just got the 173-page bill Sunday night.

“This wasn’t a hearing,” said Rep. Krupa. “It was it was an opportunity to rubber stamp this legislation through and push it through a house vote this week.”

Adult-use cannabis likely passes the House, which Democrats control. It likely goes nowhere in the Senate, which Republicans control, but intoxicating to Rep. Krajewski. His bill may be the first step in a longer journey.

“That’s how the negotiation process starts, where you send something over, we talk, and you figure out what makes sense. You come back, rinse, repeat,” said the rep. Krajewski. “It’s negotiating one-on-one. You can’t talk if you don’t have something to discuss.”

To read the full bill, you can click here.

“The time is now for Pennsylvania,” Rep. Krajewski previously said. “We have listened carefully to public health experts, criminal justice reformers, small business advocates, and community leaders. Our bill reflects what we’ve learned — that we can and must legalize cannabis in a way that is safe, equitable, and beneficial to all Pennsylvanians.”

Previous legislation has passed in the Democrat-controlled State House, but has not advanced through the Republican-controlled State Senate. Governor Josh Shapiro has said he approves of legalizing and taxing adult-use cannabis.

This is a developing story. abc27 news will keep you updated as we learn more.