It has been over a decade since the first state adult-use cannabis markets launched in Washington and Colorado in 2014. Since then, legalizing cannabis for adults 21 and over has generated a combined total of more than $24.7 billion in tax revenue to invest in the needs of the states.

In 2024 alone, legalization states collectively generated more than $4.4 billion in cannabis tax revenue from adult-use sales, which is the most revenue generated by cannabis sales in a single year.

MPP’s new report demonstrates the far-reaching positive impact of a responsibly regulated cannabis marketplace on state budgets and on our society. Notably, cannabis tax revenue is helping to fund crucial social services and programs across the country, such as education, behavioral health, veterans’ services, job training, conservation, school construction, expungement, among many others. 

But our work is far from finished. We must continue to ensure that more states can reap the benefits of a sensibly regulated cannabis market. If taxed at a reasonable level, legal cannabis can help states face fiscal challenges and invest in communities and build a better future for everyone.

On Wednesday, June 4, the Ohio House Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on the latest version of SB 56, which would still significantly erode Ohio’s voter-enacted legalization law. The hearing begins at 9:00 a.m. in Room 313 of the State House. SB 56 is listed second on the agenda. 

The House Judiciary Committee replaced SB 56 with a substitute version, which brings it closer to HB 160 and removes some of the re-criminalization. HB 160 sponsor Brian Stewart said, “We understand there may be other amendments sought, but I think this is getting us to a single vehicle.” 

Rep. Jamie Callender — who has been a champion for cannabis legalization — outlined his areas of focus, which include re-criminalization, and said, “I’m going to ask that we accept that today with the very clear understanding that there will be some amendments drafted and considered [at] the next meeting.” 

As unfair as it is to have to grovel to keep voter-enacted freedoms, your voice is making a difference. When the Senate first proposed gutting the law before the ink was dry in late 2023, it proposed completely eliminating home grow, slashing possession limits, and hiking taxes. Its bill earlier this year would’ve banned smoking in backyards, along with any sharing. Those provisions have been pared down or removed. 

But there are still outrageous provisions left. The committee substitute of SB 56 would:

• Re-criminalize cannabis obtained from anywhere other than Ohio retailers and cannabis a person grew themself. 
• Ban the sharing of homegrown cannabis. It would be a felony to share over 20 grams of homegrown cannabis!
• Only allow sharing at the transferor’s own primary residence.
• Create a broad open container law that prohibits cannabis products (but not raw cannabis) that were ever opened in the passenger area of a vehicle. 
• Prohibit cannabis smoking and vaping in any place other than a home or agricultural land where the owner allows it, with the sole exception of outdoor music venues that allow it.
• Eliminate level 3 (small grower) licenses, remove provisions to license new growers and dispensaries, and cap retailers at 400. 
• Eliminate the cannabis social equity and jobs program, which includes assistance for those most impacted by the war on cannabis and funding for expungement.

The Michigan Legislature is considering HB4390 and HB4391, which would allow law enforcement to administer roadside oral fluid tests and arrest people solely for a positive test. This would ensnare completely unimpaired drivers, well after they last consumed cannabis. 
 
If you live in Michigan, tell your legislators that oral fluid tests are NOT an indicator of impaired driving!
 
A recent meta-analysis assessing the reliability of oral fluid testing concluded: “[Oral fluid] tests should not be considered a valid indicator of [cannabis-induced] impairment.” The study found positive readings for cannabis up to 24 hours after consumption, well past the time period when a consumer is impaired. We would like to thank our friends at NORML for sharing and summarizing the study.
 
 

Following strong-arming by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, the Texas House of Representatives voted to ban consumable hemp. 
  
This is a crushing blow to the tens of thousands of people who have utilized these products responsibly and to the 50,000 people employed in this industry. If the amended version is approved by the state Senate, the legislation will then go to Gov. Greg Abbott (R). If the bill becomes law, it will go into effect on September 1, 2025.
 
With this development, the fate of Texas’ medical cannabis expansion bill, HB 46, is more important than ever. The Texas Compassionate Use Program (“TCUP”) is so restrictive that MPP does not count Texas as a “medical cannabis state.” The committee substitute, CSHB 46, would improve the program by:

• issuing eight more licenses to produce low-THC products (for a total of 11),
• allowing dispensing organizations to have satellite storage facilities in every medical region of the state,
• allowing for tinctures, suppositories, and — when it is medically needed as specified by a doctor — non-smoked inhalation,
• adding chronic pain as a qualifying condition, when the clinician would otherwise prescribe an opioid,
• adding glaucoma, traumatic brain injury (TBI), spinal neuropathy, degenerative disc diseases, Crohn’s and other Intestinal Bowel Syndromes, terminal diseases or hospice/palliative care, and any condition for an honorably discharged veteran of the armed services, and
• codifying the process to further add qualifying conditions by the Department of State Health Services as well as the process for a clinician to request adding a condition.

It would not lift the current 1% THC cap or allow flower.
 
If you live in Texas, ask your senator to support the expansion of TCUP!
 
TCUP is so limited that few have benefitted from it. While it will not fill the gap created by the passage of SB 3, HB 46 will expand access to thousands of Texans with debilitating conditions. 

On Tuesday, May 20, the Nebraska Senate is scheduled to debate LB 677 with Amendment 1251. The bill includes a regulatory framework for legal medical cannabis sales, along with new restrictions. Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana is calling for passage of the bill with the amendment and asking supporters to call and email their state senators.
 
Without LB 677, patients have no access to medical cannabis. The Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission has “a complete lack of resources” and no ability to carry out its duties to license medical cannabis businesses. Attorney General Mike Hilgers and others are still trying to overturn the medical cannabis initiatives in court. They believe their outrageous lawsuit to re-criminalize patients is best positioned if the Legislature doesn’t act. AG Hilgers is trying to kill LB 677 dishonestly, claiming that “in my view, would supercharge the black market as a recreational marijuana bill that has a whole host of negative impacts on the state of Nebraska.”
 
MPP believes the Legislature should implement the will of voters without imposing the restrictions contained in AM 1251 — such as prohibiting smoking and limiting qualifying conditions to a specific list. Sadly, there is no realistic prospect of that happening. Thirty-three votes out of 49 are needed on any bill, and the votes are not there to pass a better implementation bill. 
 
The families behind Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana have sacrificed tremendously to bring relief to their loved ones. They are asking supporters to make a call and send an email in support of LB 677, Amendment 1251. 
 

A handful of federal cannabis bills have been introduced this session. But in order for these bills to move forward, they need to receive a hearing this year.

The STATES 2.0 (Strengthening the Tenth Amendment Through Entrusting States 2.0) Act has been re-introduced by Representatives David Joyce (R-OH), Max Miller (R-OH), and Dina Titus (D-NV). This bipartisan legislation is crafted to set the necessary guardrails needed to curb federal interference in legal cannabis states. If passed, this bill would protect state adult-use cannabis programs and regulate interstate commerce, while requiring the FDA to create regulations surrounding cannabis product manufacturing. 


Additionally, Rep. Joyce and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) introduced the PREPARE (Preparing Regulators Effectively for a Post-prohibition Adult-use Regulated Environment) Act. If enacted, this bill would establish a commission to advise lawmakers on setting an effective regulatory framework for legal cannabis.


Earlier this session, we also saw two positive bills for veterans introduced. HR 966 (Veterans Cannabis Use for Safe Healing Act) and HR 1384 (Veterans for Equal Access Act). Both bills make changes to allow veterans to enjoy the benefits of cannabis with less federal intervention. Currently, both are sitting in committee.
 
MPP is strongly urging lawmakers to make 2025 the year that cannabis consumers, business owners, and banks receive long-awaited federal guidelines and clarity. With 24 states operating adult-use cannabis markets, federal cannabis reform is long overdue. A cohesive regulatory framework provides a safer, more transparent policy climate for all actors involved in the legal cannabis marketplace.
 
Urge your Senators and Congressperson to advance STATES 2.0 and other sensible federal cannabis reform bills this year!

The Pennsylvania Senate Law and Justice Committee voted down the House-passed legalization bill, HB 1200, in a 3-7 vote. Two committee members who voted to kill the bill — including Chairman Dan Laughlin — made it clear they support legalization but opposed the House’s approach. 
 
MPP has also voiced concerns that the House’s state-run stores model would result in a costly boondoggle that fails to result in legal access. While HB 1200 had its flaws, it’s imperative that the Senate pass legislation — with a model that works. 
 
If you live in Pennsylvania, let your senator know it’s past time PA treat adults like grown-ups.
 
Pennsylvania is one of only 19 states that doesn’t even have a “decriminalization” law. State and local police made more than 11,000 arrests for cannabis possession in 2023 alone. 
 
Pennsylvania should be generating hundreds of millions of dollars in annual revenue from cannabis taxes, instead of ruining lives and forcing consumers across its borders to freer states. 

Unlike half of the country, Pennsylvania lacks a citizen initiative process. The only path to legalization runs through the Legislature. 

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed a bill to legalize cannabis for adults from state-run stores. While legalization is long overdue in the Keystone State, we have serious concerns that — due to federal prohibition — the state-run stores model may prove a costly boondoggle that never results in legal access.
 
If you live in Pennsylvania, let your state senator know you want them to support a workable legalization law!
 
The Cannabis Health and Safety Act (HB 1200), sponsored by Rep. Rick Krajewski and House Health Committee Chair Dan Frankel, would charge the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board with running state cannabis stores and licensing private cannabis growers, processors, transporters, on-site consumption lounges, and labs. Possession of small amounts of cannabis would be downgraded to a fine-only summary offense until sales begin (if they begin), at which time it would be legalized. At that time, adults could also apply for a permit to grow up to two mature cannabis plants at home. 
 
HB 1200 includes important provisions to prevent families from being torn apart and lives being ruined because adults choose to relax with cannabis. It includes broad, automatic expungement to clear the record for past offenses, and invests 50% of the proceeds of cannabis revenue into hard-hit communities.
 
You can find our full summary here.
 
While 54% of Americans live in legal cannabis states, Pennsylvania lags far behind. It is one of only 19 states where adults can be incarcerated simply for possessing cannabis. According to government data, there were more than 11,000 arrests for cannabis possession in 2023 alone. Five of Pennsylvania’s six neighboring states have legalized adult-use cannabis.
 
It’s past time for Pennsylvania to treat adults like grown ups, and stop punishing them for using cannabis. But it’s important that the bill creates a workable model. Let’s get it done, and done right!

Both the Hawai‘i Senate and House of Representatives approved HB 302 HD 2 SD 2 CD 1. While the bill makes some modest improvements to the medical cannabis program, the conference committee revised it to include alarmingly punitive and intrusive provisions.

We’re now urging Gov. Josh Green to veto the bill. If you live in Hawai'i, you can join us by sending a message here, calling him at (808) 586-0034, or contacting him on Instagram. 

On the positive side, the bill would allow medical cannabis certifications via telehealth and certifications for medical cannabis for any condition. However, the final bill (CD 1) weakened the latter provision and basically made it ineffective. Instead of allowing practitioners to certify cannabis for any condition, only one’s “primary treating medical provider” can do so under CD 1. The vast majority of physicians are not willing to — or allowed to — certify patients. Out of over 15,000 licensed physicians and APRNs in Hawai’i, only 241 are currently certifying patients.

In addition to weakening that positive provision, the final bill:

• Allows the state to inspect medical cannabis patients’ medical records from their certifying provider — absent any suspicion of wrongdoing. This is an alarming violation of health privacy.
• Increases criminalization of cannabis. Legislators ignored our request to remove provisions that create a new Class C felony for illegally operating a dispensary. It carries up to five years in prison.
• Diverts medical cannabis revenue to increase enforcement, appropriating $750,000 from the medical cannabis fund for six new enforcement agents. Our goal is to normalize and help legacy operators transition to the legal market, not to criminalize and stigmatize further.

Meanwhile, SB 1429 is also heading to Gov. Green. It removes the December 31, 2024, sunset on primary caregivers cultivating cannabis and allows each to grow for five patients at a time. However, the bill also includes new penalties, with civil fines of up to $5,000 for each violation. 

We will continue to fight for sensible and humane cannabis laws in Hawai‘i.

The New Hampshire Senate voted 12-10 (with two excused) to table HB 198, which would have treated adults like grown-ups. HB 198 would have stopped punishing adults 21 and older for possession of up to two ounces of cannabis, while keeping public smoking illegal.  
 
This comes despite a recent UNH poll finding a staggering 70% support for the bill, and a mere 21% opposed.
 
All of the Democratic senators voted against tabling, as did Republican Senators Keith Murphy and Victoria Sullivan. Republican Senators Denise Riccardi and Daryl Abbas were excused, but would likely have voted to table the bill. Sen. Abbas previously voted to kill the bill in committee and Sen. Riccardi voted against every prior year’s legalization bill. All of the remaining ten Republican senators voted to table the bill — David Rochefort, Timothy Lang, Mark McConkey, James Gray, Daniel Innis, Ruth Ward, Tim McGough, Kevin Avard, Sharon Carson, Howard Pearl, Regina Birdsell, and Bill Gannon.
 
It is technically possible to remove the bill from the table, but it appears extremely unlikely to happen this year. Next year will be an election year, with all seats in the Senate and House up for election — along with the governorship. 
 
If you live in New Hampshire, consider signing up for your local senator’s email alerts or following them on social media, and see if you can get an audience with them in the next several months. You can thank them for their support, or plead with them to reconsider blocking the will of the people. Remember to always be polite and respectful. Many lawmakers and voters have evolved on cannabis policy over the years. Hostile and threatening behavior will backfire.
 
Legalizing medical cannabis and decriminalization also took many years in the Granite State. We’re not giving up, and we hope you won’t either.