March is Women's History Month, a time to celebrate the incredible contributions of women throughout history. While often overlooked, women have played a pivotal role in shaping the cannabis landscape. This month, we're shining a spotlight on the women who are leading the charge in cannabis advocacy, fighting for policy reform, social justice, and access to this powerful plant.

Here at MPP, we've witnessed firsthand how women in leadership positions can influence positive change as they simultaneously work towards ushering in more women to the burgeoning industry. These women are not just advocating for cannabis; they're advocating for social justice. They understand that cannabis prohibition has been used as a tool of oppression, disproportionately targeting Black and Brown communities. They're fighting to right these wrongs and create a more equitable system for everyone.

To that end, we are excited to shine a spotlight on some of the many women who are leading the charge in the cannabis advocacy movement!

Lauren Daly, Interim Executive Director of the Marijuana Policy Project

Lauren recently returned to MPP as Interim Executive Director after working as a frontline fundraiser for more than a decade in impactful nonprofit organizations. She first got involved in the cannabis movement as a volunteer in 2013, and got her first fundraising job at MPP shortly after. She joined the Students for Sensible Drug Policy team in 2014 and became SSDP's first Development Director, leading fundraising during one of the organization's largest growth periods. In 2020, she became a Development Officer for the American Civil Liberties Union of the District of Columbia. There, she played a key role in steering ACLU-DC's fundraising strategy amid the COVID-19 pandemic. She has also served as a board member for Source Research Foundation, which provides grants for academic research and community projects related to psychedelics.

Karen O'Keefe, Director of State Policies at the Marijuana Policy Project

Karen is an attorney and the Director of State Policies at MPP. She has been with MPP since 2003 and is perhaps the foremost expert in the country on state cannabis policies. Working closely with local advocates and lawmakers, her team played a leading role in the advocacy campaigns that resulted in the first two legalization laws to pass through state legislatures, in Vermont and Illinois. Her team has also played central roles in Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, Maryland, and Rhode Island's successful legalization efforts and the lobbying campaigns that resulted in more than a dozen medical marijuana and decriminalization laws.

Betty Aldworth, Board Chair of the Marijuana Policy Project and Interim Co-Executive Director of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS)

Betty was a pioneer in the cannabis legalization movement, and served as spokesperson for Colorado's successful Amendment 64 campaign in 2012. As the Director of Communications and Post-Prohibition Strategy at the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, she generates support for psychedelic research and reform through the media and illustrates the promise of a post-prohibition world through inspiring public education opportunities. Betty has dedicated her career to building a more sensible future through reforming drug policies to be rooted in safety, justice, and education.

Additionally, we are proud to both recognize and celebrate the women of the MPP team who make our work possible: Kim Napoli (Board of Directors), Bridget Spiddle, Daniela Jang, and Violet Cavendish—as well as other women who are shaping the future of the cannabis reform movement:

Kat Murti, Executive Director of Students for Sensible Drug Policy
Kassandra Frederique, Executive Director of the Drug Policy Alliance
Frederika McClary Easley, President of the Minority Cannabis Business Association
Steph Sherer, Board President and Executive Director of Americans for Safe Access
Sheri Orlowitz, Board Chair of the Council for Federal Cannabis Regulation
Dr. Chanda Macias, CEO of WomenGrow

Without the contributions of women, the cannabis reform movement would not be where it is today. And to get where we need to go, strong women leaders are going to continue to be at the forefront of this fight to build a legal cannabis reality where no one is left out or left behind.

In February, two crucial cannabis bills were introduced (HB 81 and HB 91) in the Alaska legislature. These bills would correct outdated marijuana conviction laws and reduce the tax burden on cannabis consumers. 

First, HB 81, introduced by Representative David Nelson (R), would protect Alaskans with certain minor marijuana convictions by preventing public access to their records. Under this bill, individuals who were 21 or older and convicted of possessing less than one ounce of marijuana — without any other charges in the same case — can request that their records remain private. HB 81 would help reduce the stigma of past cannabis offenses, making it easier for affected individuals to succeed in life.

No one should lose out on a job, a place to live, or an education over something that is no longer a crime. Yet, too many Alaskans still face discrimination because their records remain accessible to employers, landlords, and institutions. HB 81 would help break this cycle, giving people a fair shot at success without an unnecessary mark against them.

Meanwhile, HB 91, introduced by Representative Ashley Carrick (D), is a major step forward towards strengthening Alaska's cannabis industry. This bill would cut the marijuana excise tax from a burdensome $50 per ounce to $12.50, making it easier for legal businesses to compete, and introduces a new 6% sales tax on cannabis products sold to consumers. It would also shift marijuana license renewals from annual to biennial, reducing costs and red tape for small businesses.

If you live in Alaska, let your lawmakers know you support Alaska's future and tell them to vote "yes" on HB 81 and HB 91!

This is about smart, fair policy. HB 81 gives people a second chance, and HB 91 makes legal cannabis more competitive and reduces red tape. 

We are extremely disappointed that the Hawai'i Senate has both failed to schedule committee hearings on legalization by the deadline and it narrowly voted down a decriminalization expansion bill (S.B. 319).

S.B. 319 would have increased the amount of cannabis that is subject to a $130 civil fine from a paltry three grams to 15 grams. Any amount over the threshold carries a criminal record and possible jail time. Three grams is the lowest threshold of all legalization and decriminalization states. Senators voted against the bill 11-12, with two excused.

Just last year, the Hawai'i Senate approved a legalization bill 19-6, and a decriminalization expansion bill that was nearly identical to S.B. 319 (the March 5, 2024, 21-1 vote). Then, the Senate subsequently defeated the bill after the House improved it.

The House has proven equally disappointing this year, by referring legalization back to its first two committees and preventing a floor vote.

Polling shows 58% of Hawai'i voters support legalization, but lawmakers need to hear their constituents care about this issue. Prohibitionists have been mobilized this year, in some cases outnumbering supporters at hearings.

If you live in Hawai'i, let your lawmakers know voters expect them to get legalization done next year.

While we're disheartened, we know cannabis policy reform often involves setbacks on the road to justice. We're not giving up until adults are no longer punished for choosing to use cannabis. And we hope you'll be by our side.

Good news! The Montana Senate Business, Labor, and Economic Affairs Committee tabled the repeal-in-disguise bill, SB 443. SB 443 would ban cannabis that consumers actually want to buy — anything with over 15% THC.

Bill sponsor Sen. Greg Hertz (R) then proposed blasting the terrible bill from committee. The full Senate voted his motion down 23-27. (A 28th senator intended to vote to kill the bill, but accidentally hit the wrong button.)

While we're relieved by the outcome, it was still too close for comfort. Prohibitionists will likely continue to attempt to find a path to undermine the will of the people. It's important that senators who voted against SB 443 hear from thankful constituents and that those who voted for backdoor repeal hear voters' disappointment.

If you live in Montana, look up your state senator by typing in your address here, then see how they voted, here. Then, please give your senator a call or shoot them an email to let them know how you feel about their vote. 

Meanwhile, it appears that Sen. Hertz has abandoned his other outrageous bill, SB 255, requiring all adult-use cannabis consumers to pay $200 each year to register and be tracked by the government. It was initally scheduled for a hearing, but was later removed from the schedule.

Thank you to everyone who raised your voices to help beat back these proposals that would take Montana back to the dark days of prohibition!

The Ohio Senate General Government Committee advanced a terrible bill, SB 56, that would create a legal minefield that re-criminalizes cannabis consumers.

If you live in Ohio, let your senator know voters won't stand for this outrageous attack on their law, which is death by a thousand cuts.

Among other outrageous provisions, SB 56 would:

• re-criminalize innocuous conduct, including sharing cannabis, smoking or vaping anywhere outdoors — including your porch or backyard, and having edibles in the passenger area of your car if they were ever opened
• reduce potency limits on extracts to 70% and restricting the types of products available
• eliminate the cannabis social equity and jobs program, which includes technical and licensing assistance for those most impacted by the war on cannabis and funding for criminal justice reform such as sentencing reform, legal aid, and expungement related to marijuana
• eliminate non-discrimination protections that prevent cannabis consumers' lives from being torn apart by the responsible use of cannabis — such as by having their children taken away and being denied life-saving organ transplants and benefits they paid into

While SB 56 no longer includes a tax increase, that is because Gov. Mike DeWine is separately proposing doubling excise taxes from 10% to 20%, which would drive consumers underground and across the border to Michigan.

The amended bill also added some weak-tea expungement language, which is barely better than the status quo. It still requires petitions to be filed, and it only applies to possession of up to 2.5 ounces, which has been a minor misdemeanor since the 1970s. And of course, the same bill creates numerous new minor misdemeanors for adults sharing cannabis, "open containers," and other conduct that hurts no one.

People power killed last year's attempt to gut their law, and we can do it again. Fifty-seven percent of voters approved Issue 2, and it got majority support in 88% of Senate districts and 76% of House districts. Speak out and spread the word on social media.

Exciting news! We are thrilled to announce that the bill to eliminate the affirmative defense for unregistered patients (HB 1124) has been killed.

All three bills that were introduced this session to eliminate or chip away at the voter-initiated medical program have been defeated. While we were disheartened by the attempts made this session by lawmakers to obliterate or obstruct the medical program, we were relieved by the outcome.

Thank you to everyone who raised your voice to fight to preserve South Dakotans' medical cannabis rights!

After years of hard-fought victories to decriminalize and legalize medical and adult-use cannabis, we're now seeing a troubling surge of attempts to overturn the will of the people and roll back reforms in multiple states across the country.

Since 57% of Ohio voters approved an adult-use legalization measure in 2023, a determined group of opposition lawmakers have been working tirelessly to pass revisions that would hike sales taxes, prohibit sharing of cannabis between adults of legal age, and enact other undue restrictions on the possession, cultivation, and sale of cannabis. Most recently, the Ohio Senate passed an outrageous bill (SB 56) that would gut the people's cannabis freedoms. The bill now heads to the House of Representatives. Meanwhile, Gov. Mike DeWine is proposing doubling cannabis excise taxes.

In Nebraska, where voters recently passed initiatives to legalize medical cannabis, there is a bill under consideration that would gut access for patients by prohibiting the use of cannabis flower or edibles as means of administering medical cannabis.

A Montana, 23 of 50 state senators are sponsoring a bill to ban the sale of basically all cannabis products consumers want — anything above 15% THC. The same sponsor proposed, but appears to have abandoned, a bill requiring folks to pay a $200 per year registration fee in order to legally purchase and possess cannabis. MPP has spoken out against implementing this outrageous requirement.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has proposed a dramatic tax increase on cannabis — a whopping 32% wholesale tax, in addition to the 16% retail tax on adult-use cannabis that was set by the voter-approved legalization initiative.

Meanwhile, in South Dakota, three bills to chip away at — or entirely repeal — the MPP-backed 2020 medical cannabis initiative were rightfully defeated.

These are just a handful of the numerous troubling legislative developments that MPP and our allies have been monitoring and combatting nationwide. You can help prevent these attempts to roll back vital cannabis reforms by contacting your state legislators, and by responding to MPP's state action alerts that are timed to maximize the impact of your voice.

We are disappointed to announce that Governor Brad Little (R) signed the regressive marijuana bill, HB 7, into law. The new law imposes an exorbitant $300 fine as a mandatory minimum on low-level possession of marijuana. This is in addition to possible jail time and a higher fine.

Idaho has no mandatory minimum fines for misdemeanors that victimize other people, including assault and attempted strangulation.

As one of the veterans who testified against HB 7 stated, this bill will negatively impact our veterans who use marijuana, including those who use it as a less harmful alternative to opioids. Now the folks who fight for our country will be fined $300 for a plant that helps them.

This is extremely disheartening. While 24 other states have legalized and 39 states allow medical marijuana, Idaho lawmakers are making their policies more draconian and backwards.

We realize there is work to be done in Idaho. Idaho has a ballot initiative process, and we hope that voters will have an opportunity to move their state forward.

Tennessee is increasingly an outlier when it comes to cannabis policy. Two of its neighbors have legalized cannabis for adults 21 and older — Virginia and Missouri. Neighboring Kentucky, Alabama, Arkansas, and Mississippi have comprehensive medical cannabis laws. Meanwhile, Tennessee remains one of only 11 states that does not have a medical cannabis program.

It's up to the legislature to reform Tennessee's outdated cannabis laws. Senator Janice Bowling (R) has sponsored SB489, which would create a comprehensive program to allow seriously ill patients to use and safely access medical cannabis.

Last year, similar legislation did not pass out of committee, but with President Trump extolling the benefits of medical cannabis, this may be the year!

Now is the time to push for this piece of legislation, as the committee process begins. If you live in Tennessee, it's crucial that lawmakers hear from you that medical cannabis policy reform is important to their constituents. 

A March 4 committee hearing has been scheduled in Colorado on a regressive bill — SB 25-076 — that would ban adults 21-24 from buying cannabis with more than 10% THC while making other changes that increase waste, drive up prices, and hamstring the industry.

SB 25-076 would:

• Limit inhaled cannabis to 500 milligrams of THC per package, making it illegal to sell even an ⅛ ounce (at 14.2% or more potency) per package and requiring consumers to purchase twice as many vape carts for the same amount of THC
• Drive up costs, and thus prices, and waste, making legal cannabis less competitive with the illicit market and hemp-derived synthetic cannabinoids
• Prohibit adults 21-24 from buying cannabis with over 10% THC, driving 90% of sales to young adults to the much riskier illicit market

If you live in Colorado, ask your lawmakers to defeat this regressive bill.

To go the extra mile, you can testify in person, in writing, or remotely.

What: Senate Business, Labor, and Technology hearing on SB 25-076
When: Tuesday, March 4, 2:00 p.m.
Where: Old Supreme Court Chamber, 200 E. Colfax Ave. Denver, CO 80203 — or online.

Driving 21-24-year-olds to the illicit and hemp-derived synthetic THC market is a terrible move for health and safety. Recently, a smoke shop's THC products were found laced with fentanyl. And in 2019, illicit THC vapes were found to have an unsafe additive that caused lung injury and death.

Meanwhile, state-legal cannabis businesses are already struggling to compete with the illicit and hemp-derived synthetics markets, which don't have to pay excise taxes or comply with costly lab and regulatory costs. The bill would kill jobs and jeopardize small businesses, driving sales underground.