In recent weeks, both the Texas Legislature and appellate courts have been imperiling the will of voters who enacted local cannabis decriminalization ordinances. 
 
The Texas Senate has already passed legislation (SB1870) that prohibits local ordinances that run counter to state drug laws. Cities, counties, local law enforcement, and prosecutors that pursue decriminalization would face steep civil financial penalties. A House version of the bill, HB5082, has been heard in committee. Because the bills are companion bills, if the House passes HB 5082 without changes, they would go to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk (unlike the normal legislative process that would go from one chamber to another and then proceed to the governor). 
 
If you live in Texas, let your state rep know you oppose this attack on Home Rule!
 
Meanwhile, cannabis decriminalization ordinances have also been facing threats in court. An appellate court ruled against San Marcos implementing its decriminalization ordinance, which was approved by 82% of voters. Then, another appellate court ruled against Austin's decriminalization law, which was approved by 86% of voters and has been in effect for over three years. Both of those rulings came from challenges put forth by state Attorney General Ken Paxton (R), who argues state statutes and Constitutional provisions prevent localities from enacting laws that conflict with statewide policy.
 

We are thrilled to announce that edibles have been added to the medical program! Governor Kelly Armstrong (R) signed HB1203 into law. The new law will allow edible lozenges to be recommended for qualifying patients in the medical program.

We are pleased to see North Dakota expand its options for patients seeking relief through cannabinoids. Edibles will be limited to 5 milligrams per serving and 50 milligrams per package. Packaging must be tamper-resistant and unattractive to children.

In other news, we are disappointed that the Senate voted down the decriminalization bill (HB1596) in a 13-33 vote. HB1596 would have downgraded possession of up to 15 grams of cannabis to a noncriminal citation rather than the current criminal infraction. This bill would have prevented the life-altering impacts of a criminal conviction, and resulted in courts spending less time on small cannabis charge cases.

We hope that the next session will bring further reform. After all, cannabis is legal in almost half of the states.

We are happy to announce that this session has ended with some cannabis "wins" in Maryland! Governor Wes Moore signed into law bills to legalize home production of edible products, reduce penalties for some cannabis offenses, allow for resentencing, and expand expungement.

With the passage of Delegate David Moon's (D) HB 413, Marylanders will now be allowed to manufacture cannabis products for personal use. It will also reduce the grossly excessive, five-year mandatory sentence for some cannabis offenses. For example, pertaining to volume dealers of cannabis, the charge will now be reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor.

Moreover, the governor also signed Sen. Nick Charles's (D) bill, SB 432, into law. The bill forbids any cannabis possession charge the governor has pardoned from coming up in Maryland's Judiciary Case Search. We fully support this passing so that individuals no longer have to carry the burden of a criminal record for simply possessing cannabis.

Another positive bill for cannabis businesses passed into law, SB 215, which outlines new changes for cannabis businesses. Notably, the bill allows another limited round of licenses for growers, processors, dispensaries, micro-licenses, and on-site consumption lounges to be issued. The on-site computation lounge will also now be allowed to sell non-infused food products in addition to single-serve cannabis products.

We are grateful for Governor Wes Moore's long-standing dedication to cannabis reforms. The Maryland Legislature's work helps undo the unfair burden of cannabis charges that have plagued people for decades. We hope other states will follow suit.

We would like to see even more restorative cannabis bills passed in the next session. Bills like SB 1023, which would have offered employment protections for fire and rescue workers who use cannabis, deserved a hearing this session. First responders are more than deserving of responsibly using cannabis in their time off.

The New Hampshire Senate Judiciary Committee narrowly voted down a simple bill — HB 198 — to legalize adults' possession of up to 2 ounces of cannabis. But in New Hampshire, committees don't get the final say. The full Senate will be deciding HB 198's fate on Thursday, May 1.

If you live in New Hampshire, email and call your state senator to ask them to vote "yes" on HB 198. Let your senator know it's past time the Live Free State treat adults like grown-ups.

Every one of New Hampshire's neighbors has legalized cannabis for adults 21 and older. And two-thirds of voters want the Granite State to follow suit. The least the legislature can do is stop punishing adults for simple possession.

In other news, the New Hampshire Senate deadlocked last week on a bill (HB 53) to allow medical cannabis patients to cultivate their own medical cannabis. After a recess, the majority of senators voted to table the bill. HB 53 can be removed from the table at any time if a majority of members vote to do so. 

The first year of the North Carolina General Assembly's two-year legislative cycle is in full swing. Through the past two sessions, Senator Bill Rabon (R) has submitted the N.C. Compassionate Care Act and it has passed the Senate twice. Regrettably, the House of Representatives failed to act in both cases and the legislation died. This year, HB1011 was submitted in the House of Representatives by Rep. Aisha Dew (D), Rep. Pricey Harrison (D), and Rep. Zack Hawkins (D).

If you live in North Carolina, ask your legislator to support medical cannabis!

The main difference between previous versions of the N.C. Compassionate Care Act and the newly submitted legislation is that this version omits the 15% tax on medical cannabis. As the majority party, it has been the policy of the Republican caucus to have an internal vote to see what bills will be heard in the House. These votes are done in private, but we understand that in the last session the N.C. Compassionate Care Act was one vote shy of being heard in the House.

Let's make this the year we get medical cannabis legislation across the finish line!

On April 15, the Florida House Health and Human Services Committee voted unanimously to advance H555 to the full House of Representatives. The committee heavily amended the original version of this legislation first. The amended bill would make a medical card valid for two years instead of the current one year. It would also waive registration fees for honorably discharged veterans.

If you live in Florida, ask your legislators to support H555!

While several cannabis policy reforms have been proposed this legislative session in Florida, so far no other bills have advanced. It's disappointing lawmakers are failing to honor the will of most voters, just months after 56% of voters voted YES on Amendment 3, which would have legalized cannabis for adults had it reached 60%.

Meanwhile, Smart and Safe Florida has begun to gather signatures for a potential ballot initiative to legalize cannabis in 2026. With the legislature appearing to be moving on legislation to significantly limit access to consumable hemp products and failing to advance significant cannabis policy reforms, citizens may need to take cannabis policy into their own hands through the ballot initiative process.

Stay tuned for more updates as this legislative session continues. The session ends on May 2. 

As Louisiana begins the 2025 legislative session, now is the time to communicate with your state legislators about cannabis policy reform.

If you live in Louisiana, let your state legislators know you want them to legalize cannabis for adults' use.

Lawmakers have introduced several cannabis policy reforms. Two of the bills further our longer-term goal of legalization: HB627 would create a three-year pilot program for the adult-use cannabis industry, including legalizing the possession and authorized distribution of cannabis, and HB636 would set up the tax structure for adult-use cannabis. Those revenues would be allocated, in part, to increasing teacher's salaries.

On a separate note, HB384 would make the penalties for possession of cannabis products in schools more reasonable. We do not advocate for allowing the use of cannabis products for persons under 21 years of age (outside of the medical program). However, the current punishment is beyond draconian — any violation (of any illegal substance) results in a four-semester suspension. Under HB384, a first-time violation for a cannabis product starts with a ten-hour substance abuse class, while the second violation would result in a half-semester suspension, and a third violation would result in a full-semester suspension. This is a far more proportionate approach.

Together, we will continue to work to make Louisiana the first state in the South to end cannabis prohibition legislatively. We are also working with allies to improve the medical program and will let you know as details emerge.

The Texas House Committee for Public Health held a hearing for HB46, a bill to modestly expand Texas's extremely limited low-THC medical cannabis program.

The Texas Compassionate Use Program ("TCUP") is so restrictive that MPP does not count Texas as a "medical cannabis state." Rep. Ken King (R) sponsors HB46, which 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 around the state,
• allowing for tinctures, suppositories, and — when it is medically needed as specified by a doctor — non-smoked inhalation,
• making the standard dosage 20 milligrams of THC, and
• adding chronic pain as a qualifying condition, when the clinician would otherwise prescribe an opioid.

If you live in Texas, ask your legislators to support the expansion of TCUP!

In a closing statement on the legislation, Rep. King expressed his openness to further amendments. His bill would expand TCUP further than the Senate bill that is currently under consideration (SB1505).

The Lt. Governor and his allies in the legislature are attempting to ban federally legal hemp-derived THC products. Whether they succeed or not, there is a moral imperative to expand the TCUP program. Too many Texans have had to rely on an under-regulated hemp program for relief from debilitating conditions. They deserve safe, regulated access through a comprehensive medical cannabis program. H46 is a significant step forward toward that goal, and the sponsor is open to further amendments.

The Montana House of Representatives voted 62-37 to pass a deeply flawed bill, SB 508, that would impose zero-tolerance DUI penalties — including mandatory jail time — for drivers under 21 who are completely sober. SB 508 previously passed the Senate (42-7) and it now heads to Gov. Greg Gianforte (R).

If you live in Montana, the governor needs to hear from you now! Ask him to veto this unjust bill.

Sen. Willis Curdy's SB 508 creates an extreme standard for drivers under 21, making it a DUI offense to have any detectable THC or certain metabolites in their system. Since THC can remain in the bloodstream and urine days after its effects have worn off, this approach would criminalize and incarcerate young Montanans who are completely unimpaired.

It would criminalize sober young drivers who are state-legal medical cannabis patients, people who tested positive after using legal CBD products, and people who were exposed to cannabis second-hand.

On the House floor debate, a proponent of the bill claimed that it would only allow drug testing if there was probable cause to think the person was impaired, such as bloodshot eyes. But SB 508 includes no such limitation. And under Montana law, anyone involved in a crash with a serious injury or a fatality has given "implied consent" to a drug test. An unimpaired young driver could be convicted under this unjust bill after a crash where they are not even at fault — despite exhibiting no sign of impairment.

There is no need for this unjust, overbroad law. Montana already criminalizes impaired driving, and driving with up to 5 nanograms per milliliter of THC in one's system.

On Tuesday, April 15, the New Hampshire Senate Judiciary Committee will consider cannabis bills, including legalizing possession of up to two ounces of cannabis (HB 198), increasing the medical cannabis possession limit to four ounces (HB 190), and removing a duplicative felony on patients who sell medical cannabis (HB 380).

If you live in New Hampshire, you can register your support for these bills on the Remote Sign In Sheet. Or go the extra mile and testify in person, in writing, or both.

What: N.H. Senate Judiciary Committee hearings on HB 190, HB 380, and HB 198
Where: N.H. State House, Room 100, 107 N. Main St., Concord, NH 03301
When: Tuesday, April 15, starting at 1:10 p.m.

Last year, different versions of cannabis legalization passed the House and the Senate. But the chambers failed to agree on how to legalize sales, so the bill didn't make it past the finish line. Despite two-thirds support for cannabis legalization, the Live Free State still brands those who relax with cannabis as lawbreakers.

HB 198 takes the question of how to sell cannabis off the table, and simply stops punishing adults 21 and older for using and possessing cannabis, while imposing penalties for smoking or vaping cannabis in public.

If you testify, be polite, respectful, and brief. Be sure to include your name, city or town, your position on the bill, and why you support it. If someone has already made the points you planned to make, you can briefly explain you agree and want the committee to approve HB 198.