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.

When MPP was founded in January 1995, the landscape of cannabis policy in America looked drastically different from how it does today. Medical cannabis was illegal in every single state, and the halls of Congress hadn't seen a bill aimed at reforming federal cannabis laws in decades. 

Fast forward thirty years, and the change is undeniable. Today, medical cannabis is legal in 39 states, offering vital relief to countless patients. Adult-use cannabis is now a reality in 24 states, representing a significant shift towards ending prohibition. On the federal level, several bills have been introduced to remove federal penalties for state-legal cannabis markets and to finally end federal prohibition altogether.

As we celebrate our 30th anniversary, it's inspiring to reflect on the incredible journey and the monumental progress we've witnessed. MPP has been an instrumental force at every pivotal moment of this transformation. In fact, MPP has been responsible for the majority of state cannabis law reforms enacted since 2000. Our dedicated efforts have led to the passage of 15 medical cannabis laws and 14 adult-use legalization laws. This includes landmark victories such as Colorado in 2012, which marked the first adult-use legalization state in the nation, and the groundbreaking legislative victories in Vermont and Illinois, the first two states to legalize cannabis for adults through their state legislatures rather than via ballot initiative. 

Watch this video for a look at MPP’s three-decade cannabis reform advocacy journey:

The numbers speak for themselves: no other organization in this movement has changed as many cannabis laws, positively impacted as many patients and consumers, created as many new markets, or done more to advance the end of cannabis prohibition in the U.S. than MPP.

As we celebrate this significant milestone, we extend our deepest gratitude to our dedicated staff, our tireless volunteers, our generous donors, our committed coalition partners, and the millions of individuals whose voices have fueled this movement. While we can be proud of the progress made over the past 30 years, our work is far from over. Federal prohibition continues to cast a shadow, and ensuring equitable and just cannabis policies across the nation remains a critical priority.

Here's to 30 years of progress, and to the continued fight for a future where cannabis policy is rooted in compassion, common sense, and justice for all!

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.