Sign your petitions from home to ensure legalization is on the November ballot!

New Approach Montana is pulling out all the stops to get the signatures it needs to qualify adult-use legalization for Montana’s November ballot.

Despite getting a late start due to the health crisis sweeping the nation, the campaign launched its signature drive on May 9, instituting a comprehensive set of public health protocols to limit contact between circulators and petition signers. And, earlier this week, the campaign released a new website that allows Montana voters to sign petition documents from home! Follow the link below to download and print using your printer or to request that the campaign mail your petitions.

The campaign’s new website allows Montana residents to choose between two options to sign petition documents remotely. Voters can request a mailed packet that includes instructions, printed petition documents to sign, and a pre-addressed, pre-paid envelope to return the signed documents to the campaign. The other option allows voters to print the documents at home, sign, and return them by mail.

It has never been easier to sign a ballot initiative petition in Montana. If you have any questions, just email the campaign at info@newapproachmt.org. And of course, if you prefer to sign in person, you can find a map of signing locations here.

Every signature counts, and we’re asking all Montanans to take just a few minutes to print and sign these petitions. Please also spread the word about this unique petition-signing opportunity to your friends, family, and neighbors around the state. Just a few signatures could determine the fate of ending marijuana prohibition in Montana this year.

Thank you in advance for assisting this important campaign.

Earlier today, Gov. Ralph Northam signed SB 2 into law, which decriminalizes cannabis possession. Starting July 1, possession of up to an ounce will be punishable by a civil fine of up to $25 instead of a criminal penalty and potential jail time. This is the lowest fine of any decriminalization law!

Great news! Last week, the Oklahoma state Senate amended and passed HB 3228, a major medical marijuana reform bill, with a 38-5 vote. The House had previously approved the legislation in March and accepted the Senate’s changes late on Friday. The bill has been transmitted to Governor Kevin Stitt for his signature.

The legislation allows out-of-state medical marijuana patients to obtain a renewable three-month temporary license and permits dispensaries to deliver medical marijuana to registered patients. Among other changes, it also eases penalties and removes jail time for first-time offenses for individuals found in possession of marijuana without a medical marijuana license.

Oklahoma’s medical marijuana program has flourished since voters approved the original law in 2018. With nearly 300,000 patients registered, the state Tax Commission reports that medical marijuana sales generate close to $10 million each month in state tax revenue.

State lawmakers are also looking to make Oklahoma one of the first states to implement the use of marijuana breathalyzers for roadside testing to identify drivers who may be impaired. During the pilot phase, results will not be admissible in court.

Stay tuned for more updates on marijuana policy reforms in Oklahoma.

On account of the COVID-19 pandemic, many campaigns have had to throw in the towel on qualifying state initiatives for the ballot this election cycle — but not New Approach Montana. Instead, the campaign, which MPP is helping to lead, has come up with innovative approaches for collecting signatures as it races against a deadline to qualify for the 2020 ballot.

This includes a new opportunity for Montana voters: signing the petitions from home. Use the link below to download and print using your printer or to request that the campaign mail your petitions.

The campaign’s new website allows Montana residents to choose between two options to sign petition documents remotely. Voters can request a mailed packet that includes instructions, printed petition documents to sign, and a pre-addressed, pre-paid envelope to return the signed documents to the campaign. The other option allows voters to print the documents at home, sign, and return them by mail. It has never been easier to sign a ballot initiative petition in Montana. If you have any questions, just email the campaign at info@newapproachmt.org.

But New Approach Montana needs your help to spread the word. We're requesting that you forward this email to anyone you know in Montana. Given the delay to the start of the signature drive, each signature could be the difference between qualification or failure.

Thank you in advance for assisting this important campaign.

Make sure you’re registered to vote, so you can help elect a better legislature next year.

Yesterday was the last day of Minnesota’s legislative session, and, sadly, important cannabis policy reforms fell short.

An array of legalization proposals died without receiving floor votes, including House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler’s 222-page bill. HF 4632 reflected extensive input from stakeholders and a statewide listening tour. Rep. Winkler had intended to pass it through the House this year, but the coronavirus derailed his plans.

Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka vowed legalization wouldn’t pass the Senate because his Republican caucus remains opposed. Under Gazelka’s and Sen. Michelle Benson’s leadership, the Senate killed even a modest, House-passed proposal to allow whole plant, raw medical cannabis late Sunday night. Without this reform, the costs of medical cannabis will remain out of reach for many Minnesotans.

On a bright note, our allies at Sensible Change Minnesota were able to extend eligibility for reduced fees to individuals who qualify for veterans or railroad disability, and to extend the reduced fee for patients who transition from SSDI to retirement benefits.

While it’s possible the legislature will return for a COVID-related special session, there is very little chance that cannabis policy reforms will be taken up. But there is still ample opportunity to make a difference this year: Elections are just around the corner.

The entire state House and Senate will be on the ballot. If you’re eligible to vote, make sure you’re registered. You can also sign up to vote early by mail.

Relatively few voters take an active role in state legislative races, so even a handful of advocates can have an outsized influence. We hope you’ll reach out to candidates in your area and consider volunteering for and/or donating to supporters. The best way to ensure champions are in St. Paul is to help elect them. Stay tuned for voter guides.

Stores will be open for curbside delivery only — thanks to all who contacted the Baker administration and their elected officials!

Today, Gov. Charlie Baker announced that adult-use cannabis retailers will be allowed to reopen on May 25. The stores, which had been ordered to cease operations on March 23, will be allowed to serve customers by curbside delivery only during the first phase of the commonwealth’s reopening.

Thanks to everyone who contacted Gov. Baker and other elected officials and stressed the importance of regulated cannabis businesses! The shutdown has been a major setback for businesses and an inconvenience for many consumers, so it is a great relief that things can finally start getting back on track.

In other positive news from the Bay State, applications for delivery licenses are expected to become available in late May. These licenses will be reserved for social equity and economic empowerment applicants.

Please share this excellent news with your family and friends!

Ask your state senator to support home delivery and allowing medical cannabis for all debilitating conditions.

We have good news and bad news from the Louisiana State Legislature.

The good news is the House overwhelmingly approved bills to allow medical cannabis for any debilitating condition (HB 819) and to permanently allow regulated home delivery (HB 792). The bad news is that the bill to allow raw, flower cannabis has still not gotten a hearing (HB 385) after its sponsor pulled the bill from a committee agenda. If HB 385 isn’t scheduled for a hearing today, it will die.

Please email your state senator today to ask them to support HB 819 and HB 792.

To go the extra mile, consider writing Rep. Ted James, who sponsors HB 385, to respectfully urge him to ask that it be scheduled for a hearing. Rep. James has been a longtime champion, so please be sure to be polite and respectful. He also recently survived a life-threatening bout of coronavirus and is not personally going to the capital due to public health concerns.

However, even if Rep. James is not present, the bill can be heard with another representative presenting it. Louisiana is one of only two medical cannabis states that continue to ban cannabis in its natural, plant form. Because extracts are far more expensive to produce, this drives up costs and results in a program that is out of reach to most of the state’s residents.

After you take action, please spread the word to other compassionate Louisianans, so that they, too, can raise their voices.

Visit the Secretary of State’s website to register or verify your registration and request an absentee ballot — the primary election is scheduled for June 9!

In the wake of yet another disappointing legislative session for cannabis advocates in West Virginia, the 2020 election season presents an important opportunity to replace prohibitionists with public officials who are serious about legalizing cannabis. The primary election is scheduled for June 9, but you may also choose to vote early or by absentee ballot — in light of COVID-19, the state has announced that all voters are eligible for absentee ballots.

West Virginia’s voter registration deadline is Tuesday, May 19. If you’re already registered to vote, please take a moment to verify your registration on the Secretary of State’s website and, if you desire, request an absentee ballot.

And if you aren’t registered yet, now would be a great time to register!

In one race that is of particular interest, the Democratic Party’s primary features several candidates seeking the nomination to run for governor against the Republican incumbent, Gov. Jim Justice, who signed the medical cannabis bill in 2017 but later declared himself to be “adamantly, adamantly, etched in stone, adamantly against recreational marijuana.”

At least two of the three leading Democratic candidates for governor would certainly be much better on cannabis policy than Gov. Justice:

• Stephen Smith has repeatedly indicated his support for cannabis legalization throughout the campaign, including at a debate in March.
• State Senator Ron Stollings spoke in favor of medical cannabis legislation in 2017 as a medical doctor and chairman of the Senate Health Committee, and in 2020 he sponsored a bill seeking to add home cultivation to the law.
• Ben Salango is not known to have publicly expressed a position on cannabis policy.

Finally, voters may be interested in the statewide election for West Virginia Supreme Court, where three of five seats will be up for grabs. The candidates include Justice Tim Armstead, who vigorously opposed medical cannabis during his time as Speaker of the House, and former Justice Richard Neely, who has penned several op-eds in support of cannabis legalization, such as this one.

Please share this message with your friends and family and encourage them to register and vote!

Tell your state lawmakers you support allowing the sale of adult-use cannabis.

We hope you and your loved ones are well during these challenging times.

A recent poll commissioned by the Pennsylvania Cannabis Coalition shows Pennsylvania voters support allowing adult-use cannabis sales, particularly to meet anticipated budget challenges due to COVID-19. Voters polled in each region of the state preferred to see the state control, regulate, and tax the sale of adult-use cannabis instead of raising taxes. The poll also showed should cannabis be legalized, residents prefer licensed dispensaries over state-controlled stores.

Let your lawmakers know you want them to listen to voters and end Pennsylvania’s senseless war on marijuana.

Although many legislatures have adjourned due to concerns related to the coronavirus, Pennsylvania has adopted rules to allow remote voting. Early this year, Rep. Jake Wheatley introduced House Bill 2050, which improves on prior proposals to legalize, regulate, and tax marijuana in the state. Although the bill is not expected to pass this year, Rep. Wheatley’s bill adds to a rapidly developing conversation in support of legalization.

As the momentum continues to build for legalized, regulated sales of cannabis to adults in Pennsylvania, please take a few minutes to email your state lawmakers to add your voice to the growing number of Keystone residents who support marijuana legalization. With primary elections coming up, stay tuned for voter guides and other opportunities to get engaged as the election approaches.

Ask Senate leadership to put patients first.

Exciting news! The Minnesota House included a provision to allow raw, whole plant medical cannabis in its version of the Health Policy Omnibus bill.

But the only way for this provision to make it past the finish line is if the Senate concurs. With only one day left to pass bills, we need you to contact Senator Michelle Benson (R) and Senator Paul Gazelka (R) NOW to concur with the House and put #patientsfirst.

You use our free advocacy software to send a quick email to both senators here. Then, consider following up with a call to Sen. Benson at 651-296-3219 and to Sen. Gazelka at 651-296-4875. To make a public plea, Sen. Gazelka’s Twitter handle is @paulgazelka and Sen. Benson’s is @SenatorBenson.

Be sure to be polite and respectful. We want to persuade, not alienate, Senate leaders. And consider sharing your personal experience if this bill would help you or a loved one.

Minnesota is one of only two medical cannabis states that forbid cannabis in its natural, flower form. This drives up costs, threatens the financial viability of cannabis businesses, and deprives patients of access to the form of medicine that works best for many.

The medical cannabis provision was offered by Rep. Pat Garofalo (R) and adopted with bipartisan support. The Senate can either concur (agree and pass the bill as amended, with the provision adding raw cannabis) or go to conference committee to remove the provision.

If you want to see this provision become law, call Sen. Benson and Sen. Gazelka as soon as possible and ask them to put #patientsfirst and concur with the House! Then, spread the word to other compassionate Minnesotans.

Many thanks to our friends at Sensible Minnesota for leading the charge on this effort!