Good news! On Tuesday, the Connecticut Legislative Regulations Review Committee approved allowing medical cannabis to treat chronic pain — although it narrowly defined the term. The Board of Physicians recommended adding chronic pain as a qualifying condition on September 27, 2019. Previously, Connecticut was the only state medical marijuana program that did not permit patients to treat chronic pain with medical marijuana.

The revision permits medical marijuana to be recommended for adults with “chronic pain of at least six months duration associated with a specific underlying chronic condition refractory to other treatment intervention.” Unfortunately, that narrow definition means physicians can only recommend cannabis to patients who have sought treatment for their chronic pain for at least six months and whose pain has been resistant to other treatments.

The committee also approved the use of medical marijuana to treat Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, an inherited disorder that weakens the body’s connective tissue and leads to weakened blood vessels and organs.

While these revisions undoubtedly expand patients’ ability to use medical marijuana to treat their aliments, Connecticut will have one of the most restrictive chronic pain provisions in the country. Patients will have to suffer for months before trying cannabis and will first be steered to far more dangerous medications.

Earlier this year, a bill to allow any adult, 21 or older, to use cannabis stalled due to a COVID-related closure of the capitol. It’s our hope that the Connecticut Legislature takes up the issue of adult-use cannabis in a special session this year or during the 2021 regular session. Many individuals who suffer from conditions that can be treated with marijuana aren’t able to access medical marijuana cards.

Please join us by writing Gov. Ned Lamont to urge him to prioritize legalization. You can go the extra mile by spreading the word to others, calling his office at 860-566-4840, or making an appeal on Twitter.

We wish you and your loved ones well and thank you for your continued support.

Look up your legislative districts, then check out our S.C. House and S.C. Senate voter guides.

Next Tuesday, June 9 is Primary Election Day for the South Carolina Legislature. This year’s elections will be critical for determining whether South Carolina will finally enact a compassionate medical cannabis law.

We’ve put together a voter guide on where the candidates stand on medical cannabis. It includes responses to the South Carolina Compassionate Care Alliance’s  candidate questionnaire, along with whether incumbents cosponsored medical cannabis bills, and incumbents’ past committee votes.

First, look up your state legislative districts and precinct location here. After you fill in your information, the second section will display your Voting Districts. You’re looking for the number of your SC Senate District and SC House District.

Then, check out our voter guides for South Carolina Senate races and South Carolina House races to see where candidates in your district stand.

Registered voters can vote in either party’s primary on June 9 — or in advance by absentee ballot. South Carolina does not have registration by party. If your district is not listed in our voter guide, there is not a competitive primary. You can check back for our voter guide leading up to the General Election.

State legislative races have been so close some have tied and were decided by a coin toss. Don’t miss out on this chance to help decide who represents you in Columbia. To go the extra mile, you can volunteer for or contribute to candidates you support.

After you take a look at our voter guide, please spread the word. And if you speak to a candidate about medical cannabis and get new information that we have not included, let us know at Karen@mpp.org.

Ask Gov. Edwards to sign the bill when it lands on his desk.

Exciting news! On Wednesday, the Louisiana Senate followed the House’s lead and overwhelmingly approved legislation (HB 819) to allow medical cannabis for any debilitating medical condition. HB 819 would significantly expand Louisiana’s medical cannabis program: Patients currently only qualify if they have one of the specifically listed medical conditions.

Ask Gov. John Bel Edwards to sign HB 819 into law when it lands on his desk.

Before HB 819 makes it to the governor’s desk, the House must consider a Senate amendment that requires cannabis sales to be entered into the prescription drug monitoring database.

Disappointingly, a bill to allow whole-plant, raw cannabis — HB 385 — did not advance before a deadline. Meanwhile, the House-passed bill to allow home delivery — HB 792 — was removed from consideration because the sponsor believes pharmacies already have the ability to deliver medical cannabis. (The Board of Pharmacy has granted them temporary permission to do so due to the coronavirus.)

Thanks for your support and compassion!

After winning overwhelming bipartisan approval from the Oklahoma legislature last week, HB 3228 was vetoed by the governor yesterday. And though marijuana policy reform advocates made a last-second push to urge legislators to override Gov. Stitt’s veto, lawmakers adjourned the legislative session without taking action on the bill.

The legislation would have allowed out-of-state medical marijuana patients to obtain a renewable three-month temporary license and permit dispensaries to deliver medical marijuana to registered patients who live within a 10-mile radius. It also would have eased penalties and removed jail time for first-time offenses for individuals found in possession of marijuana without a medical marijuana license.

This is certainly a disappointment, but there will be many more fights ahead. Our movement to replace harmful marijuana laws with sensible alternatives continues to gain steam, and it's only a matter of time before we make even greater progress in Oklahoma.

Great news! Utah’s medical cannabis program will allow medical access by drive-through and home delivery. These options will allow patients to access medical cannabis without having to risk in-person transactions.

Drive-through access will be available as soon as medical cannabis pharmacies are equipped to offer it. At least two medical cannabis pharmacies — Dragonfly Wellness in Salt Lake City and a Perfect Earth location — plan to offer the service in July.

Home delivery will take longer to roll out. The Department of Health will begin accepting applications for couriers in July, with delivery anticipated beginning in the fall. This option is particularly important for patients who are homebound or otherwise deal with mobility challenges.

Utah joins 20 other medical cannabis states in allowing home delivery, and it is the third state to add the option during the pandemic.

Many thanks to each of the 10,000 MPP supporters who signed our petition to improve medical cannabis access during the coronavirus and to those of you who wrote Gov. Herbert to urge adoption of home delivery!

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.