Ask your lawmakers to support HB 110!

The General Assembly begins its 2020 legislative session today. Last year, HB 110, a bill to legalize, tax, and regulate cannabis for adult use was introduced and passed the House Revenue and Finance Committee (7-1). The bill is now pending action this session in the House Appropriations Committee.

Please email your lawmakers today and ask them to support HB 110!

Delawareans deserve a just, equitable cannabis policy. Replacing cannabis prohibition with sensible regulation would reduce the number of cannabis-related arrests, free up law enforcement resources to focus on more serious crimes, and generate a new source of revenue for the state.

Check out our full summary of HB 110 here.

You can take further action by attending the Delaware Cannabis Advocacy Network’s Citizens’ Cannabis Lobby Day! Help spread the word by sharing the event on Facebook.

When: Thursday, January 16, 10:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Where: Legislative Hall, 411 Legislative Avenue, Dover, DE

Ask your state legislators to stand with 61% of Delawareans and support HB 110. After your contact your lawmakers, please help us spread the word by forwarding this message to your networks in Delaware.

Together, we can end prohibition in the First State!

Secretary of State and Attorney General must review the proposed initiatives before signature collecting can begin

New Approach Montana, a statewide political campaign working to legalize, regulate, and tax marijuana, today submitted two complementary 2020 ballot initiatives to the state government for review. The first is a statutory initiative that would legalize marijuana in Montana for adults aged 21 and over and establish a regulatory framework for cultivation and sales. The second is a constitutional amendment that would allow the legal minimum age for marijuana consumption to be 21.

“Montanans support legalizing marijuana and setting the minimum age at 21,” said Pepper Petersen, spokesperson for New Approach Montana. “Our initiatives will give voters the opportunity to approve those laws at the ballot box on Election Day. It’s time for Montana to stop wasting law enforcement resources that could be spent fighting more serious crime. We can shift marijuana out of the illicit market and into licensed, regulated, and tax-paying businesses. At the same time, we can create jobs and generate significant new revenue for the state.”

The initiatives were hand-delivered to the Secretary of State and the Legislative Services Division today, starting a review process that will also involve the Attorney General and the Governor’s budget director.

New Approach Montana is sponsoring both initiatives, which were were drafted with the assistance of Montana voters, stakeholders, and policy experts.

“These initiatives are the result of a collaborative and diligent drafting process,” said Petersen. “We held seven community listening sessions across the state and received input from hundreds of Montana voters. We’ve spoken with community, church, and tribal leaders. Montana lawyers with experience in ballot initiative drafting and litigation have carefully vetted the details. We’ve received input from Montanans with expertise on our state’s existing medical marijuana program, civil rights, and fiscal policy. We have covered every base.”

The statutory initiative establishes a legalization policy that builds upon Montana’s existing medical marijuana framework.

“It was important to us that Montana entrepreneurs and businesses would be in a strong position to compete in the legalization market, and our initiative ensures that will be the case,” said Petersen. “We have every confidence that this uniquely Montanan approach to marijuana legalization, regulation, and taxation will gain widespread support at the ballot box in November.”

After the Attorney General has approved the final petitions, New Approach Montana must gather 25,468 signatures to qualify the statutory initiative for the 2020 ballot and 50,936 signatures to qualify the constitutional initiative.

New Approach Montana determined that it was necessary to amend the state constitution if Montana was going to follow the example of every other legal state by restricting marijuana to those 21 years and older.

“There is strong precedent for changing the Montana constitution to restrict marijuana to those 21 years and older,” said Petersen. “As a state, we amended the constitution in 1986 to allow the legislature to restrict alcohol sales to those 21 and over. Our 2020 constitutional amendment adds just two words to existing constitutional language that addresses alcohol, so that marijuana can be age-restricted in the same manner.”

The statutory initiative allows possession of up to an ounce by adults aged 21 and older, establishes the Montana Department of Revenue as the regulatory agency, gives Montana medical marijuana providers first entry into the expanded marijuana market, and reduces the tax on medical marijuana from two percent to one percent.

The initiative sets a 20% sales tax on marijuana (this would not apply to medical marijuana) and allocates the tax revenue to land, water, and wildlife conservation programs, veteran services, substance abuse treatment, long-term health care, local governments where marijuana is sold, and general revenue for the state.

“Our campaign’s initial analysis found that a 20% marijuana sales tax would generate over $37 million per year in new revenue by 2025,” Peterson said.

More information, including the full texts of the initiatives, can be found at: www.newapproachmt.org.

If there’s an election in your town, find out where candidates stand before you vote! If not, please contact your representatives and senators today.

Two special elections for state representative are being held in Connecticut tomorrow (Tuesday, January 14), and these races could be critical to our success on cannabis legalization in 2020. If you live in one of these two districts, we strongly encourage you to vote! State legislative districts are relatively small, and we’ve seen races decided by a single vote.

To find out where candidates stand, we sent them surveys consisting of one simple question: “Would you support legislation to legalize, regulate, and tax marijuana for adults 21 and older?” Here are the details on who is running and where they stand on the issue:

In the 48th Assembly District (portions of Colchester, Lebanon, Mansfield, and Windham), Brian Smith (D-Colchester) responded yes to our survey. Mark DeCaprio (R-Lebanon) did not respond. During a public forum, DeCaprio indicated that he does not support legalization.

In the 132nd Assembly District (portions of Fairfield), Jennifer Leeper (D-Fairfield) responded yes to our candidate survey. Brian Farnen (R-Fairfield) did not respond.

If you have friends or family living in one of these districts, please forward this message to them and remind them to vote tomorrow! If you’re not sure about your voter registration status or where to vote, click here for more information.

Finally, if you don’t live in one of these districts, please email your elected officials right now and urge them to support ending marijuana prohibition in 2020!

The wait is over. After submitting well over the required number of voter signatures in September last year, Mississippians for Compassionate Care has received the good news that their initiative to legalize medical marijuana will appear on the November ballot!

Polling indicates that 77 percent of Mississippians support allowing medical marijuana. The state currently has a CBD program, but access is severely restricted.

Although a supermajority of residents are on the side of reform, some politicians, such as Republican Gov. Phil Bryant, are opposed. Those against the measure will likely do what prohibitionists often do: misinform and use fear tactics to dissuade voters.

If you live in the state, please get involved. You can support the campaign and learn more about Mississippians for Compassionate Care by visiting their website. Passage of a medical marijuana law in one of the most conservative states in the country would be a major victory for patients and families living there as well as for our movement.

Ask your lawmakers to support SB 2!

The General Assembly kicked off its 2020 legislative session this week, and there is a real possibility that Virginia could decriminalize marijuana possession this year. To turn this possibility into a reality, lawmakers need to hear this is a priority for their constituents. That's where you come in.

Let your legislators know you want them to support SB 2 to decriminalize marijuana in 2020!

Sen. Adam Ebbin (D) has filed a bill — SB 2 — that would decriminalize marijuana possession by making possession of one ounce or less punishable by a maximum civil fine of $50. Under current law, simple possession of marijuana carries up to a $500 fine and 30 days in jail. You can check out our one-pager on decriminalization in Virginia here.

Decriminalization has gained increasing support from both elected officials and Virginians. Just last week, Gov. Ralph Northam (D) put decriminalization at the top of his 2020 criminal justice agenda.

This move is long overdue. Virginia is currently lagging behind the 26 states that have stopped jailing their residents for marijuana possession.

Please email your lawmakers today and ask them to decriminalize cannabis in 2020. Then, share this message with your friends and family in Virginia and encourage them to do the same.

With MPP’s support, South Dakotans for Better Marijuana Laws has become the first legalization campaign to qualify a citizens’ initiative for the 2020 ballot!

The new decade is off to an exciting start for our movement! Earlier this week, South Dakota Secretary of State Steve Barnett announced that the constitutional initiative to legalize and regulate marijuana for adults has succeeded in qualifying for the general election ballot!

In an impressive feat, the campaign gathered over 50,000 signatures in under two months to meet the required threshold. This is a huge step forward and cause for celebration, but we know an even tougher battle lies ahead. Powerful politicians in the state are dead set against legalization, and there’s no doubt they will marshall all the resources they can in an effort to defeat the initiative. South Dakotans for Better Marijuana Laws needs your help now more than ever.This news follows on the heels of another recent announcement that a statutory medical marijuana measure has also qualified for the November ballot. That means South Dakota will be the first state to vote on medical marijuana and adult-use legalization initiatives simultaneously!

The legislative session is beginning, and we need to make sure cannabis regulation is a top priority — write your representatives and urge them to support S. 54!

The Vermont Legislature convenes tomorrow — Thursday, January 9 — and we will be at the State House to remind legislators that cannabis regulation should be a top priority in 2020. All members of the Vermont Coalition to Regulate Marijuana are encouraged to join us in Montpelier as we encourage legislators to pass S. 54.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Cannabis Advocacy Day

WHERE: Vermont State House, 115 State Street, Montpelier

WHEN: 8-10 a.m., State House Cafeteria, 2nd Floor — Informal meet-and-greet breakfast with legislators. Complimentary coffee, bagels, and pastries will be served.
11 a.m., Cedar Creek Room, 2nd Floor — Press conference with legislators and advocates.

WHO: Supporters of S. 54 — Please RSVP here.

If you’re coming to Montpelier, it may be a good idea to reach out to your representatives in advance to ask if they’re available to meet with you while you’re in Montpelier. You can find your representatives’ contact info here.

You can read a summary of the bill, as approved by the House Government Operations Committee, here.

If you haven’t already done so, please email your representatives now and ask for their support. Then, share this message with your family and friends!

Ask your lawmakers to support legislation to legalize cannabis for adults 21 and older.

The General Assembly kicks off its 90-day 2020 legislative session today!

To recap, the marijuana legalization workgroup met during the off-session and came to the consensus that they would not recommend legislation to legalize marijuana for adult use this session. However, the legislature could now be on track to seriously consider legalization in 2021.

Keep up the pressure by emailing your legislators and asking them to legalize cannabis for adult use.

Although legalization is unlikely in 2020, we expect the legislature to take up other cannabis policy reform efforts this session to improve the state’s decriminalization law and medical cannabis program. We need all hands on deck to keep improving Maryland’s cannabis laws.

Mark your calendars and join us in solidarity at our 2020 cannabis policy lobby day!

When: Tuesday, February 4 (8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.)

Where: Anne Arundel Delegation Room, House Office Building – 6 Bladen Street, Annapolis, MD 21401

Registration: Please complete the registration form here to join us.

It is important lawmakers hear from as many constituents as possible. Join us at lobby day to send a strong message to the General Assembly to pass cannabis policy reform legislation this session and increase support for adult-use legalization.

After you email your lawmakers, please also help us spread the word by forwarding this message to your networks in Maryland and sharing our lobby day Facebook event.

P.S. If you have been personally impacted by cannabis prohibition, please contact the coalition to find out how you can be of special help to our effort.

Urge your state legislators to work with new Governor Andy Beshear and pass a medical cannabis law in 2020!

After years of frustration for patients and advocates in Kentucky, it’s possible that lawmakers in Frankfort will finally pass a medical cannabis law during the 2020 legislative session, which begins today. Last year, the House Judiciary Committee overwhelmingly approved a medical cannabis bill, but time ran out, and it did not receive a floor vote.

Please write your legislators today and urge them to legalize medical cannabis in 2020!

Rep. Jason Nemes has already pre-filed a bill on this subject, and newly elected Governor Andy Beshear has indicated that he strongly supports medical cannabis. However, some legislative leaders — including Senate President Robert Stivers — remain opposed, so the challenge for advocates will be getting a bill through the legislature and to the governor’s desk.

It’s critical that legislators hear from their constituents who support medical cannabis. After you write your legislators, please share this message with your friends and family.

Join us for an advocacy day at the State House on Thursday, January 9 — but first, write your representatives and urge them to support S. 54!

The Vermont Legislature will convene on Thursday, January 9, so what better day to remind legislators that cannabis regulation needs to be a top priority in 2020? All members of the Vermont Coalition to Regulate Marijuana are encouraged to visit the State House that day and join us as we encourage legislators to pass S. 54.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Cannabis Advocacy Day

WHERE: Vermont State House, 115 State Street, Montpelier, VT

WHEN: 8-10 a.m., State House Cafeteria, 2nd Floor — Informal meet-and-greet breakfast with legislators. Complimentary coffee, bagels, and pastries will be served.
11 a.m., Cedar Creek Room, 2nd Floor — Press conference with legislators and advocates.

WHO: Supporters of S. 54 — Please RSVP here.

You can read a summary of the bill, as approved by the House Government Operations Committee, here.

Please contact your representatives now and ask for their support. Then, share this message with your family and friends!