Despite 75% public support for legalizing cannabis, New Hampshire remains an island of prohibition

It has been another frustrating legislative session for cannabis policy reforms in New Hampshire, but we did manage to make some progress. Several bills impacting the medical cannabis program have passed the House and Senate, and most of them are clear improvements. Some of these bills have already been signed by Gov. Chris Sununu, while others are either on his desk or on their way to his desk:

HB 605 — adds opioid use disorder as a qualifying condition and permits out of state patients to access N.H. dispensaries on a limited basis (awaiting action from Gov. Sununu).

SB 162 — allows N.H. patients to access any of the state's dispensaries, rather than requiring that they select a dispensary when they register (awaiting action from Gov. Sununu).

HB 89 — adds moderate to severe insomnia as a qualifying symptom and autism spectrum disorder as a qualifying condition (effective as of June 24).

HB 240 — requires dispensaries to identify strain names on labels and allows them to put strain names on their websites (effective beginning August 3).

HB 163 — requires counseling about potential harms of cannabis for people under 25 and “women who are of child-bearing age” before they can be certified for therapeutic cannabis (effective beginning July 24).

SB 38 — allows N.H. dispensaries to reorganize as for-profit corporations or LLCs (awaiting action from Gov. Sununu, who vetoed a similar bill in 2019).

Additionally, two adult-use legalization bills have been retained by the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee. Despite overwhelming public support for legalization, it’s not yet clear whether the committee intends to give these bills the attention they deserve.

Thanks Very Much for Your Support

With somewhat mixed feelings, I have decided to move on from MPP to pursue another opportunity. Today will be my last day on the job. However, I intend to remain involved in the New Hampshire political scene, and I will continue to share updates on cannabis policy in the New Hampshire Coalition for Common Sense Marijuana Policy Facebook group and on Twitter. MPP will also continue to send you email updates.

To all who have supported our efforts over the years, I can’t thank you enough. This has been my 14th year working on cannabis policy reform and my 10th year as a full-time employee of MPP, and although I am frustrated by New Hampshire's continued status as an “island of prohibition,” it has been an honor and a privilege to help move our state and region toward more compassionate, humane, and sensible cannabis policies.

Contact your lawmakers today and ask them to prioritize HB 150 in 2022!

This year, two House committees approved HB 150 — a bill to legalize and regulate cannabis for adults in Delaware. The bill was cleared and scheduled for a House floor vote on June 10, but unfortunately, that vote was postponed to allow more time to work on amendments.

The legislature adjourns today. However, since the General Assembly holds a two-year session, the bill will pick up where it left off in January 2022.

While it’s unfortunate that the bill wasn’t taken up this year, we must keep the pressure on lawmakers to prioritize HB 150 when they return in January. Please reach out to your lawmakers today and ask them to support HB 150 next session!

Be sure to stay plugged in to the Delaware Cannabis Policy Coalition email alerts leading up to 2022 for actions to take to help make sure HB 150 makes it over the finish line next year.

Mourning Deborah Hamilton

We also wanted to share some very sad news. Deborah Hamilton — who lobbied for medical cannabis, decriminalization, and legalization for MPP over the years — passed away recently. Debbie was among the most respected and skilled advocates in Leg Hall, and she was absolutely crucial to the progress that has been made in the First State for humane cannabis policies. We are lucky to have worked closely with her, and our hearts break for her family and loved ones.

Back in April, New Mexico became the 18th state to legalize adult-use cannabis. Today, the new legalization law officially goes into effect.

Adults may now legally possess up to two ounces of cannabis and cultivate up to six mature plants. Cannabis sales will begin no later than April 2022. You can check out our full summary of the law here.

New Mexico was one of four states to legalize cannabis legislatively this year, with the total of adult-use legalization states now reaching 19.

Thank you to the lawmakers and advocates who worked tirelessly to end cannabis prohibition in the Land of Enchantment. It has truly been a historical year for cannabis policy reform!

Ask your councilmembers to support Councilmember Moreno’s cannabis “full decriminalization” ordinances.

“It is the policy of the Council of the City of New Orleans, that the arrest, prosecution, and punishment of individuals solely charged with simple possession of marijuana presents greater harm to the health, safety, and welfare of the City than the act of possession itself.”
— Proposed ordinance 33,328

In 2016, the New Orleans City Council passed an ordinance to “decriminalize” cannabis possession, replacing possible jail time with a modest fine. Advocates hoped the tickets issued would not count as a conviction for purposes of collateral consequences — such as related to student loans and job applications. Unfortunately, that hasn’t been the case.

City Council President Helena Moreno has proposed an ordinance to remove the scarlet letters that have derailed the dreams of more than 15,000 individuals for being caught possessing a plant that is safer than alcohol. It would also pardon all future offenses, after they occur.

New Orleans can’t completely legalize cannabis locally, but this would come close.

Please take a moment to write your City Councilmembers in support and to spread the word to others. Our advocacy software makes it quick and easy.

The City Council’s Criminal Justice Committee will hear Council President Moreno’s proposals tomorrow — Tuesday, June 29 — at 2 p.m. You can also submit public comment here.

Many thanks to Council President Moreno and Kevin Caldwell and CommonSenseNOLA for spearheading this effort. And to each of you for your support for humane cannabis policies!

Great news! Louisiana’s medical cannabis patients will be allowed to use cannabis in flower form instead of being limited to extracts and other more costly preparations.

Yesterday, Gov. John Bel Edwards signed HB 391 into law, making it Act 424.

The bill takes effect on January 1, 2022. Patients will be allowed to buy up to 2.5 ounces of raw/flower cannabis every two weeks. The new law also removes Louisiana’s ban on smoking and vaporizing cannabis preparations.

Patients under the age of 21 will only be allowed to purchase raw cannabis if their physician specifically recommends cannabis in raw form.

In other good news, the tax on flower did not become law.

Thanks to each of you who took the time to write your lawmakers and the governor on this bill and other cannabis policy reforms ! We are also grateful to all the legislators and Louisiana advocates who led the charge.

Exciting news! Moments ago, Gov. Lamont signed S.B. 1201 — “An Act Concerning Equitable and Responsible Regulation of Cannabis” — into law, making Connecticut the 19th state to end cannabis prohibition. Connecticut is the sixth state to legalize via its state legislature and the fourth state to legalize this year, along with New Mexico, New York, and Virginia.

You may recall, earlier this month the House and Senate passed S.B. 1201 in special session on 76-62 and 16-11 votes, respectively. With Gov. Lamont’s signature, cannabis prohibition will effectively end in Connecticut on July 1.

Starting on July 1, adults over the age of 21 will be allowed to possess up to one and a half ounces of cannabis on their person and up to five ounces in a locked trunk or secured at their home. Legal sales are anticipated to begin by May 2022. Adults will be allowed to securely cultivate cannabis at home starting July 1, 2023.

Additionally, 50% of licenses will be reserved for equity applicants, and up to 75% of the revenue will be dedicated towards equity efforts and community reinvestment. You can check out a full summary of the bill here and a condensed summary here.  

MPP is proud to have played a leading role in this multi-year effort to reform Connecticut’s cannabis laws. However, this accomplishment would not have been possible without all of your calls, emails, texts, and support over the years to get this equity-centered legislation across the finish line. This is our collective victory to share.

Congratulations!

Contact your state lawmakers and ask them to pass a bill before time runs out!

Exciting news! With just a couple of weeks remaining in the 2021 legislative session, state senators are bringing a bill to legalize marijuana for adults to the floor for a vote this Tuesday! 

Please contact your state legislators right now and encourage them to send a legalization bill to Gov. McKee’s desk before the clock runs out! 

An amended version of the Senate legalization bill, S 568 Sub A, would allow adults 21 and older to possess, purchase, and cultivate cannabis for personal use. The bill also creates a pathway for individuals to expunge and seal past criminal records for cannabis-related convictions and establishes a social equity program to encourage people harmed by cannabis criminalization to participate in the adult-use cannabis market. 

This is the closest Rhode Island has ever come to passing a bill to replace cannabis prohibition with a smarter and more just policy. Please make sure your legislators hear from you before the General Assembly adjourns for the summer. 

Thank you for taking action, and please stay tuned for more updates soon.

The Constitution State will become the 19th state to end cannabis prohibition.

We did it!

Today, the Connecticut Senate voted (16-11) to concur with a House-passed version of a bill that will legalize cannabis for adults 21 and over. The House passed the bill yesterday in a 76-62 vote. Gov. Ned Lamont has said he will sign the bill into law.

S.B. 1201, sponsored by Senate President Martin Looney and House Speaker Matt Ritter, would legalize possession and home cultivation of cannabis for adults 21 and older and expunge thousands of cannabis-related records.

The legislation is the result of negotiations between lawmakers, advocates, and the broader cannabis community to create an inclusive industry that provides equity to those most harmed by prohibition. Half of new cannabis business licenses would be issued to social equity applicants, who could receive technical assistance, start-up funding, assistance from an accelerator program, and workforce training. In addition to mitigating decades of disproportionate impact, this policy change will generate good-paying jobs and power the state’s economic growth while also allowing adults to make their own decisions about cannabis consumption. A summary of the bill is here.

MPP played a leading role in the fight to reform Connecticut’s cannabis laws, and we’re proud of the hard work invested to ensure passage of equity-centered legalization. We believe the bill as passed is one of the most comprehensive cannabis bills in the nation, and we’d like to thank House and Senate leadership, Rep. Jason Rojas, Rep. Steven Stafstrom, House Speaker Matt Ritter, Sen. Gary Winfield, and Senate President Looney for getting it over the finish line. 

We’d also like to thank Gov. Ned Lamont and his office for their commitment to passing a strong bill. Last but not least, we’d like to thank our amazing Regulate CT lobbying and advocacy team — Paul Nuñez and the staff of Depino, Nuñez and Biggs; Adam Wood of City and State Public Affairs; and Hillary Glass of Reynolds Strategy Group for all of their insight and assistance in a multi-year effort to get this bill done. 

Onward!

Ask Gov. Edwards to sign medical cannabis flower legislation, too.

On Monday, Gov. John Bel Edwards signed HB 652 into law!

This new law will save thousands of Louisianans from being incarcerated for small amounts of cannabis. Effective August 1, the penalty for possessing up to 14 grams of cannabis will be reduced to a fine of up to $100.

Meanwhile, another important bill — HB 391 — is on Gov. Edwards’ desk.  HB 391 would allow medical cannabis patients to use whole-plant, flower cannabis, which is allowed in all but one other medical cannabis state. Ask the governor to sign it into law.

Thank you to everyone who has worked so hard for humane cannabis policies in Louisiana, including Louisiana Progress — which led the charge on legalization and decriminalization advocacy this year; Kevin Caldwell and Common Sense NOLA, whose trailblazing local decriminalization efforts laid the foundation for statewide reform; and Sensible Marijuana Policy for Louisiana, who have been key to medical cannabis progress and broader reform over the years. We are also so grateful to Rep. Cedric Glover for sponsoring HB 652.

Urge your state lawmakers to vote “yes” on S.B. 1118!

Last week, the 2021 legislative session ended without a vote in the House of Representatives on S.B.1118, which would have legalized cannabis for adults 21 and older. However, legislative leaders plan to reconvene later this week to take up the issue along with implementing the state budget.

You may recall the Senate passed S.B. 1118 during regular session in a 19-17 vote. However, due to time expiring in the regular session, the bill will now need to be re-approved by the Senate and secure passage in the House. We applaud those senators who voted in support of ending the failed policy of prohibition, but we urge you to contact those senators who voted “no” and encourage them to reconsider their vote.

Please call your state representative and email your state senator.

The draft email to your state senator will either thank them for voting “yes” or ask them to reconsider if they voted “no.”

While we hoped the legislature would pass the bill during the regular session, we’re encouraged that legislative leaders are willing to work overtime to get this important issue across the finish line. Legislative leaders believe they have the necessary votes for passage to make cannabis possession legal by July 1.

In the meantime, you can check out our detailed bill summary here, and we encourage you to continue to contact your state lawmakers to urge them to vote “yes” on S.B. 1118.