Good news! Last week, Gov. John Bel Edwards signed a bill (HB 819) that will allow doctors to recommend medical cannabis for any medical condition the physician “considers debilitating to an individual patient” that the physician is qualified to treat. Currently, patients can only receive a recommendation for cannabis if they have a medical condition that is specifically listed.

HB 819 also adds several qualifying conditions, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, ALS, traumatic brain injury, and chronic pain associated with sickle cell anemia or fibromyalgia.

Gov. Edwards also signed a bill to protect banks serving medical cannabis businesses from state penalties (HB 211) and one to protect physicians and medical facilities involved in medical cannabis (HB 418).

All three take effect on August 1.

HB 819 was sponsored by Rep. Larry Bagley (R). Bagley had been opposed to medical cannabis until he heard from constituents who found it relieved their pain. Now, he has become a champion.

His turnaround shows the dramatic impact constituent stories can have on their lawmakers. Considering reaching out to your state legislators about other marijuana policy reforms you care about.

If you’re a medical cannabis patient who has had problems with the program — perhaps due to the limited number of medical cannabis pharmacies or the lack of access to raw, flower cannabis — you may want to let your state senator and representative know.

You can also reach out to urge your lawmakers to support decriminalization or legalization of cannabis.

Thanks for your support and compassion!

Earlier this week, South Dakotans for Better Marijuana Laws and New Approach South Dakota held a well-attended Zoom media availability conference that lasted for more than an hour. Participants in the call included Brendan Johnson, former U.S. Attorney for South Dakota; Chuck Parkinson, former senior Ronald Reagan and U.S. Senator Jim Abdnor staffer; Melissa Mentele, campaign manager for Initiated Measure 26; and Drey Samuelson, political director of South Dakotans for Better Marijuana Laws, which oversees IM 26 (to legalize medical marijuana) and Amendment A (to legalize adult-use marijuana).  

Reporters from all over the state attended the press conference, as well as reporters from Politico and Cannabis Wire.

The most comprehensive article was written by veteran South Dakota reporter, Bob Mercer, who now works for KELO News. Read the article here. KELO-TV also covered the Zoom conference on their 6 p.m.and 10 p.m. news broadcasts, which you can watch here.

In his coverage, Mercer noted a key point on the relation between the two initiatives:

“Melissa Mentele of Emery is sponsor of Initiated Measure 26 that would legalize medical marijuana in South Dakota. Mentele told reporters Wednesday the constitutional amendment would provide political protection for her proposal. The Legislature can’t change the South Dakota Constitution.” 

There are many strong arguments for Amendment A, but one of the most important is the fact that it places into the South Dakota Constitution a provision that protects IM 26 from being picked apart by the South Dakota Legislature, a very real concern if Amendment A isn’t there to protect it.

Lee Strubinger represented South Dakota Public Radio and gave this audio report.

Like Mercer, Strubinger also noted Mentele’s point on how Amendment A (adult-use) protects Initiated Measure 26 from legislative tampering. Strubinger also reported on how Amendment A would decrease incarceration costs and put an end to what former U.S. Attorney Brendan Johnson refers to as the state’s “over-criminalization problem” with cannabis:

“By dropping prohibition we have we will reduced the criminalization of a generation of South Dakotans,” Johnson says. “Which is in our best interests, in my view.”

Stephen Groves from South Dakota Associated Press attended and filed this report, highlighting the connections between the current movement to reform policing and the criminal justice system and the legalization of marijuana:

“The current movement to reform policing and criminal justice laws after the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer may lend momentum to the campaign to legalize, said supporter Brendan Johnson, a former U.S. attorney who was appointed under President Barack Obama. “People are more conscious than ever about the concern of over-criminalization,” Johnson said. “Law enforcement priorities should be focused on significant crimes.”

Finally, Alyson Martin from Cannabis Wire was also in attendance, with a headline accurately noting that South Dakota voters could make cannabis history in November:

“I think what we’re going to see in South Dakota on this issue is really a coalition of both Democrats and Republicans coming together and [saying] prohibition does not work. It has not worked in the past. And it’s time, for the interest of our economy as well as the next generation, to get this right,” said Brendan Johnson.

Martin's entire article can be viewed here.

To learn more about the South Dakota campaigns, visit the campaign websites: South Dakotans for Better Marijuana Laws and New Approach South Dakota.

Ask your state lawmakers to support reduced penalties for cannabis possession.

Good news! Last week, Sen. Teresa Ruiz, along with cosponsor Sen. Ronald Rice, filed a sweeping decriminalization bill. If passed, the bill would dramatically reduce penalties for distribution and possession charges, prohibit discrimination for past convictions, and automatically expunge marijuana records. You can check out a full summary here.

Please email your state senator and assemblymember today to ask them to support decriminalization.

Earlier this year, separate decriminalization bills were filed in both the Assembly and the Senate. In January, A.1897, sponsored by Assemblyman Jamal Holley and Assemblyman Benjie Wimberly, was referred to the Assembly Judiciary Committee, and in March, S. 2101, sponsored by Sen. Ronald Rice, was introduced and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Both efforts stalled due to COVID, but in the wake of global protests surrounding the death of George Floyd, there seems to be renewed optimism for passage ahead of New Jersey’s ballot initiative this fall.

A.1897 is scheduled for a public hearing this Monday, June 15 at 10:30 a.m. before the Assembly Community Development and Affairs Committee. A full summary of the bill is available here.

Although the Capitol remains closed to the public, you can still make your voice heard on A. 1897. Click here for details.

To go the extra mile, considering calling your state assemblyperson and senator or making an appeal on Twitter or social media.

After you take action, please spread the word to others so they can also make their voices heard!

Because COVID-19 caused major delays in the signature-gathering drive, New Approach Montana — the campaign working to pass two complementary ballot initiatives to legalize, regulate, and tax marijuana for adults 21 and older in Montana — is in a race against time to qualify the constitutional initiative for the November ballot!

The constitutional measure (CI 118), which would allow the minimum legal age for marijuana to be set at 21, needs just over 50,000 valid signatures to qualify. The statutory measure (SI 190), which would establish a system to regulate and tax marijuana for adults’ use and requires half the number of signatures as required for the constitutional initiative, already has enough signatures to qualify.

While the statutory measure is the actual legalization policy, the constitutional measure sets the legal age at 21. Since voters prefer 21 as the minimum legal age, the campaign must qualify both measures to maximize the chances of victory this November. If CI 118 does not pass, it is very likely that marijuana sales would be delayed by two years. 

Due to signature-gathering challenges caused by the pandemic, the campaign has made it easy to add your signature to the petition effort. If you are a Montana voter, you can download this four-page document, print, sign, and mail it in to the campaign.

The campaign also has petition circulators on the ground, who are following strict health and safety protocols to reduce the risk of spreading COVID. 

MPP staff member and Montana resident Chris Lindsey (right) helping gather signatures. 

Please help us spread the word by sharing this petition link with friends and family in Montana today! 

South Dakotans for Better Marijuana Laws, the 2020 campaign working to pass two marijuana reform ballot initiatives this November, yesterday announced over 50 endorsements from prominent South Dakotans across the state. The endorsements come from health care professionals, former prosecutors, former elected officials, and business owners, among others. The full list can be viewed here.

The campaign also hosted a video press conference yesterday, featuring Brendan Johnson, former United States Attorney for South Dakota, and Chuck Parkinson, who served in President Reagan’s administration and as a staffer to former United States Senator Jim Abdnor.  

South Dakotans for Better Marijuana Laws is a statewide ballot question committee, which MPP is supporting, that is working to pass two 2020 ballot initiatives, Amendment A and Measure 26. Constitutional Amendment A would legalize, regulate, and tax marijuana for adults 21 and over and would also require the legislature to pass laws by 2022 regulating the cultivation, processing, and sale of hemp. Initiated Measure 26 would establish a medical marijuana program for patients diagnosed with one or more serious health conditions.

South Dakota will be the first state to vote on medical marijuana and adult-use legalization initiatives simultaneously.

To learn more, get involved, or make a donation to the campaign, visit the campaign's website.

Check out our primary runoff voter guide.

Thank you to everyone who voted in yesterday’s Primary Election, and to everyone who checked out our medical cannabis voter guide and spread the word!

Numerous known supporters will be advancing to the General Election. You can find the unofficial election results here and compare them to our House and Senate voter guides.

Meanwhile, in three Senate primaries and eight House primaries, no candidate received a majority. Those districts are headed to primary runoffs on Tuesday, June 23. Check out our runoff voter guide here to see if there’s a runoff in your district and to learn about candidates’ stances.

After you check out the voter guide, please spread the word. Two primary races were so close they’re headed to a recount. A relatively small number of supporters can sway an election. To have even more impact, you may want to consider volunteering for or donating to candidates you support.

And, stay tuned. We’ll be publishing another voter guide well in advance of November’s General Election.

Contact your representatives today and urge them to pass S. 294!

Last week, the Vermont Senate passed S. 294, a bill that would require the automatic expungement of all cannabis possession offenses. The bill also includes a provision that would decriminalize possession of cannabis in amounts that are up to twice the legal limit for adults.

This important bill faces an uncertain fate in the House of Representatives. Please contact your representatives right now to ask for their support!

If S. 294 is enacted, possession of up to two ounces of cannabis, 10 grams of hashish, four mature plants, and eight immature plants would become a $100 fine for a first offense. The fine would increase to $200 for a second offense and $500 for a third offense. For adults 21 and older, possession of up to an ounce of cannabis, five grams of hashish, two mature plants, and four immature plants has been legal since July 1, 2018.

S. 294 would ensure individuals aren’t criminalized because they don’t know the legal limit or they inadvertently slightly exceed it. It would also wipe clean stigmatizing cannabis records that can make it difficult to get housing, jobs, and an education.

In other news, some legislators still aren’t sure if they want to move the medical cannabis program out of the Department of Public Safety. If you are a registered patient or caregiver, we would be very interested to hear about your experiences with the medical cannabis program. For example, was your application or renewal processed in a timely fashion? Please share your experiences with me at msimon@mpp.org.

Again, please contact your representatives and tell them to support S. 294. Then, urge your friends and family to do the same!

Check out our medical cannabis voter guide and logistical details from the S.C. Elections Commission.

Tomorrow — Tuesday, June 9 — is Primary Election Day in South Carolina. If you’re a registered voter, don’t miss this opportunity to help decide who represents you in Columbia. This year’s election will be critical for determining whether South Carolina will finally enact a compassionate medical cannabis law in 2021.

Before you cast your votes, check out our voter guides for candidates for the South Carolina House and Senate. There is no party registration in South Carolina, so voters can choose either the Republican or Democratic primary ballot.

Here are the details on how to vote, drawn from information posted by the S.C. Elections Commission:

If you have a mail-in absentee ballot:

• For your ballot to count, it must be received by the voter registration office no later than 7:00 p.m. tomorrow, Tuesday, June 9. That means it is now too late for it to arrive by mail. You should instead deliver it to your county voter registration office.
• You CANNOT return your absentee ballot to your polling place.
• You CANNOT vote at your polling place without returning your uncompleted absentee ballot to your voter registration office and receiving a letter authorizing you to vote at the polls.

Voting absentee, in-person today:

• In-person absentee voting ends at 5:00 p.m. TODAY, Monday, June 8. Click here for in-person absentee locations and hours.

Voting in-person tomorrow, Tuesday, June 9:

• COVID-19-related public health protocols will be in place, including social distancing, sneeze guards at check-in stations, available hand sanitizer, and masks, face shields, and gloves worn by poll managers.
  • Voters are asked to, but not required to, wear face masks.
  • Voters should display their ID rather than handing it to poll workers.
  • Voters should bring their own pens to sign the poll list.
  • Voters will be provided with a cotton swab to make their selections on the touchscreen voting machines.
• Your polling place may have changed because some polling locations have consolidated and relocated due to the pandemic. Check your polling place at SCVotes.org.
• Bring your photo ID or voter registration card if you do not have one.
• Be patient and understanding with poll workers, who are surely under stress as they facilitate democracy during a pandemic.

Now it’s time to make a plan to vote — if you haven’t already done so — and spread the word.

Thank you for your compassion!

HF 2589 is a mixed bag for patients.

On Wednesday, the Iowa Senate sent Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) a bill (HF 2589) that takes several major steps forward and some equally significant steps backwards for the state’s medical CBD program. The bill passed after a heated debate, during which Sen. Joe Bolkcom (D) called for passage of a superior bill, which would have ensured patients could obtain as much medical cannabis as they need. Sen. Bolkcom also lambasted HF 2589’s negative impact on workers.

Here’s a run down of the good and bad provisions.

On the bright side, HF 2589 would:

• Allow patients with “chronic pain” to qualify, rather than the far more restrictive standard “untreatable pain”
• Add PTSD as a qualifying condition
• Add autism with self-injury or aggression as a qualifying condition
• Remove the 3% limit on THC content
• Allow podiatrists, physicians' assistants, and advance practice nurses to recommend cannabis
• Remove the Department of Transportation’s role in issuing ID cards

The regressive provisions in HF 2589 include:

• Limiting patients to 4.5 grams of cannabis every 90 days (or 50 milligrams per day), unless they have a doctor’s certification that a greater quantity is needed
• Allowing employers to restrict their employees’ cannabis use, including by continuing drug-testing programs
• Disqualifying individuals for receiving unemployment compensation if they were fired due to testing positive for cannabis or another controlled substance, unless it was prescribed
• Providing that workers’ compensation, governmental medical insurance, and other health insurance does not have to cover medical cannabis
• Providing that property owners and those controlling property can prohibit the possession or use of cannabis on the property (This may allow landlords to prohibit medical cannabis use by tenants.)

Last year, Gov. Reynolds vetoed a bill that included a far more reasonable limit of 25 grams every 90 days.

You can contact the governor’s office at 515-281-5211 or via this webform if you would like to weigh in on the legislation.

Thank you for supporting compassion.

Organizations to support

• The African American Policy Forum: A think tank of activists, academics, and policy makers working to address systemic inequalities. The AAPF also co-created the campaign #Sayhername as well as a groundbreaking report of the same name addressing the silence around Black women and girls and police brutality.
  
  
• Black Visions Collective: A Black-led, Queer and Trans-centered, Minnesota-based collective dedicated to transformative justice principles and a world where all Black Lives Matter. 
  
  
• The Loveland Foundation: A nonprofit providing therapy support to black women and girls.
  
  
• Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective: A nonprofit dedicated to the healing, wellness, and liberation of black and marginalized communities.

Resources for protesters

• ACLU information on protesters’ rights
  
  
• VICE guidelines for protesting during a pandemic
  
  
• Legal Aid Society guide on what to expect if you are arrested

Resources for those who want to support the movement in other ways

Donate

NOTE: This list is not exhaustive and there may be local organizations in your community that could benefit from donations not only in the form of money but supplies like bottled water, masks, safe havens, and other supplies and assistance.

• Beyond The Streets: 26 Ways To Support The Protests (by Ejeris Dixon)
  
  
• Black Lives Matter
  
  
• Local chapters of Black Lives Matter
  
  
• National Bail Funds
  
  
• Justice for Breonna Taylor
  
  
• #IRunWithMaud (Ahmaud Arbery)
  
  
• National Police Accountability Project
  
  
• Official George Floyd Memorial Fund
  
  
• The Colin Kaepernick Know Your Rights Camp Legal Defense Initiative
  
  
• Campaign Zero

Sign a petition

• #JusticeforBre
  
  
• ‘Hands Up Act’
  
  
• NAACP #WeAreDoneDying Petition

Resources for allies

• Showing Up for Racial Justice: An organization specifically for white allies interested in working toward racial justice
  
  
• Answers to questions you may have about the Black Lives Matter movement
  
  
• Glossary of basic definitions for terms you’ll come across in your education and work as an ally
  
  
• A checklist tool for white allies against racism
  
  
• Resources to learn more about how race, class, and gender intersect and contribute to oppression