In honor of Earth Day, we'd like to share a new certification initiative we're supporting in the cannabis space, which promotes the wellbeing of regenerative cannabis agriculture, farmers, human health, and the planet.

Today, in honor of Earth Day, a coalition of cannabis activists and organizationss has launched a new ethical, ecological cannabis certification called Sun+Earth.

Because federal prohibition does not allow cannabis farmers to certify under the USDA organic program or the Regenerative Organic Certification (due to federal prohibitions on use of the term “organic”), we’re forming a new not-for-profit regenerative cannabis certification organization: Sun+Earth. Sun+Earth verifies cannabis is grown responsibly, fairly, and regeneratively, without harmful practices to growers, workers, or Mother Earth.

Sun+Earth certifies cannabis that is grown under the sun, in the soil of Mother Earth, without chemicals by fairly­ paid farmers. Join us.

It’s estimated that cannabis will soon become a $50 billion a year industry. Both cannabis users and non­users alike realize that farming cannabis at this scale will have either a beneficial or detrimental impact on people and the planet.

Relatedly, a new, not-for-profit brand called Brother David’s will launch in early May as a brand platform to educate cannabis consumers about Sun+Earth certification.

If you live in N.H., please attend the public hearing at 9:35 a.m. on Tuesday, April 23, and show your support for HB 481!

New Hampshire’s HB 481 has been scheduled for a public hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, April 23, at 9:35 a.m. The bill would legalize possession and limited cultivation by adults 21 and older, and it would establish a system of regulated sales. You can read a summary of HB 481, as amended and passed by the House, here.

Members of the public are encouraged to testify at the public hearing or sign the committee’s sign-in sheet in support of HB 481. For more information on this hearing and how to make a positive impact, click here. For talking points, click here.

WHO: The Senate Judiciary Committee and members of the public

WHAT: Public hearing on HB 481, the bill to legalize and regulate cannabis for use by adults

WHEN: Tuesday, April 23, beginning at 9:35 a.m.

WHERE: Room 100 of the State House (107 N. Main Street, Concord)

If you haven’t yet contacted your state senator about this bill, it is very important that they hear from you. Please email your senator today!

Please share this message with your family and friends!

If you live in Vermont, contact your state representatives today — tell them it’s time for Vermont to finish the job and regulate cannabis in 2019!

The Vermont Senate has already passed S. 54, a bill that would create a regulated and taxed market for adult-use cannabis in Vermont. The bill is now being considered by the House Government Operations Committee and other House committees.

Please email your state representatives today and urge them to support regulating cannabis in 2019!

You can read a summary of the bill, as it was approved by the Senate, here.

After you email your state representatives, please share this message with your family and friends!

Between Tuesday and May 4, the lieutenant governor's listening tour will visit Tioga, Adams, Clinton, Pike, Snyder, Union, Wayne, Columbia, Lycoming, Franklin, and Bradford counties.

Over the next couple of weeks, Lt. Gov. John Fetterman will be hearing constituents' views on marijuana legalization in 11 more counties. If you live in any of those counties, try to stop by to make your voice heard.

Here are upcoming stops:

Mansfield (Tioga County)
Tuesday, April 23, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Mansfield University
Straughn Auditorium
35 Straughn Drive

Gettysburg (Adams County)
Wednesday, April 24, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Gettysburg Area High School
1130 Old Harrisburg Road

Lock Haven (Clinton County)
Saturday, April 27, 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Lock Haven University, Sloan Theatre
401 N. Fairview Street

Dingmans Ferry (Pike County)
Sunday, April 28, 5:00 to 6:30 p.m.
Dingman-Delaware Middle School
1365 PA-739

Selinsgrove (Snyder County)
Monday, April 29, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Susquehanna University, Degenstein Center Theater
514 University Avenue

Lewisburg (Union County)
Saturday, April 27, 3:00 to 4:30 p.m.
RiverStage Community Theatre
815 Market Street

Hawley (Wayne County)
Sunday, April 28, 1:00 to 2:30 p.m.
Wallenpaupack High School
2552 US-6

Bloomsburg (Columbia County)
Tuesday, April 30, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Bloomsburg University
400 E. Second Street

Williamsport (Lycoming County)
Wednesday, May 1, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Pennsylvania College of Technology, Klump Academic Center
1034 W. Third Street

Chambersburg (Franklin County)
Thursday, May 2, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Eugene C. Clarke Jr. Community Center
235 S. Third Street

Towanda (Bradford County)
Saturday, May 4, 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Towanda High School
1 High School Drive

Consider arriving early: In some cases, crowds have been standing-room only.

When deciding what you'd like to say, feel free to draw from our document on the Top 10 reasons to end marijuana prohibition or other materials. You may want to consider making a pitch for an inclusive, diverse industry, for allowing home cultivation, and for expunging past convictions.

Even if you're not up for speaking in public, you can still make your voice heard. Fetterman has been asking for a show of hands for supporters and opponents, and the governor's office is soliciting feedback on the issue online.

This is a great opportunity to build momentum for commonsense, humane marijuana laws. Don't miss your chance to let your elected officials know it's time to stop branding Pennsylvanians criminals for a substance that's safer than alcohol. And please spread the word to help grow the chorus for reform.

Registered patients will have safe, in-state access to low-THC oil.

Yesterday, Gov. Brian Kemp (R) signed the Georgia’s Hope Act — HB 324 — into law. At long last, patients will be able to safely access low-THC medical cannabis oil within Georgia.

In 2015, the Georgia General Assembly passed a bill allowing patients to register to possess up to 20 fluid ounces of medical cannabis oil with up to 5% THC. The legislature later expanded the law to include more medical conditions, and more than 8,000 patients are signed up. However, the law didn’t include any access to cannabis oil.

Under the Georgia’s Hope Act, six producers will be allowed to cultivate medical cannabis preparations in Georgia, as could two universities. Pharmacies will sell the medical cannabis preparations, and regulators could authorize private dispensaries. (Due to medical cannabis’ federal illegality, it is far from certain that universities or pharmacies would participate.) It is expected to take at least a year before legal sales begin.

You can check out MPP’s summary of the law here.

MPP is grateful to CompassionateGA, and its lobbyist Jacob Eassa, for their advocacy efforts and to all the patients and loved ones who spoke out for so many years. We also appreciate the leadership of bill sponsor Rep. Micah Gravley (R) and former Rep. Allen Peake (R) and all the lawmakers who supported the legislation.

Stay tuned for updates during implementation, along with next year’s efforts to improve the law.

If you live in Alabams, contact your lawmakers now in support of decriminalization!

Today, the Alabama Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously approved SB 98, which would reduce the penalty for possessing up to an ounce of cannabis to a fine. The bill now heads to the Senate floor. Don’t let this chance to stop jailing cannabis consumers pass the state by.

Contact your lawmakers in Montgomery and ask them to support this commonsense policy reform.

Currently, anyone found possessing marijuana in Alabama faces up to a year in jail. Under SB 98, people caught with one ounce or less would be punished by a fine of up to $250 for the first two offenses and up to a $500 fine on all future offenses. Twenty-four states, including neighboring Mississippi, have stopped jailing adults for possession of small amounts of marijuana. It’s time for Alabama to reform outdated laws that do nothing to make the state safer. A recent report from the Alabama Appleseed Center for Law and Justice and the Southern Poverty Law Center showed that marijuana prohibition is a costly and ineffective law that harms thousands of people. Enforcing prohibition costs the state roughly $22 million a year when you add up the costs incurred by the police, courts, and corrections.

Please contact your lawmakers today, and then get the word out by forwarding this email to friends and family. Together we can stop arresting Alabamans for possessing a substance safer than alcohol.

Join us at 6 p.m. to learn more about what is happening in the legislature and how you can help!

The Connecticut Legislature has taken important steps to advance marijuana legalization this session, but we know that victory remains far from certain. The bills are still works in progress, and many legislators remain undecided on the issue, so it’s clear that our coalition will need to ramp up efforts in the coming weeks.

Fortunately, legislative leaders have made it clear that the issue is a priority this session. They have also indicated that they will continue to consider policy details, including the equity provisions and whether or not to allow home cultivation, before the bills receive a final vote. It’s critically important that advocates work together to maximize our chances of success in the legislature.

Please consider joining us for our first coalition meeting of the year, which will take place in Hartford on Thursday, April 18, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. This will be a great opportunity to learn more about what is happening in the state house and also to begin phone banking undecided legislators.

Here are the details:

WHO: Members of the Connecticut Coalition to Regulate Marijuana and coalition co-directors Kebra Smith-Bolden and Adam Wood

WHAT: Coalition meeting to discuss legalization efforts and volunteer phone banking operations

WHERE: The Meeting Room at Hartford Public Safety Complex (253 High St.)

WHEN: Thursday, April 18, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

If you haven’t already done so, please contact your legislators and urge them to support the legalization bills. Then, please share this message with your family and friends.

We hope you’ll be able to join us on Thursday!

Lt. governor's marijuana legalization listening tour will visit Downington, State College, McConnellsburg, and Clarion this week.

Over the next few days, Lt. Gov. John Fetterman will be hearing constituents' views on marijuana legalization in four counties. If you live in any of those counties, try to stop by to make your voice heard.

Here are upcoming stops:

TONIGHT: Downington (Chester County)
Monday, April 15, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Downington High School West
455 Manor Avenue

State College (Centre County)
Tuesday, April 16, 7:30 to 9 p.m.
Penn State University
Hetzel Union Building, Alumni Hall
16802 Pollock Road

McConnellsburg (Fulton County)
Wednesday, April 17, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
McConnellsburg Volunteer Fire Hall
112 E. Maple Street

Clarion (Clarion County)
Thursday, April 18, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Hart Chapel Building
Wood Street

Consider arriving early: In some cases, crowds have been standing-room only.

When deciding what you'd like to say, feel free to draw from our document on the Top 10 reasons to end marijuana prohibition or other materials. You may want to consider making a pitch for an inclusive, diverse industry, for allowing home cultivation, and for expunging past convictions.

Even if you're not up for speaking in public, you can still make your voice heard. Fetterman has been asking for a show of hands for supporters and opponents, and the governor's office is soliciting feedback on the issue online.

This is a great opportunity to build momentum for commonsense, humane marijuana laws. Don't miss your chance to let your elected officials know it's time to stop branding Pennsylvanians criminals for a substance that's safer than alcohol. And please spread the word to help grow the chorus for reform.

If you live in New Hampshire, urge your senator to support HB 364!

In four of the last five years, the N.H. House has passed bills that would have allowed patients and caregivers to grow a limited supply of cannabis. Sadly, these bills have all failed to pass the Senate. Instead, all four were referred to so-called “interim study” and then completely ignored.

This year, it appears that a home cultivation bill may finally have a good chance of passing the Senate. HB 364, which has already passed the House in a voice vote, is currently being considered by the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. The committee appears likely to vote on the bill next Tuesday.

For the sake of patients who are still struggling because of limited access to cannabis, please contact your senator right now and urge him or her to support HB 364!

If you are a patient who would personally benefit from this bill’s passage, or you are a friend or family member of a patient, please email all five members of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and share your story.

As amended by the House, HB 364 would allow possession of three mature plants, three immature plants, and 12 seedlings for each patient. The bill is critically important because many patients are unable to afford the products that are available at dispensaries, which are not covered by health insurance. For some patients, home cultivation is simply the best, most affordable option.

After you contact your senator in support of the home cultivation bill, please share this message with your family and friends.

If you live in Hawaii, contact your senator and ask them to vote YES on HB 1383, then ask your representative to get the bill to a conference committee to refine it.

Last week, the Senate Committee on Ways and Means voted to pass a bill that would decriminalize marijuana possession in the Aloha State — making possession of three grams or less punishable by a $30 fine. The bill will now head to the Senate floor.

An earlier version of the bill, HB 1383, was already approved by the full House. While the Senate amendment improved the bill by reducing the fine, HB 1383 still only decriminalizes possession of up to three grams, which would be the smallest amount of any decriminalization or legalization state. Typically, decriminalization laws apply to one ounce, which is around 28.5 grams.

However, if the bill passes the Senate and goes to conference committee, there will be an opportunity to increase the possession limit.

Click here to ask your senator to vote "yes" on the bill and to ask your representative to NOT agree to the Senate amendments. That way, the bill can be improved in a conference committee. If the Senate approves the bill and the House accepts the Senate amendments, it will be sent to the governor as is.

Hawaiians should not be jailed or branded with a life-altering criminal record for simple possession of marijuana. The current possession limit of three grams is too low, and lives will continue to be needlessly derailed as a result.

Hawaii is lagging behind the 24 states and D.C. that have decriminalized marijuana. Contact your senator and representative today, and forward this message to your friends and family in Hawaii. Together, we can bring sensible marijuana policy to Hawaii!