Gov. Chris Sununu said “every idea should be put on the table” — submit written testimony urging the commission to recommend cannabis legalization as part of police reform!

Last week, a new state commission began meeting to consider issues related to criminal justice policy reform in New Hampshire. Created by executive order by Gov. Chris Sununu, the Commission on Law Enforcement Accountability, Community, and Transparency has been tasked with considering several issues including “the current state of relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve, and potential steps that can be taken to enhance these relationships.”

Clearly, legalization of cannabis is one reform that would dramatically improve police-community relations. We need to make sure the commission members hear this message loudly, clearly and convincingly from Granite Staters. Please click here to learn more about the commission and for information on how you can submit testimony as a member of the public.

Here, for reference, is a copy of the testimony I submitted to the commission on behalf of MPP.

Please pass this message along to anybody you know who might be interested in sharing their thoughts on cannabis policy and other criminal justice policy reform issues with the commission!

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On Monday, Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) signed HF 2589 into law, expanding the list of medical conditions that qualify for Iowa’s Medical Cannabidiol Program, revising the amount of THC that can be possessed, and making other changes — both good and bad — to the program.

The new law, which took effect today, makes the following changes:

• Revises the 3% THC cap to instead allow products with a total of 4.5 grams of THC every 90 days, with exceptions for cases where providers specify a specific, greater quantity is needed
• Adds post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to the list of qualifying conditions
• Allows any patient with “chronic pain” to qualify, thus greatly expanding the number of pain patients who qualify (Currently, only patients with “untreatable pain” qualify.”)
• Allows podiatrists, physicians' assistants, and advanced practice nurses to recommend cannabis, in addition to doctors
• Removes the Department of Transportation’s role in ID cards
• Allows property owners and employers to ban medical cannabis use and provides that workers' compensation and health care do not have to cover medical cannabis

For more details about the law, as amended, check out our summary. We are disappointed that Gov. Reynolds stood in the way of a higher cap on the 90-day supply. Last year, the legislature sent her a bill capping THC at 25 grams every 90 days. The 4.5 gram caps is insufficient for many patients, who will not be allowed access to a sufficient amount of their medicine unless their providers are willing to sign a waiver.

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Exciting news! Yesterday, Gov. Phil Murphy’s administration took another important step to preserve safe access to medical cannabis during COVID by issuing a waiver that would allow home delivery of medical cannabis to patients and designated caregivers. The waiver implements one of the key provisions contained in Jake Honig’s Law that was signed into law in 2019.

At the onset of the COVID public health emergency, Gov. Murphy’s administration issued waivers providing for curbside pick-up, remote consultations, and expedited employee on-boarding.

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Ask your lawmakers to decriminalize or legalize cannabis before they adjourn!

On June 15, the Georgia Senate Democratic Caucus proposed the Georgia Justice Act — a broad measure that includes more than a dozen provisions to address police brutality and racism. One of those provisions is reducing the penalty for simple possession of marijuana to a fine with no jail time.

The legislature is expected to adjourn tomorrow, so the clock is ticking.

Contact your lawmakers NOW to let them know it’s past time Georgia stop arresting cannabis consumers.

Georgia’s cannabis policy is grossly out of step with public opinion: Two-thirds of Georgians believe cannabis possession should be legal. Yet, more than 40,000 Georgians are arrested every year for marijuana possession. And a recent report by the ACLU shows staggering inequality in the enforcement of marijuana laws. Although Blacks and whites use marijuana at nearly identical rates, Black Georgians are three times more likely than whites to be arrested for marijuana possession.

Ask your lawmakers to put an end to Georgia’s unjust, unequal criminalization of marijuana consumers. Then, spread the word so that others can raise their voices, too.

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Last Friday, New Approach Montana, a Helena-based marijuana reform campaign, submitted over 130,000 signatures from counties across the state in order to qualify two complementary marijuana legalization initiatives for the November 2020 ballot. Despite the severe impact of COVID-19, the campaign was able to reach its goals in time for the signature submission deadline.

The campaign submitted over 52,000 signatures in support of I-190, a statutory initiative that would legalize, regulate, and tax marijuana in Montana, and over 80,000 signatures in support of CI-118, a constitutional initiative that would set the legal minimum age for purchasing, consuming, or possessing marijuana at 21. Those numbers far exceed the minimum requirements of 25,468 and 50,936, respectively.

The Governor’s Budget Office estimates that marijuana tax revenue will reach $48 million per year by 2025 under New Approach Montana’s plan to legalize and tax adult use marijuana at 20%.

Stay tuned for further developments, and visit the campaign's website for more information. 

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Tell Senate leaders this decision is unacceptable, and express your disappointment to your state senator!

Sadly, it has become apparent that N.H. Senate leaders intend to use COVID-19 as an excuse to avoid voting on the legalization bill. HB 1648 passed the House earlier this year in an overwhelming 236-112 vote, but last week the Senate tabled it without giving it a public hearing or a vote.

This is outrageous. However, it's possible that the Senate could change course and bring the bill to a vote if enough people express their anger and disappointment. Now is the time to call or email these Senate leaders and urge them to change their minds:

Senate President Donna Soucy (D-Manchester)
Office Phone: 603-271-2111
Email: Donna.Soucy@leg.state.nh.us

Senate Majority Leader Dan Feltes (D-Concord)
Office Phone: 603-271-3042
Email: Dan.Feltes@leg.state.nh.us

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Morse (R-Salem)
Office Phone: 603-271-3207
Email: chuck.morse@leg.state.nh.us

These senators’ office phones will be answered by staff members who likely agree with our position (or the calls will go to voice mail), so please be respectful and polite when you call!

After you call or email the leaders of the N.H. Senate, please email your own state senator and express your frustration with this decision!

Although it appears unlikely that the Senate will change course and pass HB 1648, we can take some solace in the fact that this is an election year. Gov. Sununu and all 24 senators will face re-election in November, so we have a great opportunity in November to replace elected officials who refuse to support ending cannabis prohibition.

After you contact Senate leaders and email your senator, please share this message with your family and friends.

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Find out if there’s a runoff in your district, and check out our medical cannabis voter guide.

In South Carolina’s June 9 primary, no candidate topped 50% of the vote in three state Senate and eight state House districts. Those races head to a runoff tomorrow — Tuesday, June 23. If you live in one of the districts headed to a runoff, check out our voter guide and make a plan to vote.

The districts with runoffs are:

S.C. Senate districts: 16 (Republican), 33 (Republican), and 39 (Democrat)

S.C. House districts: 3 (Republican), 5 (Republican), 35 (Republican), 64 (Democrat), 88 (Republican), 99 (Republican), 109 (Democrat), and 115 (Democrat)

If you don’t know your districts, you can find them at SCVotes.org. SCVotes.org also provides information on your polling place and a sample ballot that lists every primary runoff you can vote on — this may include other offices, such as sheriff or county council. (The full list of runoffs, organized by county, is here.)

If you voted on June 9, you can only vote in the runoff of the party you selected for that primary. If you did not vote on June 9, you can vote in either party’s runoff. Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.

If you live in a district with a S.C. House or S.C. Senate runoff, check out our voter guide here to learn about the candidates’ stances on medical cannabis.

Please spread the word. These elections could be extremely close — two primary races were so close they resulted in recounts.

Thanks for your compassion!

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Urge your state senator to call for a hearing and vote on S. 2535.

On Thursday, the New Jersey Assembly voted in favor (63-10, with five abstentions) of a decriminalization bill (A.1897) that would decriminalize possession, manufacture, and distribution of up to two ounces of cannabis, reducing the penalty to a $50 civil fine. The bill would also create a virtual expungement process and prohibit discrimination in lending, housing, and public accommodations for prior offenses. You can check out a full summary of the bill here.

Unfortunately, the bill that was advanced has significant loopholes that would allow for continued criminalization of marijuana users. New Jerseyans could still be arrested and incarcerated for possession of cannabis-related paraphernalia (including the container cannabis is in), being under the influence of cannabis, or failing to hand over cannabis to law enforcement.

A more comprehensive decriminalization bill (S. 2535) has also been filed in the Senate. The Senate bill would decriminalize up to one pound of cannabis, includes provisions to eliminate law enforcement’s ability to detain or arrest someone based on the smell or odor of cannabis, and prevents discrimination for past convictions in housing and public accommodations. You can read a full summary of the Senate bill here.

As the Senate bill awaits a hearing, you can amplify the need for decriminalization NOW. Ask your state senators to call for a hearing and vote on S. 2535 NOW!

Currently, simple possession of cannabis is punishable by up to six months in jail. According to an ACLU-NJ report, the number of cannabis arrests have risen over the last decade, with the latest data finding that 94 individuals are arrested every day for cannabis in New Jersey.

We know that decriminalization is a vital interim step to prevent thousands of arrests between now and when the November legalization ballot measure would take effect. You can help us advocate for a strong decriminalization bill by contacting your senator and urging them hold an immediate hearing on S. 2535. Then, please spread the word to your friends and family in New Jersey so that they, too, can raise their voices for justice.

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Urge your state lawmakers to support reduced penalties for cannabis.

Good news! On Monday, the Assembly Community and Development Affairs Committee advanced a decriminalization bill in a 4-0 vote, with two abstentions. You can check out a summary of the substituted bill that advanced here.

While the bill is a step in the right direction, it has some critical shortcomings that need to be fixed. It does not decriminalize or legalize possession of marijuana-related paraphernalia, being under the influence of cannabis, or failing to hand over cannabis to law enforcement. Individuals could still be arrested and incarcerated for any of those offenses! The bill is scheduled for a critical floor vote tomorrow, Thursday, June 18.

There’s no time to waste: Ask your assembly members to work to amend, and then advance, the bill NOW.

Just last week in the state Senate, Sen. Teresa Ruiz, along with cosponsor Sen. Ronald Rice, filed S.2535 — a sweeping proposal that would decriminalize up to one pound of marijuana. S.2535 includes provisions to eliminate law enforcement’s ability to detain or arrest someone based on the smell or odor of marijuana and prevents discrimination for past convictions in housing and public accommodations. You can read full summary of the Senate bill here. Give your state senator a call to urge them to support S.2535 and to urge leadership to bring it to a vote.

It’s our hope that the Assembly bill will be amended to include necessary provisions from S.2535 before a full vote. Although the Capitol remains closed to the public, you can still make your voice heard by contacting your legislators and urging them amend A.1897.

MPP strongly believes marijuana should be legal, not just decriminalized, for all adults. But decriminalization is a vital interim step: It would prevent thousands of traumatic arrests between now and when the November legalization ballot measure would take effect.

After you raise your voice, please spread the word to other New Jerseyans.

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There is no excuse for maintaining cannabis prohibition — Urge your state senator to support HB 1648!

In February, the New Hampshire House of Representatives overwhelmingly voted in favor of HB 1648, the bipartisan bill that would legalize possession and limited cultivation of cannabis for adults 21 and older in New Hampshire. The bill passed with a veto-proof 236-112 majority and advanced to the Senate, which has rejected previous cannabis legalization bills. Beginning in March, the legislature paused for a few months because of COVID-19, but the Senate has now resumed its work, so it is once again time to contact senators and urge them to support HB 1648!

Please email your senator and tell them New Hampshire should not be an island of prohibition!

Unfortunately, Gov. Chris Sununu has indicated that he does not support legalization. However, even if he doesn’t evolve on the issue this year, it will be possible to override a potential veto if 16 of the state’s 24 senators can be convinced to support HB 1648. Gov. Sununu and all 24 senators will face re-election in November, so we have a great opportunity this summer to persuade these elected officials that they need to evolve on cannabis policy if they want to hold on to their seats.

A summary of HB 1648 is available here.

After you email your senator, please share this message with your family and friends.

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