Just a few weeks ago, before life changed dramatically, the Compassion Act (SB 165) was primed for action in the House. The Senate had already passed the bill in a 22-11 vote, and the House appeared to be poised to take up the issue. Then, unfortunately, the legislature was forced to leave important work unfinished in light of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

This setback is a tremendous disappointment for patients, who have been working for many years to convince the legislature to pass medical cannabis legislation.

Let your legislators know you want them to make this issue a top priority when they’re back in session — whether it’s a special session or 2021. Alabama patients who could benefit from medical cannabis have needlessly suffered for far too long.

Stay tuned for updates and opportunities to move the issue forward, including information relating to Alabama’s 2020 elections.

We wish you and your loved ones well during these difficult times.

Just a few weeks ago, before life changed dramatically, Kentucky’s medical cannabis bill (HB 136) was primed for action in the Senate. The House had already passed the bill in a 65-30 vote, and senators appeared to be taking the issue seriously, but unfortunately, the legislature was forced to leave important work unfinished in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Jason Nemes (R-Louisville), expressed disappointment in the outcome but pledged to continue the fight in 2021. "We had the votes in the Senate, and I think it's going to pass, but it's something we're going to have to come back to next year," he said.

Stay tuned for updates and opportunities to move the issue forward, including information relating to Kentucky’s 2020 elections.

We wish you and your loved ones well during these difficult times.

Email the governor today and urge him to ensure patient access during COVID-19.

During times of the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing, Gov. David Ige has issued a stay-at-home order and temporary closure of non-essential businesses through April 30.

Hawaii’s medical cannabis businesses have been declared essential businesses under the governor’s order and remain open to patients across the state.

Still, there are further actions that can be taken to ensure patients can safely access their medicine in a way that is consistent with public health guidelines on preventing the spread of coronavirus:

• Allowing and encouraging cannabis delivery, including allowing for it to be contactless (This is particularly important for patients who are homebound, immunocompromised, or otherwise particularly at-risk.)
• Allowing and encouraging online ordering and curbside pickup from dispensaries

A number of states with medical cannabis programs have already implemented these measures in response to coronavirus.

Click here to email Gov. Ige to thank him for declaring medical cannabis businesses essential and urge him to allow home delivery and curbside pickup.

After you write the governor, you can go the extra mile by sharing this message with others, calling the governor at (808) 586-0034, and signing our petition for safe access in times of coronavirus here.

Thank you for your compassion. We wish you and your loved ones well.

In response to COVID-19, Gov. Carney has issued a state of emergency and temporary closure of non-essential businesses.

Fortunately, medical cannabis businesses remain open, and the program has implemented measures to ensure patients can safely access their medicine in a way that is consistent with public health guidelines on preventing the spread of coronavirus.

For the first time, patients have the option of home delivery!

Columbia Care, which has locations in Wilmington, Smyrna, and Rehoboth Beach, is the first company to launch a delivery service. Additional dispensaries may offer delivery, but have not yet.

Compassion centers are also currently providing online ordering and curbside pickup for patients. If you are able utilize these services safely, please continue to do so to ensure patients who need delivery the most have access as the program begins.

You can find a list of compassion centers in Delaware here.

Regulators intend to allow delivery to continue even after the COVID-19 crisis has abated, so stay tuned for updates.

We wish you and your loved ones well.

Urge Gov. Reynolds to allow home delivery of cannabidiol.

Gov. Kim Reynolds’ administration has taken some steps to preserve safe access to medical cannabidiol during this time of social distancing: Iowa’s medical cannabidiol program is allowing curbside pickup during the pandemic and is encouraging telemedicine consultations. However, we are disappointed the governor has not taken other steps, including allowing home delivery.

Please take a moment to urge the governor to allow home delivery during the crisis.

Meanwhile, the medical cannabidiol program is facing a structural problem. Iowa only allows cannabis extracts with no more than 3% THC content. This leaves behind patients whose conditions benefit from greater concentrations of THC, and it has created a program so restrictive that businesses are not economically viable. Two of the state’s five dispensaries recently shuttered their doors as a result.

Last year, Gov. Reynolds vetoed a bill to replace the 3% THC cap with a per-person limit of 25 grams every 90 days. Then, before the legislature convened this year, the Medical Cannabidiol Board recommended the legislature remove the THC potency cap and replace it with a purchasing limit of 4.5 grams of THC over 90 days.

Although bills were introduced to upgrade the limited medical marijuana program, to decriminalize marijuana, and to legalize and regulate cannabis for adults, none have passed. The legislature was scheduled to adjourn on April 21, but it has suspended its session due to COVID-19 until April 30.

While there does not appear to be any real prospect of marijuana policy reform legislation passing this year, you can still make a difference. Please write Gov. Reynolds in support of home delivery. You can go the extra mile by spreading the word to others, calling her office at (515) 281-5211, or making an appeal on Twitter.

We wish you and your loved ones well during these difficult times.

Urge the governor to allow home delivery of cannabis.

Gov. Tim Walz (D) has taken important steps to preserve safe access to medical cannabis during this time of social distancing. Medical cannabis businesses have been allowed to remain open during the stay-at-home order. By executive order, the governor is permitting curbside pickup and telemedicine, and he has pushed back expiration dates on patient certifications and is allowing temporary caregivers.

While we commend the governor for these important measures, we are disappointed he has not allowed home delivery during the crisis. Please take a moment to thank the governor for what he’s already done, while urging him to allow delivery.

In the face of the pandemic, we are advised to stay at home and — when it’s necessary to go out — to maintain at least six feet of distance from others. During these difficult times, the safest way to obtain medical cannabis is contactless delivery. Medical cannabis patients shouldn’t have to put themselves in danger to access the medicine they depend on.

After you write the governor, you can go the extra mile by spreading the word to others, calling his office at 651-201-3400, or making an appeal on Twitter.

Legalization Appears Stalled Due to the Virus

When this year’s legislative session convened in February, there were high hopes that the House of Representatives would approve legalization this year. House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler (D) was expected to introduce a comprehensive legalization proposal based on principles he outlined that reflected stakeholder input, including from his "Be Heard on Cannabis" tour over the fall and winter.

Since then, life changed dramatically. Efforts to prevent transmission of novel coronavirus stalled legislative action. The legislature convened briefly in late March for a coronavirus relief bill, but it has otherwise recessed until mid-April. It appears we’ll need to shift our focus to passing in 2021.

Unfortunately, leadership in the Senate is behind the times. Majority Leader Paul Gazelka (R-Nisswa) has said the Republican caucus is strongly opposed. However, the entire legislature will be on the ballot in November, so there’s an opportunity to elect more lawmakers that recognize the folly of prohibition.

Stay tuned for a voter guide and opportunities to get engaged.

Let your legislators know Connecticut cannot wait another year.

Just a few weeks ago, before life changed dramatically, S.B. 16 – An Act Concerning Adult Use of Cannabis – was primed for action.

In February, Senate President Pro Tem Martin Looney (D) and House Speaker Joe Aresimowicz (D) introduced the Governor’s Bill, which would allow adults 21 and older to possess and purchase up to one-and-a-half ounces of cannabis from licensed retailers. A summary of the bill can be found here.

On March 2, the Judiciary Committee held a public hearing on Gov. Ned Lamont’s bill to end prohibition and regulate marijuana for adult use in Connecticut. Prior to the hearing, the Connecticut Coalition to Regulate Marijuana joined together with other stakeholders to voice support for action on the bill and stayed to testify at the public hearing. MPP's testimony can be found here.

Later in March, legislative leaders ordered the Capitol and Legislative Office Building closed until April 13. Legislative leaders and committee chairs continue to prioritize and analyze bills in anticipation of session resuming. The deadline for moving the bill out of committee is March 30, but that is expected to be extended in light of the pause in the legislative session.

The Connecticut Coalition to Regulate Marijuana and MPP will continue to encourage the legislature to pass legalization and regulation this year. The coronavirus makes it all the more apparent that incarcerating individuals for cannabis is wrong. Meanwhile, shifting marijuana to the legal market can create jobs, generate tax revenue, and help the state’s economic recovery.

To help keep this issue on lawmakers’ radar, please consider signing up to make calls to legislators by contacting me directly. You can also send a message to your legislators here.

We wish you and your loved ones well during these difficult times.

Email the mayor today and urge her to further ensure patient access during COVID-19.

In response to COVID-19, Mayor Bowser has issued a stay-at-home order for D.C. residents and a temporary closure of non-essential businesses.

Fortunately, medical cannabis businesses have been deemed “essential” under the order and remain open to patients across the District.

Still, there are additional actions that could be taken to ensure patients can safely access their medicine in a way that is consistent with public health guidelines on preventing the spread of coronavirus:

• Allowing and encouraging cannabis delivery, including allowing for it to be contactless. (This is particularly important for patients who are immunocompromised, elderly, or otherwise particularly at-risk.)
• Allowing and encouraging online ordering and curbside pickup from dispensaries
• Extending the expiration date of medical cannabis cards until after the crisis has abated

A number of states with medical cannabis programs have already implemented these measures in response to coronavirus.

Click here to email Mayor Bowser to thank her for declaring medical cannabis businesses essential and to urge her to pursue further steps to safeguard access while promoting social distancing.

You can also sign our petition for safe access in times of coronavirus here.

Thank you for your compassion. We wish you and your loved ones well.

Contact Gov. Baker and tell him Massachusetts residents should have sensible and safe access to cannabis during the crisis.

Yesterday, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker refused to reverse his earlier decision to halt adult cannabis sales. Once again, he said it was because he worries allowing sales will attract visitors from other states.

But a more rational solution exists: limit adult-use cannabis sales to Massachusetts residents only during the ongoing health crisis. If you support this idea, please take a moment to send an email message to Gov. Baker right now, letting him know that Massachusetts cannabis consumers need and deserve safe access to regulated products.

More than 30 Massachusetts cannabis companies published an open letter to state officials this week, expressing support for temporarily restricting adult sales to state residents and committing to taking the same steps as other “essential” businesses to protect public health. When asked about adopting such an approach, Gov. Baker questioned the legality of treating residents and non-residents differently. But as the Boston Globe reported, cannabis policy experts have circulated a memo explaining why the state would be on strong legal ground.

In these challenging times, residents of the Commonwealth deserve safe access to regulated cannabis. Click here to send a message to Gov. Baker, letting him know you support limiting sales to state residents.

Just a few weeks ago, before life changed dramatically, the South Carolina Compassionate Care Act (H. 3660/S. 366) was primed for action.

In January and February, the House 3M subcommittee heard testimony on H. 3660. Another committee meeting on the bill was scheduled for March 25, and we were optimistic H. 3660 would advance. Meanwhile, the Senate Medical Affairs Committee scheduled a March 19 hearing on S. 366.

Unfortunately, both hearings were cancelled as the legislature began to furlough to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus. It remains to be seen if any legislation other than COVID-related issues will be taken up this year or if we’ll have to refocus efforts to 2021.

Stay tuned for updates and opportunities to move the issue forward, including a voter guide on state legislative candidates.

We wish you and your loved ones well during these difficult times.