Lt. governor's marijuana legalization listening tour will visit Lewiston, Bedford, Kittaning, Sharon, Monaca, and New Castle between tonight and April 3.

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

Here are upcoming stops:

Lewistown (Mifflin County)
TONIGHT, Tuesday, March 26, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Mifflin County Historic Courthouse
1 W. Market Street

Bedford (Bedford County)
Wednesday, March 27, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
American Legion Hall
3721 US-220 BUS

Kittaning (Armstrong County)
Thursday, March 28, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Belmont Complex, Banquet Room
415 Butler Road

Sharon (Mercer County)
Saturday, March 30, 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 pm.
Penn State Shenango
Sharon Hall Auditorium
147 Shenango Avenue

Monaca (Beaver County)
Sunday, March 31, 2:00 to 3:30 p.m.
Penn State Beaver, Auditorium
100 University Drive

New Castle (Lawrence County)
Wednesday, April 3, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
George Washington Intermediate School, Auditorium
101 E. Euclid Avenue

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.

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If you live in Georgia, click here to call the lieutenant governor right now and tell him Georgia's patients deserve better!

Over the past several days, MPP has learned of an absurd proposal that would require Georgia to import low-THC oil from other states rather than allowing in-state production. This is a seriously flawed solution. Not only would federal law enforcement authorities refuse to authorize such a scheme, no other states allow out-of-state exports. Georgia patients will again be left on their own.

Patients lives are in the balance. Call Lt. Gov. Duncan right now and tell him Georgia should not waste time with unworkable proposals for patients.

It is likely this idea will be considered in committee tomorrow, so it is critical the lieutenant governor hear from you before 1:00 p.m. tomorrow. If you plan to call and you haven't already, don't delay!

Since passage of its low-THC oil program in 2015, patients have technically had permission to possess oil, but it has been illegal for them to obtain it from any source. The state is looking for a solution, and lawmakers are considering measure HB 324, which would create a program similar to 33 other states across the U.S. See our summary here. Ideas like interstate trafficking only serve to undermine realistic proposals like HB 324.

If you haven't called the lt. governor already, please do so now. Follow this link and call today to tell him you won't allow it.

Then, pass this email to friends, family, and other medical cannabis supporters in Georgia.

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If you live in Connecticut, please contact your state legislators today and urge them to support legalizing, regulating, and taxing cannabis.

After holding a public hearing on Friday, the General Law Committee voted today to pass HB 7371, the bill that would legalize and regulate adult-use cannabis in Connecticut. Although the bill still needs some work, this is an important step forward for our efforts.

Contact your state legislators today and urge them to support the bills to legalize, regulate, and tax cannabis!

MPP testified in support of this bill at the public hearing on Friday and suggested several improvements, including adjustments to improve social equity provisions and the addition of home cultivation and micro-businesses. You can read a summary here. Although the bill has received approval from this committee, legislative leaders have made it clear that the legislature will continue to work on the policy details in the coming weeks and months.

Another bill to legalize possession of cannabis, which also received a public hearing on Friday in the Judiciary Committee, has not yet received a vote. You can read a summary of cannabis bills referred to the Judiciary Committee here. (The bill that would tax cannabis has not yet been introduced.)

After you email your state legislators in support of these bills, please share this message with your family and friends and encourage them to join the Connecticut Coalition to Regulate Marijuana!

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Patients who feel strongly about home cultivation are encouraged to testify at the hearing, which is scheduled to begin at 2:15 p.m.

Since 2009, the New Hampshire House has passed numerous bills that would allow patients and caregivers to cultivate a limited supply of cannabis. These bills have all failed to pass the Senate, but there are good reasons to believe this year might be different. Tomorrow afternoon, the Senate Health and Human Services Committee will hold a public hearing on the bill.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Public hearing on HB 364, a bill that would allow patients and caregivers to grow a limited supply of cannabis (three mature plants, three immature plants, and 12 seedlings per patient)

WHERE: Room 101, Legislative Office Building, 33 North State Street, Concord

WHEN: Scheduled for 2:15 p.m. on Tuesday, March 26 (but may begin a bit later, since other bills are also on the agenda)

This is an important opportunity for patients to testify in support of improving the medical cannabis law. If you've never testified before, or if you have any questions, please contact me at msimon@mpp.org.

Additionally, our allies at Americans for Prosperity will be hosting another phone banking and letter writing session in support of HB 481, the adult-use legalization bill, tomorrow, Tuesday, March 26 from 5 to 8 p.m. at their offices in Manchester (340 Granite Street, First Floor) and Portsmouth (767 Islington Street, Second Floor). All legalization supporters are welcome. Dinner will be provided for volunteers. For more details, and to RSVP on Facebook, click here.

Please share this message with your family and friends!

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If you live in Rhode Island, take action and contact your state legislators.

Legislative discussions on Gov. Raimondo's proposal to legalize, regulate, and tax marijuana for adult use were front and center last week at the State House. On Tuesday, the Senate Finance and Judiciary Committees held a joint hearing on Article 20 of the governor's budget bill, which includes provisions to establish a regulatory system for adult-use marijuana sales. The House Finance Committee held its own hearing on the same legislation on Wednesday.

Email your state legislators and urge them to make marijuana legalization a top priority this year.

The original language of the proposal has been amended. To read an updated summary of Article 20, click here. Leaders of Regulate Rhode Island and the Marijuana Policy Project testified in support of the governor's plan, while highlighting serious concerns about some of its provisions. Overall, our priorities in advocating for amendments are:

• Ensuring the medical and adult-use markets are open, fair, and competitive;
• Protecting safe and affordable access for medical marijuana patients;
• Allowing adults to cultivate a limited number of marijuana plants in their homes; and
• Adding provisions to promote social equity, encourage diversity in the marketplace, and address the historical injustices of marijuana prohibition.

Our aim is to see Rhode Island pass the best legalization law possible this year. To do that, we're going to need your help, so please take action and send a message to your state legislators.

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If you live in New Jersey, click here to reach out to your senator right now.

As you may have heard, the marijuana legalization bill passed out of committee and now heads to a floor vote, which is expected this Monday.

Time is short, so please call your senator now.

We are hearing that the vote will be very close, and there is no guarantee that it will pass. By reaching out to your senator, you are helping pass marijuana legalization, and we can't do it without you.

Click here to call your lawmaker today.

Please help end marijuana prohibition and connect with your lawmaker today. Then, forward this email to your friends and family so they can take action, too. Together, we can make marijuana legal in New Jersey.

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Phone banking and letter writing campaigns in support of HB 481 will commence tomorrow evening at the Americans for Prosperity offices in Manchester and Portsmouth.

The New Hampshire House has already voted 209-147 to pass HB 481, the bill that would legalize, regulate, and tax cannabis for adults' use, but we need to continue building support and gaining votes in order to override an expected veto by Gov. Chris Sununu. The bill is currently being considered by the House Ways and Means Committee, and a second vote by the full House will happen before April 4. If it passes the House a second time, it will proceed to the Senate.

Americans for Prosperity has emerged this year as a strong supporter of HB 481. Tomorrow evening, they will be hosting phone banking and letter writing sessions at their offices in Manchester and Portsmouth. All supporters of HB 481 are welcome. Dinner will be provided for volunteers. For more details, and to RSVP on Facebook, click here.

WHAT: Phone banking and letter writing in support of HB 481

WHEN: Thursday, March 22, 5 to 8 p.m.

WHERE: Offices of Americans for Prosperity in Manchester (340 Granite St. First Floor) and Portsmouth (767 Islington St. Second Floor)

If you haven't already done so, please take a few moments to find how your state representative(s) voted and send them a message to follow up. It's important that we thank representatives who voted in favor, and for those who did not, this is a critical opportunity to ask them why they voted no.

Please share this message with your family and friends!

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If you live in Connecticut, please contact your state legislators today and urge them to support legalizing, regulating, and taxing cannabis — public hearings will begin this Friday, March 22

Last week, after several weeks of working behind the scenes, legislative leaders announced their plan to pass bills that will legalize, regulate, and tax cannabis in Connecticut. They also announced that committee hearings are scheduled to begin this Friday, March 22.

Contact your state legislators today and urge them to support the legalization bills!

Rep. Michael D'Agostino, co-chair of the General Law Committee, stressed that the introduction of draft legislation is only a first step, and that policy details would continue to be discussed and debated as bills are considered by committees. "This is the start of the process," he said. For example, he noted that home cultivation is not currently included in the bill, but the legislature may decide to include it as the process moves forward. More details are explained in this article.

You can also check out our summaries of the bills referred to the Judiciary Committee, along with the General Law bill. (The taxation piece, which will be in Finance, has not been introduced yet.)

If you're interested in testifying at a public hearing in the legislature, please contact me at msimon@mpp.org, and I will share more details.

After you email your state legislators, please share this message with your family and friends and encourage them to join the Connecticut Coalition to Regulate Marijuana!

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If you live in New Mexico, contact the governor today in support of decriminalization!

Over the weekend, in the waning hours of the legislative session, the New Mexico House of Representatives passed SB 323, a bill that decriminalizes marijuana possession. The bill now heads to the desk of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D). Gov. Grisham is expected to sign the bill.

Contact Gov. Grisham now and ask that she sign the decriminalization bill.

SB 323 would remove the criminal penalties for possessing up to a half ounce of marijuana and instead institute a $50 fine. Currently, the penalty for possession of up to one ounce of marijuana, if it's your first offense, is up to 15 days in jail and a maximum fine of $150. If it's your second offense with less than an ounce of marijuana, you could face up to a year in jail and a maximum fine of $1,000.

Unfortunately, bills to legalize, regulate, and tax marijuana did not make it out of committee in the Senate, after passing the House. Nonetheless, removing criminal penalties for marijuana possession is a great step towards more sane and compassionate marijuana policy. So, please contact the governor today and ask her to sign SB 323. Then, forward this email to friends and family and ask that they reach out to the governor, too. Together, we can bring more sensible marijuana laws to New Mexico.

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If you live in New Jersey, click here to email your lawmakers today.

As you may have heard, Gov. Phil Murphy and Senate President Stephen Sweeney announced they have finally come to an agreement regarding the details of marijuana legalization in New Jersey. If leaders in the legislature believe they have the votes to pass the bill, they plan to hold a vote on March 25.

Click here to email your lawmakers in support of making marijuana legal.

The votes aren't there yet for the bill to pass. It's time to change that: Lawmakers need to hear from constituents who support replacing marijuana prohibition with sensible regulation.

The legalization bill would:

• Allow adults 21 years of age and older to possess up to one ounce of marijuana;
• Set up a process for expungement for individuals convicted of low-level marijuana offenses;
• Establish a $42 tax per ounce on sales from cultivators; and
• Incentivize towns to allow marijuana businesses through local taxes.

The bill now heads to the Assembly Appropriations and Senate Judiciary Committees this Monday, March 18, where they will also hear bills on medical marijuana expansion.

Please email your elected officials to let them know you support ending marijuana prohibition. Then, forward this email to your friends and family. Together we can bring sensible marijuana laws to New Jersey.

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