This is Tahir's story — Tell us yours

I’m Tahir Johnson, MPP’s director of social equity and inclusion. I’m also one of the 15 million Americans who have been arrested for cannabis possession over the past 25 years. Twice.

Just as cannabis prohibition was borne of racism, the enforcement of cannabis laws is also inherently racist. Both of my arrests represent cases in racial profiling — both times I was pulled over for non-reasons, guilty of being young, Black, and driving a nice car.

My first arrest happened in Maryland in the early 2000s, long before cannabis was decriminalized in the state. The officer who pulled me over approached my car with his gun drawn (for his safety) and said, “you look like a drug dealer.” I did have a nickel bag on me, which I admitted in the wake of threats to destroy my treasured Lexus searching for it. I was locked up and charged with possession, but thanks to my family collecting money to hire a lawyer, I was able to complete diversion and probation and have my record expunged.

My second arrest occurred several years later in D.C., again before cannabis was decriminalized there. Since I worked in the insurance industry at the time, I was driving a Benz, which the arresting officer repeatedly commented on. He searched me, found a bag in my pocket, and I was arrested and spent a scary night in jail thinking about how this arrest would impact my future. I wasn’t able to hire an attorney for this charge, but the prosecutor ended up being a fellow Howard University alum who didn’t want to destroy another young Black man’s future over something so trivial, so he dropped the charge. (Even though the charge was dropped, the arrest record would still haunt me for a while given the intense background checks in the finance industry, until the record was eventually sealed in the wake of the District’s decriminalization ordinance.)

It’s unjust and inhumane that millions of otherwise law-abiding Americans are stopped, searched, arrested, and branded criminals simply for possessing a plant that is safer than alcohol. In the end, I was blessed. In the first case, my middle-class family was able to afford a lawyer for my defense, and in the second, I was lucky to encounter a prosecutor who understood the folly — and racist nature — of our nation’s cannabis laws. If I hadn’t been so lucky, I know my life trajectory could have been very different. And I also realize that many others haven’t been so fortunate.

This is where you come in. The millions of cannabis arrests in the U.S. over the last 25 years have caused humiliation, trauma, lost jobs, evictions, deportations, derailed dreams — and even death. But far too few of the stories have been told. 

If you’re one of the millions of people who have suffered the injustice of having your freedom put in jeopardy for a plant that is safer than alcohol, we want to hear from you. We also want to hear from law enforcement, criminal defense attorneys, prosecutors, and other witnesses to cannabis prohibition who think it’s past time governments stop locking up cannabis users.

My past arrests have fueled my passion for cannabis advocacy. Despite all the progress we’ve made, there are still 19 states where a joint can land you in jail and haunt you with a criminal record. Please consider sharing your experience with us so we can tell the stories of why this war on people who use cannabis must end. And please share this with anyone you know who has endured the devastating effects of the war on cannabis.

Thanks, 

Tahir

Ask your lawmakers to support HB 305!

The House Health and Human Development Committee has scheduled a hearing for HB 305, legislation that would make cannabis legal for adults 21 and older and replace prohibition with a system of regulation that focuses on public health and equity. The virtual hearing will take place on Wednesday, January 26 at 11 a.m.

Please write your lawmakers today and ask them to support HB 305!

You can voice your support at the hearing by providing written and/or oral testimony. We particularly encourage testimony from supportive law enforcement, clergy, substance abuse and medical professionals, educators, and those who have been harmed by cannabis prohibition.

For more information on HB 305, you can check out our summary here. You can find some arguments in support of legalizing and regulating cannabis here.

Written testimony can be submitted by emailing it to HouseCommitteeComment@delaware.gov. Please specify the House Committee (Health and Human Development), the date of the committee meeting (January 26, 2022), and the bill number for which you are submitting public comment (HB 305). Submissions will be accepted in advance of the committee meeting and up to 24 hours after the hearing has concluded.

Oral testimony will be limited to two minutes. You can register to submit oral testimony here. Check out the guidelines under “Minutes and Supporting Documents” for more details on providing testimony.

Help us send a strong message to the General Assembly to end cannabis prohibition in the First State this year! Please show your support at the upcoming bill hearing, contact your lawmakers, and forward this message to your friends and family in Delaware.

Tell your state legislators it’s time to support legalization!

Tomorrow, the Hawai’i Legislature kicks off its 2022 session. You might recall that last year saw several legalization bills proposed in both chambers — with one passing the full Senate. All of those bills are still alive.

Ask your state legislators to make 2022 the year Hawai’i legalizes cannabis.

In the Senate, three legalization measures were proposed last year — SB 767 sponsored by Sen. Lee (D); SB 704 sponsored by Sen. English (D); and SB 1376 sponsored by Sen. Buenaventura (D).  SB 1376 and SB 704 never received a hearing or a full vote from the Senate. However, SB 767 passed the Senate on 20-5 vote, but the measure wouldn’t have become effective until 2137. Last year, SB 767 stalled in the House where it failed to gain enough traction with House leadership to be called for hearing. Each of these measures has carried over to 2022.

Meanwhile, the House also saw three legalization bills introduced last year: HB 1202 sponsored by Rep. Wilderberger (D); HB 238 sponsored by Rep. Kobayashi (D); and HB 7 sponsored by Rep. Kapela (D). None of these bills received a public hearing or a vote. These three bills are also still alive.

Although Gov. David Ige (D) remains opposed to legalization, 73% of Hawaiian residents support legalization according to a recent Civiqs research poll. Now that 18 states have passed laws to legalize and regulate cannabis for individuals over 21, including every state along the western seaboard — along with the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and Nevada — it’s time that Hawai'i follows suit.

Tell your legislators it’s time to support legalization!

It’s critically important to reach out to your lawmakers to let them know you want them to legalize cannabis for adult use this session! After you do, be sure to tell your friends and ohana to do the same. In the interim, we’ll be sure to keep you updated on all the latest developments this legislative session.

Tell your state legislators it’s past time they decriminalize cannabis.

Today, the Wisconsin Legislature reconvenes for the year. Because Wisconsin lacks a citizen initiative process, the legislature alone is responsible for crafting laws in the Badger State. Outrageously, Wisconsin’s cannabis laws are among the most out-of-step with voters of any state in the country.

While neighboring Michigan and Illinois have legalized cannabis for adults’ use, and Minnesota has a medical cannabis program, Wisconsin remains stubbornly behind the times. It is one of only 19 states that still imposes jail for simple possession of cannabis and one of only 14 that lacks a compassionate medical cannabis law.

Ask your state legislators to change that by supporting medical cannabis and decriminalization.

Although polling shows 66% of Wisconsin voters support full adult-use legalization, Wisconsin’s legislative leaders claimed in recent years they didn’t have the votes for even medical cannabis in their caucuses. Last April, Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu (R) said, "We don’t have 17 votes in the [Republican] caucus for medicinal purposes or recreational purposes."

In 2019, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R) said of his Assembly Republican caucus, "it’s clear that our caucus hasn’t reached a consensus." Neither chamber has moved a bill out of committee to give it a chance on the floor.

It’s crucial that lawmakers hear from their constituents that this is unacceptable. Some of the most conservative states in the county have passed medical cannabis. Suffering Wisconsinites deserve the same medical freedom.

Ask your state legislators to support medical cannabis and decriminalization, and then spread the word so that others can raise their voices for fair and compassionate cannabis policies.

Tell your state legislators it’s time to decriminalize cannabis.

Today, the Utah Legislature came back to work for its 2022 legislative session. And so far, there’s no sign that major cannabis policy reform is on the agenda.

We are encouraged lawmakers are proposing clearer employment protections for medical cannabis patients who are state employees. But so far no lawmaker has indicated they plan to stop the draconian practice of arresting and jailing Utahans for possessing a modest amount of cannabis.

Ask your state legislators to champion decriminalization. Let them know limited law enforcement resources shouldn’t be wasted on cannabis, and that the state shouldn’t be locking its residents in a jail cell for using a plant that is safer than alcohol.

Utah is one of only 19 states that still imposes possible jail time for simple possession of cannabis. The maximum penalty for possessing less than an ounce is up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. Even for those who don’t end up in jail, the scarlet letter of a criminal conviction slams closed the door to opportunity — making it far more difficult to get a good job, housing, and an education, and resulting in hundreds of collateral consequences. Meanwhile, polling shows Utah voters want far more substantial reform: 64% of Utah voters support full adult-use legalization.

Ask your state legislators to support decriminalization, and then spread the word so that others can raise their voices for sensible and humane cannabis policies.

Five bills to be heard Thursday, one on Friday

The New Hampshire House of Representatives kicked off the new year by narrowly voting down a 2021 bill to legalize cannabis and create a regulated market (HB 237)  and then overwhelmingly approving a different bill (HB 629) legalizing home possession and cultivation. HB 629 now heads to the far more challenging Senate.

Next week, the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee will be holding hearings on six different bills to improve cannabis policies, including proposals to kick legalization to voters.

Last year, the committee, chaired by Daryl Abbas, recommended killing legalization bills, but now Abbas has proposed his own vision of legalization, HB 1598. However, his model is unfeasible due to federal law. It would only allow cannabis to be sold through state-run stores. Until federal law changes, that’s a non-starter: states cannot require staff to commit federal felonies by selling cannabis. Doing so would be preempted.

The House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee will also consider three resolutions (CACRs) to refer cannabis legalization to voters, via a constitutional amendment. They each require 60% in both the House and Senate, and then two-thirds of the popular vote.

Both the legalization bills and the three CACRs will receive hearings on Thursday, January 20 in person at the State House, Reps Hall (107 North Main Street, Concord) — with the first hearing scheduled at 9:30 a.m. on Abbas’ state-run monopoly and the last one scheduled to start at 2:30 p.m.

The House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee will also hold a hearing on Friday, January 21 at 1:45 p.m. at Legislative Office Building (33 N State Street, Concord), Rooms 202-204 on prohibiting law enforcement from using the scent of cannabis as probable cause for a search. Cannabis has already been decriminalized in New Hampshire. Law enforcement shouldn’t be able to invade personal privacy — and initiate a risky and insulting stop — over the supposed scent of a plant that has been decriminalized.

If you’re not comfortable attending in person but want to make your voice heard on any or all of these bills, you can email comments to HouseCriminalJusticeandPublicSafety@leg.state.nh.us.

For the full list of bills, a short summary, and the times of each hearing, check out this summary from the New Hampshire Coalition for Common Sense Marijuana Policy.

Ask your legislators to support medical cannabis.

While cannabis policy reform is sweeping the nation, Tennessee remains one of only 14 states with no effective medical cannabis law.

But with your help, this can be the year Tennessee finally enacts a compassionate medical cannabis law! The legislature has convened for its 2022 legislative session. Last year, the legislature passed a bill that expanded the state’s ineffective CBD law by allowing additional medical conditions to qualify and increasing the allowable threshold in CBD oil to 0.9%.

Please ask your legislators to support a compassionate, comprehensive medical cannabis program in Tennessee!

Polling has shown that the overwhelming majority of Tennessee voters support legalizing cannabis for medicinal purposes. Still, the legislature must act in order to bring this long overdue policy change to the Volunteer State.

After you reach out to your lawmakers, be sure to share this message with your friends and family in Tennessee and encourage them to do the same!

Tell your legislators it’s time to support legalization!

Earlier this week, the 2022 session for Florida’s legislature kicked off. Although this year is a short session that ends in just three months, lawmakers have already filed several cannabis-related proposals, and many remain pending from the 2021 session.

Decriminalization

While Florida voters enacted a medical cannabis program in 2014, Florida remains one of only 19 states that imposes jail time for simple possession.

Action: Let’s make this the year Florida enacts sensible cannabis reform!

In October 2021, Minority Leader Sen. Bobby Powell (D) sponsored S 470, which would reduce the penalty for possession of up to 20 grams of cannabis to a $100 fine plus court costs. The following month, Rep. Dotie Joseph (D) filed H 725, which reduces the penalty for possession of up to one ounce of cannabis to a $50 fine. And in December 2021, Rep. Mike Caruso (R) filed H 957, which decriminalizes possession up to 20 grams. Each of these bills has been refiled for the 2022 legislative session.

Legalization

Earlier this week, Sen. Gary Farmer (D) filed three measures that collectively propose a legal adult-use cannabis market in the Sunshine State. S 1658 would impose a 15% sales tax on cannabis sold at retail stores and tax sales of food or beverages containing cannabis sold by a cannabis consumption site at a rate of 19 cents per milligram of THC. The bill also provides that counties and municipalities can establish additional sales taxes of up to 3.75% of the sales price of cannabis sold at retail stores. Counties and municipalities would be allowed to impose an additional tax of up to four cents per milligram of THC on sales of food or beverages containing cannabis sold by consumption sites.

Action: Tell your legislator it’s time to support legalization!

On the other side of the aisle, S 776 was sponsored by Sen. Jeff Brandes (R) in the 2021 session. The proposal would legalize possession of up to four ounces and has also been reintroduced for the 2022 session.

Separately, there are three additional­­­ legalization measures that remain pending in the House that were introduced during the 2021 session.

Be sure to reach out to your lawmakers to let them know you want them to legalize cannabis for adult use this session! After you reach out, please urge your friends and family in Florida to do the same.

Tell your legislators it’s time to support legalization!

Last week, the 2022 session for Pennsylvania’s legislature began. Last year saw several legalization and decriminalization proposals, but none received a hearing or were called for a vote. Luckily, many of the 2021 proposals have carried over to 2022, which presents another opportunity to enact sensible, humane cannabis policy before the session adjourns in November.  

Decriminalization

Despite Pennsylvania authorizing medical cannabis in 2016, it remains one of 19 states that continues to punish cannabis possession with jail time in most parts of the state. Let’s urge the legislature to end this injustice in 2022.

SB 107, sponsored by Sen. Sharif Street (D), would reclassify possession of a small amount of cannabis from a misdemeanor to a summary offense carrying a $25 fine. Public use would be a $100 fine. HB 204, sponsored by Rep. Edward Gainey (D), would reduce the penalty for possession of a small amount of cannabis to a fine of up to $100. Neither bill received a hearing in 2021, but both bills have been carried over to 2022.

Legalization

Last year, several legalization bills were proposed, although none received a hearing. In the House, Rep. Jake Wheatley (D) sponsored HB 2050, which is the third version of Rep. Wheatley’s legalization proposal. Also in the House, Rep. David Delloso (D) sponsored HB 1180, which would legalize and regulate cannabis for adults. However, HB 1180 seeks to establish state-controlled cannabis stores similar to those for alcohol, which would be in direct contradiction to federal law prohibiting state employees from working directly with cannabis. Both bills carried over into the 2022 session.

Meanwhile in the Senate, Sen. Daniel Laughlin (R) sponsored SB 473, which would also set up a legalization framework for the Keystone State. SB 473 also carried over to 2022.

Action: Tell your legislators it’s time to support legalization!

Be sure to reach out to your lawmakers to let them know you want them to end arrests for cannabis possession and to legalize cannabis for adult use this session! After you reach out, please urge your friends and family in Pennsylvania to do the same.

Ask your legislators to stop jailing cannabis consumers.

While cannabis policy reform is sweeping the country, Alabama remains one of only 19 states that still imposes jail time for simple possession of cannabis. The legislature has convened for its 2022 legislative session, and now is the perfect time to let your elected officials know you want them to catch up with the times.

Ask your state legislators to support decriminalizing cannabis in Alabama!

Polling has shown that 63% of Alabama voters support legalizing cannabis for adult use. Surely the margin is even stronger for decriminalization. Still, the legislature must act in order to bring this long overdue policy change.

Thousands of people are arrested each year for cannabis possession in Alabama. Black Alabamians are 4.1 times more likely to be arrested than their white counterparts. In Dekalb County, Black individuals are 45 times more likely to be arrested, the second highest disparity in the nation. The legislature must act in order to bring this long overdue policy change to the Yellowhammer State.

Ask your state legislators to support reducing the penalty for cannabis possession from possible jail time to a civil fine.

Stay tuned for updates — including any efforts to implement and expand the medical cannabis program the legislature enacted last year. To see our summary of the program, click here.

After you reach out to your lawmakers, be sure to share this message with your friends and family in Alabama and encourage them to do the same!