Today, the Marijuana Policy Project, along with other top cannabis businesses, associations, and advocacy organizations in the United States, launched the U.S. Cannabis Council (USCC), a 501(c)4 nonprofit organization that strategically aligns and unifies its members’ collective voices to advance cannabis reform.

MPP is proud to be a founding member of the U.S. Cannabis Council, a first-of-its-kind strategic coalition of businesses, associations, and advocacy organizations. The purpose of the USCC is to act as one unified voice advocating for the descheduling and legalization of cannabis. MPP Executive Director Steven Hawkins will serve as the Interim CEO of the USCC, which will focus on securing federal reforms that advance social equity and promote fair, safe and well-regulated markets nationwide as states continue legalizing cannabis at a rapid rate.

“USCC is a unified voice advocating for the descheduling and legalization of cannabis,” said Hawkins, a leader in civil and human rights. “Legalization at both the state and federal levels must include provisions ensuring social equity and redress for harms caused to communities impacted by cannabis prohibition.”

The alliance aims to raise ethical standards within the industry; achieve restorative justice for communities that have been disproportionately impacted by misguided state and federal cannabis policies; and create a healthy, inclusive, and well-regulated cannabis industry with social, financial and environmental benefits shared by all. It aspires to become a leading resource for cannabis policy in the U.S., impacting policy changes on both the federal and state levels.

The founding members of the USCC represent some of the most influential policy and business organizations in the modern cannabis industry from throughout North America including: Acreage Holdings; Akerna Corp.; American Trade Association of Cannabis and Hemp; Association for Cannabis Health Equity and Medicine; BellRock Brands; Buckeye Relief; Cannabis Trade Federation; Canopy Growth Corporation; Columbia Care Inc.; Cresco Labs Inc.; Cronos Group; Culta; Curaleaf; DNA Genetics; Eaze; Flowhub; Global Alliance for Cannabis Commerce; Good Chemistry; The Grove Cannabis Dispensary; Headcount’s Cannabis Voter Project; Husch Blackwell; iAnthus Capital Holdings, Inc.; Jushi; Keef Brands; Lightshade; LivWell Enlightened Health; Marijuana Policy Project; Medicine Man; MedMen; Native Roots Cannabis Co.; 1906 New Highs; PAX Labs; PharmaCann; ProKure; Raw Garden; Schwazze; Scotts Miracle-Gro Company; Urbn Leaf; Veterans Cannabis Project; Vicente Sederberg LLP; Vireo; and Wana.

Speaking with Politico’s Natalie Fertig, Hawkins described a current “too many cooks in the kitchen” landscape, where so many voices trying to influence cannabis policy make it difficult to get anything done. He hopes USCC can alleviate that problem so the movement can proceed forward with a unified message. “We are expecting that there will be significant cannabis reform this session — hopefully this year,” said Hawkins. “This is the moment and that's why it's so important to be unified right now.”

To learn more about the United States Cannabis Council, visit http://www.uscannabiscouncil.org.   

Very exciting news: Today, the Virginia Legislature voted to advance legislation that would legalize cannabis for adults 21 and older in the commonwealth!

HB 2312, sponsored by Majority Leader Charniele Herring, passed the House in a 55-42 vote, while SB 1406, sponsored by Senators Adam Ebbin and Louise Lucas, passed the Senate 23-15.

But even though this is great news, it’s not a done deal yet. Because the bills were amended and are no longer identical, the legislature will likely set up a conference committee to reconcile differences. If the legislature approves a final bill, it will then head to Gov. Ralph Northam, who has signaled strong support.

Under the proposed bills, adults 21+ could possess up to an ounce of cannabis, cultivate up to two mature and two immature plants at their residence, and purchase cannabis and cannabis products from regulated dispensaries.

You can read a summary of HB 2312 here and a summary of SB 1406 here.

In the coming weeks, MPP will be pushing to ensure Virginia lawmakers fix some issues with the legislation — such as increased penalties for certain low-level offenses — and to get help it past the finish line. Please consider making a donation today so we can help fix the bill, get it passed, and legalize in several other states this year!

Let’s make Virginia the first state in South to end cannabis prohibition.

Emil Ekvardt from the Swedish initiative Great.com interviews Senior Legislative Analyst Matt Simon of MPP as part of their 'Great.com Talks With...' podcast. This series is an antidote to negative news stories that aims to shed light on organizations and experts whose work is making a positive impact on the world.

Listen as Matt discusses the benefits of legalizing cannabis. 

Call your delegate and senator today and urge them to vote in favor of ending cannabis prohibition.

Virginia’s cannabis legalization bills — HB 2312 and SB 1406 — passed their final committees yesterday. The House and Senate are expected to vote on these bills by tomorrow, which is their deadline for advancing the legislation.

Please call your delegate and senator right now and urge them to vote in favor of legalizing cannabis in Virginia!

If at least one of the bills passes the House or Senate this week, the legislative process will continue next week. Since the bills have been amended and are no longer identical, the legislature would probably set up a bicameral committee to reconcile differences between the two bills and make final decisions before sending the bill to Gov. Ralph Northam’s desk.

We are happy with several changes that have been made so far. In particular, we are pleased that HB 2312 no longer increases penalties for public consumption and possession by those who are underage. We will continue pushing legislators to ensure that the final bill will truly serve the interests of all Virginians, including medical patients and individuals from communities that have been disproportionately harmed by the war on drugs.

You can read a summary of HB 2312 here and a summary of SB 1406 here. You can read more details about today’s votes and the legislative process in this article.

If you haven’t already emailed your elected officials, please do so, and please share the link with others!

After you call your delegates and senators, please share this important message with your friends and family.

Contact your lawmakers today and ask them to support HB 32!

Delegate Jazz Lewis’ legalization bill, HB 32, has been scheduled for a committee hearing on Tuesday, February 16 at 1:30 p.m.

Please reach out to your lawmakers ahead of the hearing and urge them to support HB 32 — The Cannabis Legalization and Regulation, Inclusion, Restoration, and Rehabilitation Act of 2021.

You can also raise your voice in support of this legislation by providing written testimony to the committees — House Judiciary and Health and Government Operations. The opportunity to sign-up to testify on the bill will begin two business days before the bill’s scheduled hearing.

Due to the unprecedented nature of this year’s legislative process, I encourage you to read the guidelines provided on how to submit testimony in full. We particularly encourage testimony from supportive law enforcement, clergy, medical professionals, and those who have been impacted by cannabis prohibition.

Maryland Cannabis Policy Conference and Lobby Days

In other news, our allies at Maryland NORML will be holding their second annual Maryland Cannabis Policy Conference virtually this Saturday, followed by lobby days a few days later. Mark your calendars and join us for a deep dive into HB 32!

What: Maryland Cannabis Policy Conference 2021 (online)

When: Saturday, February 6, 1-4 p.m.

Register for the conference here.

You can register for the Maryland Cannabis Policy Coalition’s lobby days — Tuesday, February 9 to Thursday, February 11 — here.

Don’t miss these opportunities to learn more about this important legislation and raise your voice in support. Marylanders deserve a just, equitable cannabis policy, and this could be the year that Maryland ends cannabis prohibition and joins the 15 states and D.C that have legalized cannabis for adults.

P.S. You can also check out the virtual press conference Delegate Lewis and a coalition of advocates held in support of HB 32.

For more information on how to qualify, visit the website for the Office of Medical Cannabis.

Since April 19, 2017, when Gov. Jim Justice signed West Virginia’s medical cannabis bill into law, patients have been waiting for the program to become operational. Fortunately, the wait finally appears to be nearing an end. The state’s Office of Medical Cannabis announced last week that permits have been granted for 100 dispensaries across the state, and today they opened the process for patients to begin registering for the program.

In order to qualify, patients will need to obtain a written certification from a participating physician. A list of physicians is available here. You can now access the patient registration portal from the website for the Office of Medical Cannabis.

It will likely be several months before patients will be able to obtain medical cannabis from dispensaries, but this is a huge step forward for the program. MPP’s summary of the law is available here.

Please share this message with anybody you know who might wish to register for the medical cannabis program in West Virginia!

The legislative session is scheduled to end on February 11 — urge delegates and senators to end cannabis prohibition before the clock runs out!

Virginia’s cannabis legalization bills — HB 2312 and SB 1406 — have passed two committees each, but there is still much work to be done, and the outcome remains uncertain. Both bills must be considered by a third committee, Finance/Appropriations. Then, at least one of these bills needs to pass the House or Senate by this Friday’s “crossover deadline” to have a chance of passing both chambers before the session concludes on February 11.

Please write your state legislators right now and urge them to vote in favor of legalizing cannabis in Virginia!

MPP has been working to persuade legislators to improve these bills during the committee process. In particular, we are pleased that HB 2312 no longer increases penalties for public consumption and possession by those who are underage. We will continue pushing legislators to ensure that any bill, when finalized, will truly serve the interests of all Virginians, including medical patients and individuals from communities that have been disproportionately harmed by the war on drugs.

You can read a summary of HB 2312 here and a summary of SB 1406 here. Both bills remain works in progress, but we are confident that legislators will continue to improve the language as they move forward.

After you write your delegates and senators, please share this important message with your friends and family.

The Marijuana Policy Project — the nation’s largest cannabis policy reform organization — has announced the election of Sal Pace to serve as the new chair of its Board of Directors. Pace replaces Arcview co-founder Troy Dayton, who has served as MPP Board Chair for the last seven years.

“We're very excited to have Sal as our new chair,” said MPP Executive Director Steve Hawkins. “Sal is a recognized leader in the cannabis reform arena having used his platform as an elected official to advance common sense reforms. With tremendous passion and an in-depth knowledge of cannabis policy issues, he is an excellent choice to lead our board.”

Pace, who has been called “one of the state’s most vocal proponents of marijuana legalization,” represented Colorado’s 46th District from 2008 to 2012, during which he served as House Minority Leader. He also served as Pueblo County Commissioner from 2013 to 2018 and was appointed to Gov. Jared Polis’ transition team when he was first elected in 2018. Pace is widely recognized as one of the nation’s most knowledgeable former elected officials on the subject of marijuana policy.

“Sal Pace has brought a pioneering effort both in the Colorado cannabis program and his leadership nationally. I count Sal as a valuable and essential ally in my work for cannabis reform,” said U.S. Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), co-chair and founder of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus.

During his time in the General Assembly, Pace played a leading role in developing Colorado’s medical marijuana model, earning him recognition as the face of regulation from local news media. He served on several policy and legislative interim committees focused on cannabis, and he founded a national organization of local elected officials, Leaders For Reform, in response to Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ rescission of the Cole memo.

As a county commissioner, Pace led efforts to create the Institute of Cannabis Research at Colorado State University-Pueblo and to establish the first college scholarship program funded by cannabis tax revenue. Prior to running for office, he served as a Congressional and campaign staffer. Pace serves on the boards of the Institute of Cannabis Research, Colorado’s Front Range Rail Commission, and the Colorado Independent Venues Association. He is also an advisory board member for HeadCount's Cannabis Voter Project.

As MPP chair, Pace is ready to hit the ground running at this critical juncture of cannabis policy, criminal justice reform, and racial and social justice our nation currently faces. Said Pace:

Ending marijuana prohibition in the U.S. is the most effective way to address social justice issues. Even with all of MPP’s successes to date changing laws across the country, 600,000 people are still arrested annually, and 40,000 are behind bars because of marijuana charges. As MPP chair, we aren't just focused on legalization, we're also concerned with doing it right, which means equity and diversity in opportunity and correcting the negative impacts from the failed war on drugs.

To learn more about Pace and his plans as MPP Board Chair, check out this Westword interview where he discusses cannabis policy reform efforts in 2021. 

A public hearing on the medical cannabis home grow bill will take place on Monday, February 1 at 3 p.m.

Despite overwhelming testimony from New Hampshire residents in favor of cannabis legalization at Wednesday’s hearing, the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee voted 14-7 to “retain” both legalization bills. As a result, the House will avoid voting on cannabis legalization until 2022, and adults who consume cannabis will continue being fined and arrested for at least another year.

This is infuriating, but advocates will have a second chance to advance cannabis policy on Monday afternoon, February 1, beginning at 3 p.m., when another House committee will consider a medical cannabis home cultivation bill, HB 350.

The hearing will be conducted via Zoom, which means it will be easier than ever for advocates to support making home cultivation legal for patients and caregivers.

Here’s how you can help:

(1) Click here to access the House’s remote sign-in sheet.

(2) Select the date (2/1) and the committee: House Health, Human Services, and Elderly Affairs.

(3) Select HB 350, identify yourself as a “member of the public,” and indicate that you support the bill.

(4) If you wish to speak at the hearing, check the box. If you do not wish to speak, click “continue” and enter your name and contact information on the next page. The Zoom link for this hearing is here.

(5) If you’d like to submit written testimony or simply tell the committee members why you support the bill, you can email them here.

Home cultivation is currently considered a felony in New Hampshire, and there is no exception for registered patients and caregivers. HB 350 would legalize possession and limited cultivation of cannabis for registered patients and caregivers (up to three mature plants, three immature plants, and 12 seedlings per patient). The full text of the bill is available here.

After you sign up to testify or indicate your support, please share this important message with your friends and family!

Urge your state legislators to stand up for patients!

Last year, the Alabama Senate overwhelmingly approved the Compassion Act — which would have legalized medical cannabis — but it stalled in the House when the coronavirus derailed the legislative session.

This year, Sen. Tim Melson, MD, has already filed the 2021 version of the bill, SB 46. State lawmakers return to work on Tuesday. Let’s make sure they come back knowing their constituents want the Compassion Act to be at the top of their agenda!

It takes less than a minute to send your lawmakers an email through our automated system. You can personalize the message or rewrite it.

Alabama’s lack of medical marijuana protections is increasingly an outlier. Thirty-six states, including Florida, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Mississippi, allow medical cannabis, and polling shows 75% of Alabama voters support it.

While SB 46 is far better than the status quo, we are also encouraging lawmakers to make some improvements. The bill currently steers intractable pain patients to try opiates first, even though they are far more dangerous than cannabis. It also puts onerous burdens on physicians that will depress participation.

Please write your lawmakers today to urge them to improve and enact SB 46, and then spread the word to other compassionate Alabamians.