By Steve Hawkins, executive director, Marijuana Policy Project

The coronavirus crisis has abruptly forced all Americans to reexamine our priorities. Entire sectors of the economy have been shuttered as we reduce contact between people to flatten the curve and reduce the death toll. Elected officials and regulators, in particular, must reevaluate a wide range of government policies to ensure a swift, coordinated, and appropriate response to the pandemic.

One public policy that offers no benefit whatsoever during this time of crisis is our nation’s failed prohibition of cannabis. As governments work to minimize the negative impacts of COVID-19, it’s clear that punitive cannabis laws and unnecessarily strict regulations serve as far more of a hindrance than a help.

Some police departments and prosecutors have already determined that prosecuting low-level offenses such as cannabis possession is counterproductive and puts police, prosecutors, and the public at risk. For example, Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby ordered her staff to dismiss pending criminal charges against anyone arrested for drug possession and several other nonviolent offenses.

Meanwhile, news reports from other jurisdictions indicate that arrests for cannabis possession have continued, increasing the risk of exposure to coronavirus both for cannabis consumers and enforcement personnel and undermining health experts’ advice regarding the need for social distancing.

It would be a disaster if the coronavirus becomes prevalent in America’s overcrowded jails and prisons. Criminal justice reform organizations have called for the release of low-risk inmates such as those convicted of cannabis offenses. This step should be taken as swiftly as possible to protect all staff and inmates at correctional facilities.

In the 11 states where cannabis is already legal for adults, interaction among law enforcement and consumers has already dropped considerably, so fewer steps are likely to be needed. The other 39 states should immediately suspend enforcement and prosecution of cannabis laws for the duration of the national emergency. Not only does it protect public health, it also avoids wasting limited law enforcement and court resources during a crisis.

We must also consider the challenge faced by roughly three million medical cannabis patients across the U.S. Many have vulnerable immune systems due to age or a serious medical condition, putting them in the high-risk category with regard to COVID-19.

Although medical cannabis is legal in 33 states, many states have restrictive policies that frustrate patients who are seeking to avoid exposure to the coronavirus. For example, some states forbid deliveries of medical cannabis and others maintain criminal penalties against home cultivation.

Fortunately, several states have already adopted emergency measures to ensure that patients are protected. New York, Iowa, and other states have designated medical cannabis dispensaries as 'essential services' to ensure their continued operation during the crisis. Louisiana took swift action to allow deliveries, and Michigan is allowing curbside pickup at dispensaries so patients do not have to enter the building. A few states have begun allowing patients to renew their certifications via telemedicine rather than continuing to require a visit to a doctor. These are all worthy reforms that should be enacted in all states that have legalized medical cannabis.

Finally, as we dare to look beyond the crisis, it seems clear that states with legal cannabis markets will have a significant advantage over other states as the economy recovers from this pandemic. More than 200,000 Americans already work in the state-legal cannabis industry, demonstrating that cannabis can be an important job creator and driver of economic development in addition to being sensible public policy and a source of substantial tax revenue.

As we all take time to reevaluate our nation’s public policy priorities, cannabis and criminal justice should be important parts of the conversation. Policymakers, including state legislators, governors, and members of Congress, should take advantage of this opportunity to acknowledge that cannabis prohibition does not protect public health and safety, and they should support enacting reasonable policy alternatives on both a temporary and permanent basis.

There will be many policy lessons that emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic. One should be that we can achieve better health, safety, and economic outcomes if we replace cannabis prohibition with a thoughtfully regulated system of sales to adults and take other steps to reduce the number of low-risk offenders who become entrapped in our criminal justice system.

We hope you and your family are safe and well.

Public health guidelines and safety concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic have made traditional methods of gathering voter petitions impossible. As a result, signature drives for ballot initiatives all across the country have been severely impacted.

Though the chances of success were slim, leaders with Missourians for a New Approach explored a number of legal avenues that would allow the campaign to resume, including the possibility of electronic signatures. However, no option proved feasible, and with the May 3 deadline approaching, the effort to put legalization on the ballot in 2020 has come to an end.

Though the outcome is disappointing, public support for reform will remain strong, and the groundwork for a future push to legalize and regulate marijuana for adults in Missouri has been laid. National groups, including MPP, are committed to redoubling our efforts to pass a legalization law in Missouri at the next available opportunity.

We are grateful to each person who supported, volunteered, or worked for this campaign, and we're proud of what it accomplished. These are challenging times, and it may take longer than we had hoped, but sensible marijuana policy reform will prevail in Missouri.

Thank you.

Medical cannabis delivery and curbside pickup will be available to registered D.C. patients!

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, these measures went into effect today and will expire either August 12 or 45 days after D.C.’s public health emergency order is lifted.

Under the emergency rulemaking announced by Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Department of Health, D.C.’s seven licensed dispensaries, under a series of regulations, are permitted to:

• Deliver medical cannabis to registered qualifying patients and caregivers at a D.C. residential address between the hours of 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.
• Dispense medical cannabis through curbside pickup or at-the-door pickup to a registered patient or caregiver.

You can find a list of licensed dispensaries in D.C. here.

These actions are critically important to ensure patients can access their medicine while promoting social distancing. A number of states with medical cannabis programs have already implemented these measures in response to coronavirus.

Thank you to everyone who took action to encourage Mayor Bowser to implement these measures. Be sure to share this exciting news with your family and friends in the District!

On Saturday, Gov. Ralph Northam approved legislation, SB 2/HB 972, which would decriminalize cannabis possession — but requested several amendments.

Before the bill is enacted, the legislature must consider the governor’s proposed amendments, which include pushing back the due date for a legalization study by a year and deleting a provision that would end driver’s license suspensions for marijuana possession. The legislature is set to reconvene and consider the amendments on April 22.

If the bill is ultimately enacted, starting July 1, possession of up to an ounce of marijuana will be punishable by a civil fine of $25 instead of a criminal penalty and potential jail time. This is the lowest fine of any decriminalization law!

Here are a few details about the bill:

• Reduces the penalty for possession of marijuana to a modest civil fine of $25. The current penalty for a first offense is up to 30 days in jail and/or up to a $500 fine.
• Creates a rebuttable presumption that a person who possesses no more than one ounce of marijuana possesses it for personal use. (This will make it far less likely that a person will be convicted of possession with intent to distribute when the cannabis is actually for their personal use.)
• Reduces the use of stigmatizing records and prohibits employers from requiring applicants to disclose marijuana possession charges.
• Creates a workgroup to study legalization. (The original bill required the work to be completed by November 30, 2020, but Gov. Northam’s change would delay it until November 30, 2021.)

You can check out a full summary of the bill here.

This important victory will dramatically reduce needless cannabis arrests across the state, saving thousands of residents from life-altering criminal records for simple marijuana possession.

Be sure to share this exciting news with your family and friends in Virginia!

Take action and send a message to the governor now.

Thankfully, Gov. Mike DeWine and state regulators have taken responsible steps to protect access to medical cannabis during the COVID-19 pandemic, including deeming medical cannabis businesses “essential” and allowing telemedicine consultations between doctors and patients.

Several medical cannabis states are allowing home delivery for patients to minimize the health risks for an already vulnerable population. Gov. DeWine recently said he is considering allowing medical cannabis deliveries during the crisis.

Take action now and ask Gov. DeWine to permit home delivery.

You can also help by forwarding this call to action to others, contacting the governor's office at (614) 644-4357, and making an appeal on Twitter.

It’s crucial that Ohio maintains a system of safe access to medical cannabis while also promoting social distancing during the pandemic.

Thank you.

Send a message and urge your lawmaker to support HB 3227.

Many Oklahomans depend on medical cannabis to alleviate seizures, severe nausea, debilitating pain, and other serious health conditions. That’s why public health officials with the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority have deemed medical cannabis businesses “essential” during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Just a few weeks ago, the Oklahoma House of Representatives approved HB 3227, which would authorize dispensaries to contract with licensed transporters to deliver medical cannabis to patients' residences. As other states have done, Oklahoma should enact home delivery to protect an already vulnerable population during this serious crisis.

Please contact your state senator and urge them to move this legislation forward so it can be enacted into law. You can also help by forwarding this call to action to others.

Thank you for speaking out in support of sensible policies that will help keep medical cannabis patients safe during this dangerous outbreak.

Ask Gov. Herbert to allow home delivery.

As coronavirus has dramatically changed life across the country, MPP and our allies have been working to ensure medical cannabis patients can safely access their medicine. Unfortunately, Utah is one of the few states that hasn’t stepped up to ensure safe access to medical cannabis.

Because Gov. Herbert hasn’t issued a stay-at-home order, Utah has not issued a list of “essential businesses.” If it does so, we’ll want to ensure medical cannabis businesses are included and allowed to remain open. Meanwhile, other states have gone further: Some have begun allowing home delivery and telemedicine recommendations to avoid unnecessary interpersonal contact. Others have extended certifications’ expiration dates and eased the process for staffing up as more workers have to stay home — due to children or their health.

Please take a few minutes to let Gov. Herbert know you want him to follow suit. Urge him to deem medical cannabis businesses “essential,” to allow home delivery during the crisis, and to otherwise make temporary modifications to the medical cannabis program to ensure patients have the medicines they depend on. You can go the extra mile by spreading the word to others, calling his office at 801-538-1000, or making an appeal on Twitter.

We also have some good news to share: In March, the legislature passed, and the governor signed, HB 425. This new law allows patients to access medical cannabis with a simple letter from their physicians, rather than having to get an ID card. Recommendations will expire at the year’s end, at which time ID cards are required.

Thank you for your compassion! We wish you and your loved ones well during these difficult times.

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.