Last November, Missouri voters overwhelmingly approved Amendment 2 to establish constitutional protections for medical marijuana patients and create a system for them to safely access medical marijuana. For the past several months, state officials have been making progress in implementing the new law. Here are a few updates:

• The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has issued draft rules governing physicians and the system they must use to issue medical marijuana recommendations to qualifying patients.
  
  
• The law requires the department to finish the rule-writing process by June 4.
  
  
• Regulators are also accepting suggestions from the public about rules for the medical marijuana program. Click here to share your opinions with them!
  
  
• Patients will be able to apply for a medical marijuana registration card by July 4.
  
  
• DHHS has established 10 advisory committees composed of subject matter experts to help review draft questions for the facility license applications. More information about these committees and how feedback can be provided can be found here.
  
  
• The state commissioned and published a study by three economists predicting there will be 26,000 registered medical marijuana patients in Missouri by 2022.

Thank you for continuing to support sensible marijuana policy reforms, and stay tuned for more updates from us!

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If you live in Colorado, let your state senator know it’s time to legalize and regulate cannabis delivery.

Unlike alcohol and other legal products, Colorado prohibits patients and adult consumers from having cannabis delivered. Sure, delivery exists, but it’s unregulated and unsafe for everyone involved.

But a bill to fix that is on the move. HB 1234 — which would allow safe, regulated delivery — has passed out of the House and is starting to make its way through the state Senate.

Let your state senator know you want them to support this sensible bill.

Many medical cannabis patients have significant mobility limitations. Driving to the store is impossible for some due to their medical condition. Far more dangerous prescriptions can be delivered in the mail, but cannabis delivery remains illicit and in the shadows. Starting next year, medical cannabis deliveries would be allowed.

Beginning in 2021, HB 1234 would allow all adults 21 and older the benefits of cannabis delivery. This can provide safe, regulated access to adults and bring cannabis consumers closer to equal footing with alcohol consumers.

HB 1234 can pass this year, but it’s crucial that senators hear from supportive constituents. Take a few moments to send your senator a note using our free online tool, then share this message with friends and family in Colorado. 

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If you live in N.H., urge your senator to support HB 364; hearing on legalization bill will continue May 7

For the first time in history, a New Hampshire Senate committee has voted to approve a bill allowing home cultivation of medical cannabis. HB 364, which has already passed the House in a voice vote, was voted “ought to pass” yesterday in a 3-2 vote of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.

For the sake of patients who are still struggling because of limited access to cannabis, please contact your senator right now and urge him or her to support HB 364!

HB 364 would allow possession of three mature plants, three immature plants, and 12 seedlings for each patient. The bill is critically important because many patients are unable to afford the products that are available at dispensaries, which are not covered by health insurance. For some patients, home cultivation is simply the best, most affordable option.

Additionally, for those who were not able to testify at yesterday’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the legalization bill (HB 481), there will be another opportunity to testify on Tuesday, May 7, beginning at 9 a.m. in State House Room 100. There were so many people waiting to speak that they decided to continue the hearing. Please mark your calendars for May 7 right now!

After you contact your senator in support of the home cultivation bill, please share this message with your family and friends.

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If you live in Texas, contact your lawmakers today in support of HB 63.

After passing in a 5-2 vote in the House Jurisprudence Committee, HB 63 is scheduled for a vote in the Texas House of Representatives this Thursday. Please contact your lawmakers in support of marijuana decriminalization right now.

If HB 63 passes, possession of one ounce or less of marijuana would be punishable by a $250 fine for the first two offenses, and it would be considered a class C misdemeanor for subsequent offenses. Currently, possessing any amount of marijuana is punishable by jail time in Texas.

Given that the Texas Republican Party endorsed marijuana decriminalization and Gov. Gregg Abbott has expressed willingness to sign a bill that reduces penalties for possession, the environment has never been better for change in Texas.

So please, contact your lawmakers today and then forward this email to friends and family and ask they do the same. Together, we can reform marijuana laws in Texas.

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Yesterday, the Department of Financial Services released the first draft of the rules governing Maine’s adult-use marijuana program. These rules come from the work the Marijuana Legalization Implementation Committee did over the last two years.

As required by the Maine Administrative Procedures Act, a final draft will be provided at least 20 days prior to the date of a scheduled public hearing. Following the public hearing, an additional 10-day public comment period will occur. The rules cover cultivation tier sizes, license fees, packaging rules, and much more. You can read the preliminary rules here.

After you have read the rules, the state has set up an online form to collect public feedback. You can find the form here.

We are hopeful that the rules will be approved by the legislature this session, allowing for stores to open as early as late 2019. It’s been a long and winding road, but we are almost there.

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In honor of Earth Day, we'd like to share a new certification initiative we're supporting in the cannabis space, which promotes the wellbeing of regenerative cannabis agriculture, farmers, human health, and the planet.

Today, in honor of Earth Day, a coalition of cannabis activists and organizationss has launched a new ethical, ecological cannabis certification called Sun+Earth.

Because federal prohibition does not allow cannabis farmers to certify under the USDA organic program or the Regenerative Organic Certification (due to federal prohibitions on use of the term “organic”), we’re forming a new not-for-profit regenerative cannabis certification organization: Sun+Earth. Sun+Earth verifies cannabis is grown responsibly, fairly, and regeneratively, without harmful practices to growers, workers, or Mother Earth.

Sun+Earth certifies cannabis that is grown under the sun, in the soil of Mother Earth, without chemicals by fairly­ paid farmers. Join us.

It’s estimated that cannabis will soon become a $50 billion a year industry. Both cannabis users and non­users alike realize that farming cannabis at this scale will have either a beneficial or detrimental impact on people and the planet.

Relatedly, a new, not-for-profit brand called Brother David’s will launch in early May as a brand platform to educate cannabis consumers about Sun+Earth certification.

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If you live in N.H., please attend the public hearing at 9:35 a.m. on Tuesday, April 23, and show your support for HB 481!

New Hampshire’s HB 481 has been scheduled for a public hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, April 23, at 9:35 a.m. The bill would legalize possession and limited cultivation by adults 21 and older, and it would establish a system of regulated sales. You can read a summary of HB 481, as amended and passed by the House, here.

Members of the public are encouraged to testify at the public hearing or sign the committee’s sign-in sheet in support of HB 481. For more information on this hearing and how to make a positive impact, click here. For talking points, click here.

WHO: The Senate Judiciary Committee and members of the public

WHAT: Public hearing on HB 481, the bill to legalize and regulate cannabis for use by adults

WHEN: Tuesday, April 23, beginning at 9:35 a.m.

WHERE: Room 100 of the State House (107 N. Main Street, Concord)

If you haven’t yet contacted your state senator about this bill, it is very important that they hear from you. Please email your senator today!

Please share this message with your family and friends!

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If you live in Vermont, contact your state representatives today — tell them it’s time for Vermont to finish the job and regulate cannabis in 2019!

The Vermont Senate has already passed S. 54, a bill that would create a regulated and taxed market for adult-use cannabis in Vermont. The bill is now being considered by the House Government Operations Committee and other House committees.

Please email your state representatives today and urge them to support regulating cannabis in 2019!

You can read a summary of the bill, as it was approved by the Senate, here.

After you email your state representatives, please share this message with your family and friends!

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Between Tuesday and May 4, the lieutenant governor's listening tour will visit Tioga, Adams, Clinton, Pike, Snyder, Union, Wayne, Columbia, Lycoming, Franklin, and Bradford counties.

Over the next couple of weeks, Lt. Gov. John Fetterman will be hearing constituents' views on marijuana legalization in 11 more counties. If you live in any of those counties, try to stop by to make your voice heard.

Here are upcoming stops:

Mansfield (Tioga County)
Tuesday, April 23, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Mansfield University
Straughn Auditorium
35 Straughn Drive

Gettysburg (Adams County)
Wednesday, April 24, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Gettysburg Area High School
1130 Old Harrisburg Road

Lock Haven (Clinton County)
Saturday, April 27, 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Lock Haven University, Sloan Theatre
401 N. Fairview Street

Dingmans Ferry (Pike County)
Sunday, April 28, 5:00 to 6:30 p.m.
Dingman-Delaware Middle School
1365 PA-739

Selinsgrove (Snyder County)
Monday, April 29, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Susquehanna University, Degenstein Center Theater
514 University Avenue

Lewisburg (Union County)
Saturday, April 27, 3:00 to 4:30 p.m.
RiverStage Community Theatre
815 Market Street

Hawley (Wayne County)
Sunday, April 28, 1:00 to 2:30 p.m.
Wallenpaupack High School
2552 US-6

Bloomsburg (Columbia County)
Tuesday, April 30, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Bloomsburg University
400 E. Second Street

Williamsport (Lycoming County)
Wednesday, May 1, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Pennsylvania College of Technology, Klump Academic Center
1034 W. Third Street

Chambersburg (Franklin County)
Thursday, May 2, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Eugene C. Clarke Jr. Community Center
235 S. Third Street

Towanda (Bradford County)
Saturday, May 4, 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Towanda High School
1 High School Drive

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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Registered patients will have safe, in-state access to low-THC oil.

Yesterday, Gov. Brian Kemp (R) signed the Georgia’s Hope Act — HB 324 — into law. At long last, patients will be able to safely access low-THC medical cannabis oil within Georgia.

In 2015, the Georgia General Assembly passed a bill allowing patients to register to possess up to 20 fluid ounces of medical cannabis oil with up to 5% THC. The legislature later expanded the law to include more medical conditions, and more than 8,000 patients are signed up. However, the law didn’t include any access to cannabis oil.

Under the Georgia’s Hope Act, six producers will be allowed to cultivate medical cannabis preparations in Georgia, as could two universities. Pharmacies will sell the medical cannabis preparations, and regulators could authorize private dispensaries. (Due to medical cannabis’ federal illegality, it is far from certain that universities or pharmacies would participate.) It is expected to take at least a year before legal sales begin.

You can check out MPP’s summary of the law here.

MPP is grateful to CompassionateGA, and its lobbyist Jacob Eassa, for their advocacy efforts and to all the patients and loved ones who spoke out for so many years. We also appreciate the leadership of bill sponsor Rep. Micah Gravley (R) and former Rep. Allen Peake (R) and all the lawmakers who supported the legislation.

Stay tuned for updates during implementation, along with next year’s efforts to improve the law.

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