On October 4 in Salt Lake City, medical marijuana supporters and opponents announced that they have reached an agreement on a compromise medical marijuana law that will be enacted during a November special session after the 2018 election. Regardless of the outcome of Prop 2 — the medical marijuana ballot initiative that MPP helped to draft — the legislature will enact the compromise bill. Utah Governor Gary Herbert has committed to calling the special session. MPP strongly supports the agreement…

If you live in California, click here to support access on school grounds and tax breaks for donated cannabis. Gov. Jerry Brown recently acted on a raft of cannabis bills that passed this year. Here is a quick breakdown of what was signed and what was vetoed. Among the bills signed into law: AB 1793 allows adults convicted of cannabis-related offenses that are no longer considered illegal to have them automatically removed from their records. SB 1294 creates equity provisions that…

A recent study of the potential fiscal impacts of legalizing marijuana in Michigan found that passage of Prop 1 would generate over half a billion dollars in additional revenue for the state in the first five years of implementation. Read local coverage of the analysis here. Much of the revenue generated from marijuana would be directed to Michigan’s roads, schools, and local communities, which are currently underfunded. The report, conducted by marijuana policy consulting firm VS Strategies, made…

Ask your state lawmakers to take this reform to the state level. Starting on October 26, Oklahoma City’s maximum penalty for simple possession of marijuana will be reduced to a fine of up to $400. The Oklahoma City Council approved the proposal to remove jail time and reduce the penalty for marijuana possession last week. Until the new law takes effect, the maximum fine for possession is $1,200 and six months of jail time. If you live in Oklahoma, let your lawmakers know the time has come for statewide…

Ask your legislators to end marijuana prohibition in Pennsylvania! The drum beat for sensible marijuana policy is picking up in Pennsylvania! Last Monday, Rep. Jake Wheatley introduced a bill that would legalize marijuana for adults 21 or older. This bill would also expunge the records of people who have been convicted of certain cannabis offenses. If you are a Pennsylvania resident, email your state legislators today urging them to support HB 2600! Ending marijuana prohibition would let adults…

Click here for help registering in your state. Election Day may not be until Tuesday, November 6, but in many states voter registration deadlines are coming up soon! MPP has teamed up with non-profit Rock the Vote to make it easier for our subscribers to register in their state. Just click here, and their simple tool will help you fill out the voter registration form in your state or tell you where to register online, if your state allows that. After you fill out their form online, you’ll get an…

Next week, legendary travel host Rick Steves will be visiting Michigan to give talks in support of Prop 1, the ballot initiative to legalize and regulate marijuana. Known for his hit PBS series “Rick Steves’ Europe,” Rick’s engaging personality and first-hand experience seeing the benefits of legalization in his home state of Washington make this an event you don’t want to miss. You can catch him in two locations, Grand Rapids and Ann Arbor. Both speaking events are free and open to the public.…

The latest Goucher poll shows that 62% of Marylanders “support the legalization of marijuana for recreational use.” Unfortunately, Maryland’s lawmakers have lagged behind the public on this issue — but this could change in November’s election. If you are a Maryland voter, please let the candidates in your district know that this issue is important to you. (And don’t forget to check out the Maryland Cannabis Policy Coalition’s Voter Guide here.) If you are interested in hearing more about MPP’s work…

On Monday, September 24, Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a bill that adds acute pain management to the list of approved conditions eligible for treatment with medical marijuana as an alternative to opioid use. This new law formalizes regulations the New York State Department of Health issued in July, which added opioid replacement and opioid use disorder to the list. This is great news for patients! Access to medical marijuana is no longer limited to those suffering from chronic pain. This bill and regulations…

Great news! The Detroit Free Press, one of Michigan’s largest media outlets, has endorsed the Yes on 1 legalization campaign! The paper’s supportive editorial echoed many of the Yes on 1 campaign’s core messages: marijuana prohibition wastes law enforcement resources, unfairly harms communities of color, and prevents the state from collecting millions in tax revenue that could fund critical social programs. This is a huge boost for Prop 1, but we have to make sure the momentum is carried forward…