The Maryland General Assembly kicked off its 2021 legislative session today! This could be the year that Maryland ends cannabis prohibition and joins the 15 states and D.C that have legalized cannabis for adults.

Fifteen states have now legalized cannabis for adults’ use, and Washington is one of only three that does not yet allow home cultivation. Fortunately, a new bill has been introduced in Olympia that would legalize home cultivation of up to six plants per adult and 15 per household.

There is increasing momentum for Delaware to move forward with legalization this year. Several seats were flipped in the General Assembly last November, and there are now 15 states — including Delaware’s neighbor, New Jersey — that have legalized cannabis for adults. Rep. Ed Osienski, sponsor of the 2020 legalization bill, plans to introduce a bill again this session.

Last year, the Kentucky House voted 65-30 to pass the medical cannabis bill, but Senate leaders refused to give it a vote. Fortunately for patients who are suffering needlessly without safe, legal access to cannabis, Rep. Jason Nemes and other compassionate legislators have vowed to continue the fight in 2021.

Exciting news! Today, both the N.J. Senate and Assembly voted to advance two bills that would legalize possession of up to six ounces of cannabis and create the regulatory structure for adult-use sales. The Assembly passed S.21/A.21, “the NJ Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization Act” in a 49-24 vote with six abstentions. The Senate passed the measure in a 23-17 vote with no abstentions.

Ask your state legislators to cosponsor the South Carolina Compassionate Care Act. On Wednesday, Sen. Tom Davis (R) and Rep. Bill Herbkersman (R) pre-filed bills that would allow seriously ill patients to use and safely access medical cannabis in South Carolina.As Rep. Bill Herbkersman explained, “It is unacceptable that South Carolinians with serious illnesses have to break the law to alleviate their suffering. My brother [who died of cancer] deserved better. Our friends, family, and neighbors…

Reach out to your lawmakers today to urge them to prioritize legalization when they return to Dover in 2021. November’s election results brought new opportunity to end cannabis prohibition in the First State. Several seats were flipped in the General Assembly, and there are now 15 states — including Delaware’s neighbor, New Jersey — that have legalized cannabis for adults. The legislature is set to reconvene its 2021 session on January 12. Now is a great time to make sure lawmakers know their constituents…

Support the legal battle to defend Amendment A. Last month, South Dakotans approved a constitutional ballot measure, Amendment A, to legalize marijuana for adults 21 and older by a significant margin (54% to 46%). South Dakota also approved medical marijuana, making history as the first state to enact both policies on the same day. MPP played a major role in running the campaign.Now, after losing at the ballot box, opponents in South Dakota have filed a lawsuit to overturn Amendment A. They argue…

Write your state legislators today and urge them to support ending cannabis prohibition in Virginia! Virginia made great strides on cannabis policy in 2020, and some political leaders are calling for the legislature to take the next step and pass a legalization bill in 2021. On November 16, Gov. Ralph Northam came out strongly in support of ending cannabis prohibition, saying “it’s time to legalize.” “Our Commonwealth has an opportunity to be the first state in the South to take this step, and…

President-elect Biden will soon announce his pick for the next Attorney General, and rumors are already swirling over possible candidates. For cannabis consumers and patients, as well as reformers, regulators, and members of the industry, few roles in the federal government will be more important than that of the United States Attorney General.