After years of hard-fought victories to decriminalize and legalize medical and adult-use cannabis, we're now seeing a troubling surge of attempts to overturn the will of the people and roll back reforms in multiple states across the country:

Since 57% of Ohio voters approved an adult-use legalization measure in 2023, a determined group of opposition lawmakers have been working tirelessly to pass revisions that would hike sales taxes, prohibit sharing of cannabis between adults of legal age, and enact other undue restrictions on the possession, cultivation, and sale of cannabis.

In Nebraska, where voters recently passed initiatives to legalize medical cannabis, there is a bill under consideration that would gut access for patients by prohibiting the use of cannabis flower or edibles as means of administering medical cannabis.

A Montana bill has been introduced that would require folks to pay a $200 per year registration fee in order to legally purchase and possess cannabis. MPP has spoken out against implementing this burdensome requirement.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has proposed a dramatic tax increase on cannabis — a whopping 32% wholesale tax, in addition to the 16% retail tax on adult-use cannabis that was set by the voter-approved legalization initiative.

These are just a handful of the numerous troubling legislative developments that MPP and our allies have been monitoring and combatting nationwide. You can help prevent these attempts to roll back vital cannabis reforms by contacting your state legislators, and by responding to MPP's state action alerts that are timed to maximize the impact of your voice.

With your support, we'll continue to fight on the frontlines to preserve and advance sensible, just, and humane cannabis policies.

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We are disappointed to announce that Governor Brad Little (R) signed the regressive marijuana bill, HB 7, into law. The new law imposes an exorbitant $300 fine as a mandatory minimum on low-level possession of marijuana. This is in addition to possible jail time and a higher fine.

Idaho has no mandatory minimum fines for misdemeanors that victimize other people, including assault and attempted strangulation.

As one of the veterans who testified against HB 7 stated, this bill will negatively impact our veterans who use marijuana, including those who use it as a less harmful alternative to opioids. Now the folks who fight for our country will be fined $300 for a plant that helps them.

This is extremely disheartening. While 24 other states have legalized and 39 states allow medical marijuana, Idaho lawmakers are making their policies more draconian and backwards.

We realize there is work to be done in Idaho. Idaho has a ballot initiative process, and we hope that voters will have an opportunity to move their state forward.

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Tennessee is increasingly an outlier when it comes to cannabis policy. Two of its neighbors have legalized cannabis for adults 21 and older — Virginia and Missouri. Neighboring Kentucky, Alabama, Arkansas, and Mississippi have comprehensive medical cannabis laws. Meanwhile, Tennessee remains one of only 11 states that does not have a medical cannabis program.

It's up to the legislature to reform Tennessee's outdated cannabis laws. Senator Janice Bowling (R) has sponsored SB489, which would create a comprehensive program to allow seriously ill patients to use and safely access medical cannabis.

Last year, similar legislation did not pass out of committee, but with President Trump extolling the benefits of medical cannabis, this may be the year!

Now is the time to push for this piece of legislation, as the committee process begins. If you live in Tennessee, it's crucial that lawmakers hear from you that medical cannabis policy reform is important to their constituents. 

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A March 4 committee hearing has been scheduled in Colorado on a regressive bill — SB 25-076 — that would ban adults 21-24 from buying cannabis with more than 10% THC while making other changes that increase waste, drive up prices, and hamstring the industry.

SB 25-076 would:

• Limit inhaled cannabis to 500 milligrams of THC per package, making it illegal to sell even an ⅛ ounce (at 14.2% or more potency) per package and requiring consumers to purchase twice as many vape carts for the same amount of THC
• Drive up costs, and thus prices, and waste, making legal cannabis less competitive with the illicit market and hemp-derived synthetic cannabinoids
• Prohibit adults 21-24 from buying cannabis with over 10% THC, driving 90% of sales to young adults to the much riskier illicit market

If you live in Colorado, ask your lawmakers to defeat this regressive bill.

To go the extra mile, you can testify in person, in writing, or remotely.

What: Senate Business, Labor, and Technology hearing on SB 25-076
When: Tuesday, March 4, 2:00 p.m.
Where: Old Supreme Court Chamber, 200 E. Colfax Ave. Denver, CO 80203 — or online.

Driving 21-24-year-olds to the illicit and hemp-derived synthetic THC market is a terrible move for health and safety. Recently, a smoke shop's THC products were found laced with fentanyl. And in 2019, illicit THC vapes were found to have an unsafe additive that caused lung injury and death.

Meanwhile, state-legal cannabis businesses are already struggling to compete with the illicit and hemp-derived synthetics markets, which don't have to pay excise taxes or comply with costly lab and regulatory costs. The bill would kill jobs and jeopardize small businesses, driving sales underground. 

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Marijuana decriminalization and legalization bills in West Virginia have been filed by Senator Mike Woelfl this session! We are thrilled the Mountain State has the opportunity to evolve on cannabis laws, as many of its neighboring states have.

The decriminalization bill, SB 219, would:

• Reduce the penalty for possession of under 15 grams to a fine of no more than $25, removing the possibility of jail time
• Downgrade the offense from a criminal misdemeanor to a civil violation

The legalization bill, SJR3, would refer a state constitutional amendment to voters that — if approved — would:

• Allows adults 21 years of age and older to legally possess no more than two ounces of cannabis and four plants
• Provide that any prior convictions for possession of two ounces or less of cannabis will be dismissed and/or expunged

If you live in West Virginia, ask your legislator to support these efforts to change the cannabis regulatory landscape!

In 2023, the FBI Uniform Crime Report found 1,854 adult arrests in West Virginia for simple marijuana possession (with 86% of agencies reporting).

West Virginia is the fourth worst state for racial disparities in marijuana arrests — Black people are 7.3 times more likely to be arrested for cannabis possession than white people in the state, despite similar use rates.

It's time for West Virginia to catch up with Ohio, Maryland, and Virginia — and to give voters a chance to end the war on cannabis.

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Included in Gov. Kathy Hochul’s budget proposal was language to remove the ban on giving law enforcement probable cause to search vehicles based solely upon the odor of cannabis. This prohibition on searches based on odor was a key part of New York’s 2021 legalization law.

Although New York decriminalized cannabis back in 1977, New York City police largely ignored the law and made the city the marijuana arrest capital of the world for years — with Black and Latino people disproportionately targeted. Removing the ban on searches based on the real or feigned smell of cannabis will turn back the clock and open the door on intrusive and racially discriminatory enforcement.

If you live in New York, let your lawmakers know no one should be presumed to be a criminal and be subject to a search for legal activity. People who work in cannabis cultivation and processing often smell like cannabis when they get off work. Just say NO to searches based solely on the smell of cannabis!

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Georgia is increasingly an outlier when it comes to cannabis policy. It is one of only 19 states that continues to jail cannabis consumers, and Georgia's low-THC medical cannabis program is so limited MPP does not count it as a "medical cannabis state."

That could change this year! A bipartisan group of legislators have submitted HB440 – the PEACH (Providing Effective Access to Cannabis for Health) Act. This legislation would allow all forms of medical cannabis, including flower, instead of limiting it to oils. HB 440 also adds some qualifying ailments, and removes the language on many ailments that only qualify at severe or end stage situations. In addition, it offers reciprocity for out-of- state patients.

If you live in Georgia, urge your legislators to support expanding access for medical cannabis patients!

The legislature session began in January for a two-year legislative cycle. Last year Georgia lawmakers proposed a bill to create a functional medical cannabis program, but the bill failed to make it out of committee. 

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In February, the Arkansas General Assembly approved SB59, which could pay for students' breakfasts with taxes generated from medical cannabis. HB1408 would allow patients to use Health Savings Accounts or Flexible Spending Accounts for medical cannabis.

However, no lawmaker has submitted language to decriminalize cannabis, a reform that is desperately needed. Arkansas remains one of only 19 states that still incarcerates individuals for possessing small amounts of cannabis. Arkansas currently has some of the harshest cannabis laws in the nation. Possessing less than four ounces of cannabis is a misdemeanor carrying up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $2,500.

If you live in Arkansas, ask your legislator to stop jailing cannabis consumers!

Partial data reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting Program shows that 84% of law enforcement agencies reporting made 4,976 arrests for cannabis possession in Arkansas in 2023. Law enforcement resources could be put to far better use. It is time your legislators heard from you that custodial arrests for small amounts of cannabis is not what the citizens want!

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The 2025 Texas legislative session is underway, and a bill to stop jailing cannabis consumers has been filed!

Representative John Bucy III (D) has introduced HB1790, which would remove criminal penalties for possession of up to one ounce of cannabis flower, among other drug policy reforms. Texas continues to be an outlier when it comes to arresting people for possessing small amounts of cannabis.

If you live in Texas, ask your legislators to support this legislation.

Reform is urgently needed in Texas. MPP's decriminalization report highlighted a case from March 2021. Marvin Scott III died in jail about nine hours after being incarcerated during booking for possessing less than two ounces of cannabis (the general charge for possession of small amounts of cannabis in Texas). Scott suffered from schizophrenia and was confined in a restraint bed with a spit mask, pepper sprayed, and subjected to a pressure point control technique. He went into fatal cardiac arrest.

As President Trump has said, people should not be jailed for possessing small amounts of cannabis.

We will continue to keep you up to date with cannabis policy reforms on the legislative agenda this year in Texas. 

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On Thursday, February 27, Montana lawmakers will hold a hearing on an outrageous bill (SB 255) that would force adult-use cannabis consumers to register with the state at a cost of $200 per year! Those who don't pay up would lose their ability to legally purchase, possess, or use cannabis.

What: Business, Labor and Economic Affairs Committee Hearing on SB 255 — Revise recreational marijuana laws to require a marijuana identification card
Where: Montana Capitol, Room 422, 1301 E 6th Ave., Helena, MT 59601. Parking information.
When: Thursday, February 27, 2025 at 8:30 a.m.

If you live in Montana and plan to testify in person next Thursday, please arrive early as seating is limited. Be sure to sign the witness sheet when you arrive. If you can't attend in person, you can sign up for remote testimony or submit written comments through the Public Participation portal. Anyone wishing to testify remotely must register at least two hours before the hearing begins.

The voter-approved legalization initiative, I-190, explicitly prohibits the collection of personal information from adult-use cannabis consumers. Under I-190, the Department of Revenue is not authorized to require or record personal information beyond verifying a consumer's age. This is an intrusion in privacy that would recriminalize cannabis for most Montanans, who do not want to pay to be on a government list as cannabis consumers.

By imposing a state registration system, SB 255 subjects law-abiding cannabis consumers to surveillance and government overreach. This also puts Montanans at risk under federal law. Cannabis remains federally illegal, and gun owners who are cannabis consumers face up to 10 years in prison.

Under SB 255's provisions, only Montana residents could register. Consumers would be required to keep a state-issued card in their "immediate possession at all times." It further stipulates that "law enforcement officers have access to accurate and up-to-date information on marijuana cardholders" and that state officials may use the program "to track marijuana cardholder purchases."

If you live in Montana, make sure lawmakers hear from you! Do not be intimidated. Testify and demand they vote NO on this harmful proposal!

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