The Arizona Department of Health Services recently released a draft of rules that will guide implementation of the social equity licensing program for cannabis businesses, which was included as part of the voter-approved Prop 207 that legalized cannabis for adults last year. 

On Monday, February 15, the House Health and Human Services Committee advanced (7-4) Rep. Javier Martinez’ HB 12, which would legalize cannabis for adult use. The bill now heads to additional committees for consideration.

As Election Day 2020 draws near, we hope you are registered and have made a plan to vote. This is an important election year for our movement to end prohibition, with several states considering cannabis-related ballot measures.At MPP, we expect that for the fifth election in a row, voters in multiple states will approve cannabis reform ballot initiatives. This will put even more pressure on Congress to fix our broken federal cannabis laws.Here’s a quick rundown of cannabis on the 2020 ballot:Montana…

Last week, former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle announced the he, along with Rapid City resident and former Reagan Administration Senior Official Chuck Parkinson, is endorsing Amendment A and Measure 26, the marijuana reform ballot initiatives that South Dakota voters will consider this November. Former Sen. Tom Daschle represented South Dakota in Congress from 1979 to 2005 and is one of the longest-serving Senate Democratic leaders in history. He is a native of Aberdeen, South Dakota, and a…

The Arizona Legislature began its 2018 legislative session last week, and lawmakers already have several marijuana bills to consider. Unfortunately, many would undermine the existing medical marijuana program. HB 2068 would allow prosecutors to determine whether individuals on parole or probation can access medical marijuana, despite a 2015 state Supreme Court decision that held medical marijuana could not be withheld from patients under those circumstances. Another bill, SB 1060, would make it a…

On Election Day, voters in California, Maine, Massachusetts, and Nevada declared an end to the war on marijuana in their states by approving initiatives to regulate marijuana similarly to alcohol for adults. This historic event was by far the biggest victory for drug policy reform to date, and will help pave the way for progress around the country. There are now eight states where marijuana is legal for adults to possess and where cultivation and retail sales are regulated and taxed. Marijuana possession…

Today is the day! This is the biggest election in marijuana policy reform history, but even if you can't vote on a legalization or medical marijuana ballot initiative today, you could play an important part to make future progress possible in your state. Before you vote, please check out MPP's voter guides if you live in the following places: Delaware District of Columbia Illinois Nebraska New Hampshire Pennsylvania South Carolina Vermont And don't forget to tell your friends in Arizona, Arkansas,…

The campaign in support of Prop. 205 in Arizona has unveiled a new billboard in downtown Phoenix that calls out the opposition campaign for running a "Reefer Madness" campaign "paid for with profits from opioid sales." The ad refers to the "downright false" TV ads that are being run by Arizonans for Responsible Drug Policy, a committee formed to oppose Prop. 205 that received a massive contribution from Insys Therapeutics, a local pharmaceutical company. The Yes on 205 campaign also set the record…

This week, we are announcing our “5 on 5” money bomb campaign to see all five recreational marijuana initiatives pass this Election Day. Pitch in $5 on October 5 to one of the five recreational marijuana campaigns and tip the scales on ending prohibition across the country! On one side of the scale: Marijuana prohibition contributes to a racist criminal justice system, creates massive profits for drug cartels, and prevents police from investigating real crimes. On the other side of the scale:…

While there is a long history of opposition to sensible marijuana policy reform from some big pharmaceutical companies, September saw the biggest financial donation from such a company against a legalization ballot initiative to date, and their motives couldn't be more blatant. According to campaign finance reports, the committee formed to oppose Prop. 205, Arizonans for Responsible Drug Policy, received a $500,000 contribution on August 31 from Insys Therapeutics, Inc. According to a CNBC investigative…