As the legislature sets to adjourn its 2022 legislative session at midnight tonight, cannabis policy reform has crossed the finish line!

On Friday, Gov. Hogan (R) announced that he would let HB 837, “Cannabis Reform,” become law without his signature. As you may recall, the legislature already passed HB 1 — which will refer the question of legalization to voters on the November ballot.

The question that HB 1 lays out to appear on the ballot is: 

“Do you favor the legalization of the use of cannabis by an individual who is at least 21 years of age on or after July 1, 2023, in the State of Maryland?”

If voters approve HB 1 on the ballot, HB 837 will allow residents 21 and older to legally possess up to 1.5 ounces and cultivate up to two plants beginning July 1, 2023. The bill also includes limited expungement, funding for minority- and women-owned businesses, and a community reinvestment and repair fund.

You can check out our summary of the bill here.

Thank you to the lawmakers, advocates, and residents across the state who helped to achieve this big step to finally end cannabis prohibition in the Free State!

We look forward to continuing to work to bring equitable legalization to Marylanders.

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Bills that will allow reciprocity for out-of-state medical patients and medical paraphernalia to be heard next week!

Two bills will be heard in the House Committee Administration of Criminal Justice on Wednesday, April 6. Both bills are very important to making our medical program just and functional.

HB 137 would provide protection from prosecution for visiting qualified medical patients. Our family members and the millions of tourists who visit our state every year undoubtedly include tens of thousands of medical patients. They should not face criminal prosecution in the Pelican State for the use of their medicine. You can support visiting medical patients here.

HB 775 would remove paraphernalia used for therapeutic reasons from the definition of drug paraphernalia. Last year, the legislature legalized cannabis in its natural form and patients need not fear prosecution for items used to administer that cannabis. Let your legislators know that patients need access to methods of delivery for their medical cannabis.

Despite our best efforts and those of our allies, HB 700, which increases penalties for small amounts of cannabis for people under 18, last week was passed favorably (11-3) to the House for consideration. On Tuesday, April 5, the bill will get a vote in the House. You can let your legislators know you do not support incarceration for cannabis possession for any Louisianan.

Now is the time to engage your legislators. As the session kicks into high gear, they need to hear from constituents. Pressure from constituents is the best method to get your legislators to support cannabis reform in Louisiana.

We will alert you this session as cannabis bills continue to be heard in the legislature. You can view a synopsis of pending legislation here. Be sure to share this with your friends and families in Louisiana!

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Now is the time to let your legislators know you support medical cannabis!

Yesterday, the House Judiciary Committee advanced  HB 136 — the medical cannabis bill — in a 15-1 vote. It now heads to the House floor, which has passed similar bills in past years. 

The issue has never gotten a vote in the Senate, but Senate Majority Leader Damon Thayer has stated that he will not get “in the way” if a medical cannabis bill has sufficient Republican support for a vote in the Senate. It’s crucial that you engage with your legislators. HB 136 is a solid bipartisan bill sponsored by Rep. Jason Nemes (R), who has been a champion for medical cannabis for years. 

Please write your state legislators in support of medical cannabis! HB 136 is the best bet to move cannabis reform forward in 2022. Time is running out for this year’s session, so your voice is critical.

Help spread the word on this historic bill by forwarding this message to your friends and family in Kentucky!

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Now is the time to let your legislators know you support medical cannabis!

State Senate Majority Leader Damon Thayer has stated that he will not get “in the way” if a medical cannabis bill has sufficient Republican support for a vote in the Senate. HB 136 is a solid bipartisan bill sponsored by Rep. Jason Nemes (R), who has been a champion for medical cannabis for years. Now is the time to engage with your legislators to support this bill!

Please write your state legislators in support of medical cannabis!

There are other cannabis bills that have been submitted, including legalization bills, but their chances to gain traction are limited. HB 136 is the best bet to move cannabis reform forward in 2022. Time is running out for this year’s session, so your voice is critical.

Help spread the word on this historic bill by forwarding this message to your friends and family in Kentucky!

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Exciting news! Yesterday, Gov. Murphy signed three bills into law that officially enact legalization in New Jersey!

Gov. Murphy’s signature ends a three-year campaign to regulate and tax cannabis in the Garden State. As you likely recall, in November 2020, New Jerseyans overwhelmingly approved a ballot referendum supporting cannabis legalization. The following month, the legislature responded with the passage of A.21/S.21 and S.2535. However, both measures stalled due to concerns surrounding penalties for underage use.

Late last week, the Senate Judiciary Committee advanced A.5342, which addresses penalties for underage use. Today, both chambers voted to approve the bill, and Gov. Murphy immediately signed all three bills into law. You can check out a summary of the bills here.

Effective immediately, adults can now legally possess up to six ounces of cannabis or 170 grams of concentrate.

Although Gov. Murphy’s signature means the end of arrests and prosecution for cannabis in New Jersey, it will likely take a few months before residents are able to purchase cannabis from retailers, as the recently formed Cannabis Regulatory Commission will develop rules for adult-use licenses.

We’d like to extend sincere thanks to all of you who helped push to make cannabis reform in New Jersey a reality.

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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. 

The choice president-elect Biden makes will say a lot about the mindset of our next president and the role federal law enforcement will take. This is where the rubber meets the road and is a critical test of the incoming administration to make good on its commitment to end cannabis prohibition, expunge records, and move the federal government away from the failures of the war on cannabis. 

Voters today support cannabis reform by a wide margin — in red and blue states alike. The next AG should reflect that sentiment and guide us to better policy, rather than a vain and harmful attempt to rewind the clock.  

Serious criminal justice reform will not be possible until we end the war on cannabis, and voters agree. Lawmakers who care about this issue should ask serious questions of the AG candidate. Here is MPP’s list of 10 cannabis questions we think the nominee for AG should answer before a vote is taken: 

1. Would you restore the Cole memo, and how would you improve upon it? 

2. How would you limit the use of DEA cannabis interdiction in light of the 36 states with cannabis regulatory systems? 

3. What do you see as the relationship between cannabis and other drugs, if any? Does the ‘gateway theory’ have merit? 

4. What percentage of federal resources should be devoted to the reduction in cannabis use versus a reduction in the use of opioids?

5. Is cannabis more harmful than alcohol? Should penalties for use be more harsh than those for alcohol?

6. Should cannabis be on the same schedule as heroin or meth? Should it be on the schedule at all?

7. Is marijuana more harmful than marijuana prohibition?

8. Has the drug war been a success or failure, and what if anything would you do differently?

9. Do you support the release of nonviolent cannabis offenders who are currently incarcerated and the expungement of nonviolent cannabis offenses from criminal histories?

10. Would electronic banking as provided for in the SAFE Banking Act help distinguish between state-legal marijuana industry actors and the illicit market?

We were encouraged to hear statements by President-elect Biden and Vice-President-elect Harris showing support for meaningful cannabis reform. Now is the time to measure just how serious those commitments are. Stay tuned as we hear who the administration puts forth.

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Check out our allies’ Texas Marijuana Policy Voter Guide.

Early voting in Texas started today — Tuesday, October 13 — and lasts until Friday, October 30, and Election Day is November 3!

In past years, comprehensive cannabis bills have been proposed, but only modest reforms — such as a limited, low-THC medical cannabis program — have passed. This year, Texans have the opportunity to vote in a new legislature that could reform the state’s outdated cannabis laws.

Our allies at Texans for Responsible Marijuana Policy surveyed candidates for the Texas House, Texas Senate, U.S. House, and U.S. Senate on where they stand on a range of cannabis policies. Check out the voter guide ahead of the upcoming election to find out candidate responses to the survey, as well as voting records for incumbents.

You can find out if you’re registered to vote here and find out when, where, and how to vote here.

State legislative races are often close contests that can be decided by just a few votes. Don’t miss out on a chance to decide who will represent you in Austin and vote on Texas’ cannabis policy in the 2021 session.

After you’ve had a chance to look at the voter guide, be sure to spread the word by forwarding this message to friends and family and sharing the voter guide on social media.

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Tuesday, November 3 is Election Day. This year’s elections will be critical in determining whether Connecticut will finally legalize cannabis for adults 21 and older.

We’ve put together a voter guide on where the candidates stand on legalizing, regulating, and taxing cannabis for adults 21 and older. It includes responses to our candidate questionnaire, along with past public statements.

Eleven states have legalized cannabis for adults’ use, including three in the New England region. Just last week, Vermont’s governor allowed a bill to permit legal adult sales to become law, and Maine began its adult-use sales. In neighboring Massachusetts, over $150 million in tax revenue has been generated from cannabis since adult sales began in 2018. A recent Connecticut Center for Economic Analysis (CCEA) study found that Connecticut could generate $692 to $740 million in total direct state tax revenue over five years of sales, and if Connecticut legalizes cannabis and begins sales before New York and Rhode Island, sales will likely be far higher. Indeed, there is much at stake in this year’s elections for the issue of cannabis reform.

I encourage you to first look up your state legislators here. Then, check out our voter guides for Connecticut Senate races and Connecticut House races to see where the candidates stand.

After you have a chance to look at our voter guide, please spread the word. If a candidate in your district has not taken a public position, we strongly encourage you to ask them these questions yourself! We would be happy to update the voter guide with their answers; please email DeVaughn Ward with any updates.

State legislative races are often close contests that can be decided by just a few votes. Don’t miss out on a chance to decide who represents you in Hartford and will vote on Connecticut’s cannabis policy in the 2021 session.

The deadline to register to vote is October 27. Absentee ballots must be received by the local town clerk (or will not be counted) by 8 p.m. on November 3. Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

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