Ask your legislators to stop jailing cannabis consumers.

While cannabis policy reform is sweeping the country, Alabama remains one of only 19 states that still imposes jail time for simple possession of cannabis. The legislature has convened for its 2022 legislative session, and now is the perfect time to let your elected officials know you want them to catch up with the times.

Ask your state legislators to support decriminalizing cannabis in Alabama!

Polling has shown that 63% of Alabama voters support legalizing cannabis for adult use. Surely the margin is even stronger for decriminalization. Still, the legislature must act in order to bring this long overdue policy change.

Thousands of people are arrested each year for cannabis possession in Alabama. Black Alabamians are 4.1 times more likely to be arrested than their white counterparts. In Dekalb County, Black individuals are 45 times more likely to be arrested, the second highest disparity in the nation. The legislature must act in order to bring this long overdue policy change to the Yellowhammer State.

Ask your state legislators to support reducing the penalty for cannabis possession from possible jail time to a civil fine.

Stay tuned for updates — including any efforts to implement and expand the medical cannabis program the legislature enacted last year. To see our summary of the program, click here.

After you reach out to your lawmakers, be sure to share this message with your friends and family in Alabama and encourage them to do the same!

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Ask your legislators to stop jailing cannabis consumers.

While cannabis policy reform is sweeping the country, Georgia remains one of only 19 states that still imposes jail time for simple possession of cannabis.

Polling shows more than 70% of Georgia voters support legalizing cannabis for adult use, and surely the margin is even stronger for decriminalization. Yet more than 45,000 people were arrested in 2018 alone for cannabis possession in the state! The legislature must act in order to bring this long overdue policy change to the Peachtree State.

Make sure your lawmakers know this issue matters to voters. Let your lawmakers know it’s time to stop arresting cannabis consumers. Ask them to support changing the penalty for possession from possible jail time to a civil fine.

After you reach out to your lawmakers, be sure to share this message with your friends and family in Georgia and encourage them to do the same!

And stay tuned for other updates — including about efforts to expand Georgia's very limited, medical cannabis program, which applies only to low-THC cannabis extracts.

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Ask Gov. Edwards to sign medical cannabis flower legislation, too.

On Monday, Gov. John Bel Edwards signed HB 652 into law!

This new law will save thousands of Louisianans from being incarcerated for small amounts of cannabis. Effective August 1, the penalty for possessing up to 14 grams of cannabis will be reduced to a fine of up to $100.

Meanwhile, another important bill — HB 391 — is on Gov. Edwards’ desk.  HB 391 would allow medical cannabis patients to use whole-plant, flower cannabis, which is allowed in all but one other medical cannabis state. Ask the governor to sign it into law.

Thank you to everyone who has worked so hard for humane cannabis policies in Louisiana, including Louisiana Progress — which led the charge on legalization and decriminalization advocacy this year; Kevin Caldwell and Common Sense NOLA, whose trailblazing local decriminalization efforts laid the foundation for statewide reform; and Sensible Marijuana Policy for Louisiana, who have been key to medical cannabis progress and broader reform over the years. We are also so grateful to Rep. Cedric Glover for sponsoring HB 652.

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Let your state senator know that it is past time Louisiana stop jailing cannabis consumers.

Good news! Yesterday evening, the Louisiana House of Representatives voted to reduce the penalty for possession of 14 grams of cannabis to a fine of up to $100 with no jail time.

This bill would save Louisianans the trauma, humiliation, and disruption caused by being locked in a jail cell for possessing a substance that is safer than alcohol. Please take a moment to let your state senator know you want them to support this modest bill — HB 652.

A supermajority of Louisianans support making marijuana legal for adults. At the very least, you can let your senator know, Louisianans should not be incarcerated for simple possession of cannabis.

Meanwhile, the Louisiana House of Representatives has not yet taken up to bills to legalize marijuana for adults’ use. The votes have been rescheduled for today. While it is unlikely that Louisiana’s legalization bills will become law this year, the more lawmakers hear a groundswell of support from their constituents, the quicker that day will come.

Please take a few minutes to call your state representative and ask them to vote “yes” on the legalization bills — HB 699 and HB 434. Our automated software makes it easy to find your state rep’s name and number, and it provides talking points and a sample script you can use to help guide your call. 

Sheriffs who oppose legalization are out in force to try to persuade state reps to vote against legalization. It is crucial that state reps hear from supportive constituents before they cast their votes.

To go the extra mile, urge your friends and family to write their legislators in support of legalization and decriminalization by sharing the link on Facebook or Twitter.

P.S. The bill to allow flower cannabis in the medical cannabis program (HB 391) is on the move, too. It’s already passed the House and is scheduled for a hearing this morning in the Senate Health and Welfare Committee starting at 10 a.m. You can reach out to your lawmakers in support of the bill here.

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Ask your legislators to end cannabis prohibition.

Next week, two legislative committees in Baton Rouge will be hearing testimony on bills that would bring Louisiana’s cannabis policies into the 21st century.

Ask your state lawmakers to support ending Louisiana's war on marijuana.

Ending cannabis prohibition will create jobs and economic opportunity, significantly increase state and local tax revenue, ensure product safety, and free up law enforcement resources so they can focus on real crime.

You can also go the extra mile by testifying in Baton Rouge in support of the bills. Here are the details:

Tuesday Hearings — Decriminalization + Voter-Referral for Legalization

What: House Administration of Criminal Justice Committee hearing on HB 652 — which would reduce the penalty for up to 14 grams of cannabis to a $50 fine, or an alternate penalty in lieu of a fine for those who can’t pay; HB 524, which would legalize cannabis for adults if approved by voters; and HB 243, which would legalize cannabis for adults if a separate regulatory bill is adopted.

Where: Committee Room 6, State Capitol, 900 North Third Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70804

When: Tuesday, April 27, committee meeting begins at 9:00 a.m.

Thursday Hearing — Legalization

What: House Agriculture Committee hearing on HB 637— which would legalize and regulate cannabis.

Where: Committee Room 3, State Capitol, 900 North Third Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70804

When: Thursday, April 29, committee meeting begins at 9:00 a.m.

Face masks are required due to the coronavirus, and temperatures will be checked. You can find more background information, tips, and talking points here.

And please don’t forget to write your lawmakers. Then, spread the word to others in the state.

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Contact your state senator and ask them to support SB 107!

I have some encouraging news to share with you. Last week, Sen. Sharif Street filed a bill with the Judiciary Committee to decriminalize up to 30 grams of cannabis.

Currently, possession and distribution of 30 grams of cannabis (or eight grams of hashish without intent to sell) is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days imprisonment and a $500 fine.

Under SB 107, the penalty for possession and distribution would be reduced to a summary offense and a $25 civil fine. The penalty for smoking cannabis in public places would be reduced to a $100 civil fine.

While the measure is an important step toward ending the failed policies of the war on cannabis, it wouldn’t reduce penalties associated with paraphernalia. In other words, cannabis consumers could still be jailed for the baggie cannabis is stored in, even if the cannabis itself is decriminalized.

The bill has not yet been scheduled for a hearing. We know that inaction will only lead to continued arrests and the ruining of more lives of Pennsylvanians.

Please consider emailing your state senator and asking them to strengthen the bill and sign on as a cosponsor.

Thank you for your support, and please continue to look out for updates throughout the 2021 legislative session.

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Contact your lawmakers and urge them to end cannabis prohibition.

In May, Gov. Ralph Northam (D) signed a decriminalization bill — SB 2/ HB 972 — into law, making Virginia the 27th state to decriminalize simple cannabis possession. Today, the new law officially goes into effect!

Starting today, possession of one ounce of cannabis or less is punishable by up to a $25 fine — the lowest fine of any decriminalization state. You can read a full summary of the new law here.

While this reform is long overdue in Virginia, broader reform — legalizing and regulating cannabis for adults — is needed to further reduce cannabis-related arrests, remove cannabis as a justification for police interactions, and displace the illicit market by providing adults safe, regulated access.

Just last week, the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus included legalization on its list of priorities for a special session set for August. The decriminalization law also creates a work group to study legalization in Virginia and make recommendations by November 30, 2020.

Now is a great time to reach out to your lawmakers and urge them to support legalizing, taxing, and regulating cannabis for adults 21 and older.

In other news, several improvements to Virginia’s limited medical cannabis program also go into effect today. Patients are now legally protected from prosecution (not just conviction) for possessing their medicine, and a greater variety of products and more dispensary locations will also be available to patients when products are available for purchase.

Please take a minute to reach out to your lawmakers in support of legalization, and be sure to share this news with your family and friends in Virginia!

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Urge your state senator to call for a hearing and vote on S. 2535.

On Thursday, the New Jersey Assembly voted in favor (63-10, with five abstentions) of a decriminalization bill (A.1897) that would decriminalize possession, manufacture, and distribution of up to two ounces of cannabis, reducing the penalty to a $50 civil fine. The bill would also create a virtual expungement process and prohibit discrimination in lending, housing, and public accommodations for prior offenses. You can check out a full summary of the bill here.

Unfortunately, the bill that was advanced has significant loopholes that would allow for continued criminalization of marijuana users. New Jerseyans could still be arrested and incarcerated for possession of cannabis-related paraphernalia (including the container cannabis is in), being under the influence of cannabis, or failing to hand over cannabis to law enforcement.

A more comprehensive decriminalization bill (S. 2535) has also been filed in the Senate. The Senate bill would decriminalize up to one pound of cannabis, includes provisions to eliminate law enforcement’s ability to detain or arrest someone based on the smell or odor of cannabis, and prevents discrimination for past convictions in housing and public accommodations. You can read a full summary of the Senate bill here.

As the Senate bill awaits a hearing, you can amplify the need for decriminalization NOW. Ask your state senators to call for a hearing and vote on S. 2535 NOW!

Currently, simple possession of cannabis is punishable by up to six months in jail. According to an ACLU-NJ report, the number of cannabis arrests have risen over the last decade, with the latest data finding that 94 individuals are arrested every day for cannabis in New Jersey.

We know that decriminalization is a vital interim step to prevent thousands of arrests between now and when the November legalization ballot measure would take effect. You can help us advocate for a strong decriminalization bill by contacting your senator and urging them hold an immediate hearing on S. 2535. Then, please spread the word to your friends and family in New Jersey so that they, too, can raise their voices for justice.

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Earlier today, Gov. Ralph Northam signed SB 2 into law, which decriminalizes cannabis possession. Starting July 1, possession of up to an ounce will be punishable by a civil fine of up to $25 instead of a criminal penalty and potential jail time. This is the lowest fine of any decriminalization law!

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Legislature approves medical cannabis improvements.

During an unprecedented one-day session — where delegates convened under a canopy and senators met in the Virginia Science Museum — the legislature considered Gov. Ralph Northam’s amendments to legislation — SB 2/HB 972 — to decriminalize simple cannabis possession in Virginia.

The legislature rejected two of the governor’s proposed amendments to the bill — an amendment to push back the due date of a legalization study and an amendment to remove the legislature’s provision that would treat the $25 civil citation as a misdemeanor for purposes of criminal procedure, including allowing those accused to demand a jury trial.

The legislation will now head back to the governor’s desk for final action. Help get decriminalization across the finish line by contacting the governor today and asking that he sign the bill into law!

If the bill is ultimately enacted, beginning on July 1, 2020, possession of one ounce of cannabis or less will be punishable by a civil fine of up to $25 instead of a criminal penalty and potential jail time. This is the lowest fine of any decriminalization law in the country.

You can check out a full summary of the legislation here.

In other news, Virginia made several improvements to its medical cannabis program this year — including formally legalizing CBD and THC-A products, expanding the definition of products a patient can possess, and expanding the number of dispensing facilities allowed in the state from five to 25. The changes will go into effect on July 1, 2020. A full summary of Virginia’s medical cannabis program can be found here.

Be sure to share the news with your friends and family in Virginia!

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