We wanted to share with you a study performed by Professor Fred Cartensen, Director of the Connecticut Center for Economic Analysis (CCEA), and commissioned by MPP with the goal of better understanding the potential economic effects of cannabis legalization in Connecticut. The estimates are conservative and provide insight into the financial possibilities that lie ahead once Connecticut begins to regulate and tax cannabis like other states in the region and throughout the country. The study projects…

The legislature is resuming its work on the bill to legalize and regulate cannabis sales — write your state representatives to follow up on their votes from earlier this year and remind them of S. 54’s importance to Vermont’s economic recovery! Tomorrow, the conference committee that has been formed to work out a final version of Vermont’s cannabis regulation bill will hold its first meeting! S. 54, which already passed the House (90-54) and the Senate (23-5), has been awaiting action from this…

The legislature is planning to resume its work soon — email your elected officials now and urge them to make passage of S. 54 a top priority! Vermont’s economy has been crippled in recent months by COVID-19. It is unfortunate that adult-use cannabis businesses were not already operating before the pandemic arrived, because they could have provided an important source of jobs and tax revenue during the crisis. Fortunately, the legislature will have an opportunity to finish its work and pass a final…

Learn candidates’ positions on cannabis policy and become an active participant in the election! Our voter guide for the New Hampshire primary elections, which will take place Tuesday, September 8, has now been published. The voter guide includes survey responses, votes cast by incumbents, and any relevant comments. In N.H., it’s never safe to assume a candidate’s position on cannabis policy on the basis of party affiliation, so please take time to read the voter guide and learn where candidates…

Now it’s up to the Senate, and you can help.Several big measures have been put forth by the House of Representatives in the past 24 hours. Here is a quick rundown of the key provisions and how you can help:Protections for legalization programsThe House voted to protect state legalization programs from federal law enforcement. The Blumenauer-McClintock-Norton amendment was added to a budget bill called the CJS, which received a huge vote in support (254-163). Thanks to all those who reached out to…

Last Friday, New Approach Montana, a Helena-based marijuana reform campaign, submitted over 130,000 signatures from counties across the state in order to qualify two complementary marijuana legalization initiatives for the November 2020 ballot. Despite the severe impact of COVID-19, the campaign was able to reach its goals in time for the signature submission deadline.The campaign submitted over 52,000 signatures in support of I-190, a statutory initiative that would legalize, regulate, and tax marijuana…

Tell Senate leaders this decision is unacceptable, and express your disappointment to your state senator! Sadly, it has become apparent that N.H. Senate leaders intend to use COVID-19 as an excuse to avoid voting on the legalization bill. HB 1648 passed the House earlier this year in an overwhelming 236-112 vote, but last week the Senate tabled it without giving it a public hearing or a vote. This is outrageous. However, it's possible that the Senate could change course and bring the bill to a…

There is no excuse for maintaining cannabis prohibition — Urge your state senator to support HB 1648! In February, the New Hampshire House of Representatives overwhelmingly voted in favor of HB 1648, the bipartisan bill that would legalize possession and limited cultivation of cannabis for adults 21 and older in New Hampshire. The bill passed with a veto-proof 236-112 majority and advanced to the Senate, which has rejected previous cannabis legalization bills. Beginning in March, the legislature…

Because COVID-19 caused major delays in the signature-gathering drive, New Approach Montana — the campaign working to pass two complementary ballot initiatives to legalize, regulate, and tax marijuana for adults 21 and older in Montana — is in a race against time to qualify the constitutional initiative for the November ballot! The constitutional measure (CI 118), which would allow the minimum legal age for marijuana to be set at 21, needs just over 50,000 valid signatures to qualify. The statutory…

Check out our medical cannabis voter guide and logistical details from the S.C. Elections Commission. Tomorrow — Tuesday, June 9 — is Primary Election Day in South Carolina. If you’re a registered voter, don’t miss this opportunity to help decide who represents you in Columbia. This year’s election will be critical for determining whether South Carolina will finally enact a compassionate medical cannabis law in 2021. Before you cast your votes, check out our voter guides for candidates for the…