Ask your state lawmakers to support reduced penalties for cannabis possession. Good news! Last week, Sen. Teresa Ruiz, along with cosponsor Sen. Ronald Rice, filed a sweeping decriminalization bill. If passed, the bill would dramatically reduce penalties for distribution and possession charges, prohibit discrimination for past convictions, and automatically expunge marijuana records. You can check out a full summary here. Please email your state senator and assemblymember today to ask them to support…

Contact your representatives today and urge them to pass S. 294! Last week, the Vermont Senate passed S. 294, a bill that would require the automatic expungement of all cannabis possession offenses. The bill also includes a provision that would decriminalize possession of cannabis in amounts that are up to twice the legal limit for adults. This important bill faces an uncertain fate in the House of Representatives. Please contact your representatives right now to ask for their support! If S. 294…

After winning overwhelming bipartisan approval from the Oklahoma legislature last week, HB 3228 was vetoed by the governor yesterday. And though marijuana policy reform advocates made a last-second push to urge legislators to override Gov. Stitt’s veto, lawmakers adjourned the legislative session without taking action on the bill. The legislation would have allowed out-of-state medical marijuana patients to obtain a renewable three-month temporary license and permit dispensaries to deliver medical…

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! Virginia now joins the 26 states and Washington, D.C. that have stopped jailing their residents for possessing small amounts of marijuana. Here are a few details about the new law: Reduces the…

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…

By Steve Hawkins, executive director, Marijuana Policy Project The coronavirus crisis has abruptly forced all Americans to reexamine our priorities. Entire sectors of the economy have been shuttered as we reduce contact between people to flatten the curve and reduce the death toll. Elected officials and regulators, in particular, must reevaluate a wide range of government policies to ensure a swift, coordinated, and appropriate response to the pandemic. One public policy that offers no benefit…

On Saturday, Gov. Ralph Northam approved legislation, SB 2/HB 972, which would decriminalize cannabis possession — but requested several amendments. Before the bill is enacted, the legislature must consider the governor’s proposed amendments, which include pushing back the due date for a legalization study by a year and deleting a provision that would end driver’s license suspensions for marijuana possession. The legislature is set to reconvene and consider the amendments on April 22. If the bill…

Early adjournment leaves decrim fix bill up in the air — take action to keep it alive. Good news! Both chambers of the General Assembly have approved HB 83, a bill that would automatically shield past cannabis charges occurring before October 1, 2014, in which possession was the only charge in the case. The bill now heads to Gov. Larry Hogan’s desk for final approval. If enacted, HB 83 would shield nearly 200,000 cannabis possession charges from public view on the Judiciary’s “Case Search” website.…

Virginia is about to become the 27th state to decriminalize marijuana possession! The legislature has approved a bill to stop arresting and jailing Virginians for simple marijuana possession. It now heads to Gov. Ralph Northam’s desk, and it is expected that he will sign it into law. The bill would make possession of one ounce or less of marijuana a civil penalty punishable by a $25 fine. Under current law, marijuana possession is a criminal offense punishable by up to 30 days in jail and/or up…

Urge your legislators to stop criminalizing cannabis consumers. Today, Louisiana’s state lawmakers convene in Baton Rouge for their 2020 legislative session. Already more than a dozen bills are pending to improve the state’s cannabis policies. Write your lawmakers to let them know you want 2020 to be the year Louisiana stops arresting cannabis consumers. Proposals have been introduced to regulate marijuana for adults’ use, to allow local legalization, to decriminalize simple possession, and to…