Ask your lawmakers to support HB 305!

Exciting news! Rep. Ed Osienski (D) has just introduced HB 305, a bill that would make cannabis legal for adults 21 and older, replacing prohibition with a system of regulation that focuses on public health and equity.

The bill is broadly similar to last year’s legalization bill, HB 150, but includes some important changes including allocating seven percent of tax revenue from legal sales to a Justice Reinvestment Fund. You can check out our full summary of HB 305 here.

It’s important your lawmakers hear from you — ask them to support HB 305 this session!

The bill will first be taken up by the House Health and Human Development Committee. Stay tuned for future updates about the bill hearing and how to raise your voice in support of equitable legalization this year.

By passing HB 305 this year, Delaware can further reduce police interactions and arrests for cannabis, boost public health and public safety by displacing the illicit market, create a new source of jobs and revenue, and begin to repair the decades of harm cannabis prohibition has caused in communities of color.

After you email your lawmakers, please share this message with your friends and family in Delaware and encourage them to do the same.

Together, we can end prohibition in the First State!

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Please ask your lawmakers to end cannabis prohibition in 2022!

Last year, two Delaware House committees approved HB 150 — a bill to legalize, tax, and regulate cannabis for adults. However, the legislature adjourned without further action on the bill.

Rep. Ed Osienski, sponsor of HB 150, plans to introduce a revised version of the bill again, with the aim of passing it this year.

The General Assembly convenes for its 2022 legislative session today. Now is a great time to reach out to your lawmakers and let them know that you want them to equitably legalize cannabis for adults this year!

Be sure to stay plugged in to the Delaware Cannabis Policy Coalition email alerts for more updates once the bill is introduced.

Delaware does not have a ballot initiative process, so the legislature must act to bring equitable legalization to the First State. A strong majority of Delawareans support legalizing cannabis for adults, and it’s important that your lawmakers hear from you!

By legalizing cannabis this year, Delaware can further reduce police interactions and arrests for cannabis, boost public health and public safety by displacing the illicit market, create a new source of jobs and revenue, and begin to repair the decades of harm cannabis prohibition has caused in communities of color.

After you email your lawmakers, please share this message with your friends and family in Delaware and encourage them to do the same.

Together, we can end prohibition in the First State!

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Contact your lawmakers today and ask them to prioritize HB 150 in 2022!

This year, two House committees approved HB 150 — a bill to legalize and regulate cannabis for adults in Delaware. The bill was cleared and scheduled for a House floor vote on June 10, but unfortunately, that vote was postponed to allow more time to work on amendments.

The legislature adjourns today. However, since the General Assembly holds a two-year session, the bill will pick up where it left off in January 2022.

While it’s unfortunate that the bill wasn’t taken up this year, we must keep the pressure on lawmakers to prioritize HB 150 when they return in January. Please reach out to your lawmakers today and ask them to support HB 150 next session!

Be sure to stay plugged in to the Delaware Cannabis Policy Coalition email alerts leading up to 2022 for actions to take to help make sure HB 150 makes it over the finish line next year.

Mourning Deborah Hamilton

We also wanted to share some very sad news. Deborah Hamilton — who lobbied for medical cannabis, decriminalization, and legalization for MPP over the years — passed away recently. Debbie was among the most respected and skilled advocates in Leg Hall, and she was absolutely crucial to the progress that has been made in the First State for humane cannabis policies. We are lucky to have worked closely with her, and our hearts break for her family and loved ones.

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Ask your state representative to vote YES on HB 150.

Big news! On Friday, the House Appropriations Committee approved HB 150 — a bill to legalize and regulate cannabis for adults in Delaware. As you may recall, the House Health and Human Development Committee had already approved the bill back in March. Now, the legislation is cleared for a vote by the full House of Representatives. The vote is scheduled for this Thursday, June 10 at 2 p.m.  

Email your representative today and ask them to vote YES on HB 150! 

The bill needs to receive a supermajority (25 votes) to clear the House. The legislature is set to adjourn on June 30. It’s more important than ever that your lawmakers hear from you — ask them to legalize cannabis THIS YEAR by voting YES on HB 150!

HB 150 is the just, equitable cannabis policy that Delawareans deserve. It would legalize possession of up to one ounce of cannabis for adults 21 and older, allow for mandatory expungement of past cannabis possession convictions, and promote equity and inclusion in the legal industry from communities disproportionately impacted by cannabis prohibition. You can check out our full summary of HB 150 here.

A strong majority of Delawareans support legalization. Ask your state representative to listen to their constituents and vote YES on HB 150. Please help us spread the word by forwarding this message to your friends and family in Delaware or sharing this link on social media — mpp.org/LegalizeDE — and urging your contacts to help get HB 150 past the finish line. 

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Please take a minute to email your lawmakers in support of HB 150!

This Thursday night, the Delaware Cannabis Policy Coalition is holding a virtual town hall to respond to concerns around cannabis legalization. Mark your calendars, and we hope you will join us!

You can check out a full summary of this year’s legalization bill, HB 150, here. We need all hands on deck to make sure this is the year Delaware moves forward with legalization!

As a reminder, we’re still recruiting volunteers to help generate phone calls to legislators in key districts. Please email onaugle@mpp.org if you’re willing to make some calls to constituents of key lawmakers. We’ll send details on how to get started.

And don’t forget to join us for this important discussion on Thursday at 7 p.m., and please also reach out to your lawmakers and ask them to support legalization this year. Be sure to share this message with your family and friends to help us spread the word.

Together, we can end prohibition in the First State!

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Ask your lawmakers to support HB 150!

Today, Delaware’s House Health and Human Development Committee voted 10-5 in favor of HB 150, a bill to legalize, tax, and regulate cannabis for adults 21 and older. It now moves to the House Appropriations Committee before heading to the House floor.

The bill will need a three-fifths supermajority (25 votes) to pass the House, so it’s very important your representatives hear from you.

You can check out our full summary of the bill here.

By passing HB 150 this year, Delaware can reduce the number of cannabis-related arrests and police interactions, free up law enforcement resources to focus on more serious crimes, and generate a new revenue source for the state.

Ask your state rep to stand with 61 percent of Delawareans and vote YES on HB 150! After you contact your representative, forward this message to your networks in Delaware — or share the action link on social media — and encourage them to do the same.

Together, we can end prohibition in the First State!

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Ask your lawmakers to support HB 150.

The House Health and Human Development Committee has scheduled a hearing for HB 150, legislation to legalize, tax, and regulate cannabis for adults 21 and older. The virtual hearing will take place on Wednesday, March 24 at 11 a.m.

Please write your lawmakers today and ask them to support HB 150.

You can voice your support at the hearing by providing written or oral testimony. We particularly encourage testimony from supportive law enforcement, clergy, substance abuse and medical professionals, educators, and those who have been harmed by cannabis prohibition.

For more information on HB 150, you can check out our summary here. You can find some arguments in support of legalizing and regulating cannabis here.

Written testimony can be submitted by emailing it to HouseCommitteeComment@delaware.gov. Please specify the House Committee (Health and Human Development), the date of the committee meeting (March 24, 2021), and the bill number for which you are submitting public comment (HB 150). Submissions will be accepted in advance of the committee meeting and up to 24 hours after the hearing has concluded.

Oral testimony will be limited to two minutes. You can register to submit oral testimony here. Check out the guidelines under “Minutes and Supporting Documents” for more details on providing testimony.

Help us send a strong message to the General Assembly to end cannabis prohibition in the First State this year! Please show your support at the upcoming bill hearing, contact your lawmakers, and forward this message to your friends and family in Delaware.

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Ask your lawmakers to legalize cannabis for adults this session.

Exciting news! Today, Rep. Ed Osienski introduced his highly anticipated legalization bill — HB 150.

The bill would legalize possession of up to one ounce of cannabis for adults 21 and older, allow for mandatory expungement of past cannabis possession convictions, and promote equity and inclusion in the legal industry from communities disproportionately impacted by cannabis prohibition. You can check out our full summary of the bill here.

Please reach out to your lawmakers today and ask them to support HB 150!

There is increasing momentum for Delaware to move forward with legalization this year. New Jersey has officially enacted its legalization law, and the Virginia Legislature recently sent a legalization bill to its governor. Rep. Osienski has said he is close to the two-thirds majority we need to pass the House.

Replacing cannabis prohibition with sensible regulations would reduce the number of cannabis-related arrests and police interactions, free up law enforcement resources to focus on more serious crimes, and generate a much-needed new source of jobs and revenue for the state.

To help get legalization over the finish line this year, email your lawmakers and ask them to support legalization, share this action on social media, and encourage others to do the same. Stay tuned for future updates on the 2021 legalization effort.

Together, we can end prohibition in the First State!

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