On November 7, 2023, Ohio voters overwhelmingly approved an MPP-backed initiative to legalize cannabis for adults! Ohio is now the 24th state in the country to legalize adult-use marijuana and the 14th to do so by a public vote. With this victory, more than half of Americans (52%) live in a legal cannabis state for the first time! Furthermore, it puts us just one state away from half of the states in the country ending cannabis prohibition!

Once the measure is certified, adults 21 and older can possess up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis, including up to 15 grams of concentrate, and securely grow up to six plants. Legal sales are anticipated to begin in 2024. Issue 2 also allocates funding to establish a social equity and jobs program, and to study expungement and sentencing reform. Check out our summary for more details of the new law.

MPP was proud to be a major financial supporter of the campaign. Our involvement in Ohio cannabis reform efforts dates back to 2015, when MPP joined forces with local advocates to spearhead a ballot initiative campaign to enact medical cannabis, which spurred the legislature to enact the state’s medical cannabis law.

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After signatures are verified, the Ohio Legislature will have an opportunity to act 

Yesterday, the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol announced that they have submitted 206,943 signatures to the Ohio Secretary of State — over 70,000 more than needed to meet the requirement for the first phase of the ballot initiative qualification process.

After state officials verify that the signature requirements have been met, the Ohio Legislature will have four months to approve the measure as it is currently written. If they do not, the campaign will have an opportunity to collect an additional 132,887 signatures from voters to place the measure on the November 2022 ballot. 

If enacted, the 2022 legalization initiative will:

• Permit adults 21 and older to purchase, possess, and consume up to two and a half ounces of cannabis, including up to 15 grams of cannabis concentrate;
• Allow home cultivation (up to six plants per adult and up to 12 plants per residence);
• Establish a system of responsibly regulated cannabis businesses; and
• Impose a 10% tax on cannabis sales and direct revenue to local communities, substance abuse treatment services, and a social equity and jobs program.

Ohio could become one of the next states to end the failed policy of cannabis prohibition. If you live in the state, please get involved and support the campaign by visiting the campaign's website!

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Take action and send a message to the governor now.

Thankfully, Gov. Mike DeWine and state regulators have taken responsible steps to protect access to medical cannabis during the COVID-19 pandemic, including deeming medical cannabis businesses “essential” and allowing telemedicine consultations between doctors and patients.

Several medical cannabis states are allowing home delivery for patients to minimize the health risks for an already vulnerable population. Gov. DeWine recently said he is considering allowing medical cannabis deliveries during the crisis.

Take action now and ask Gov. DeWine to permit home delivery.

You can also help by forwarding this call to action to others, contacting the governor's office at (614) 644-4357, and making an appeal on Twitter.

It’s crucial that Ohio maintains a system of safe access to medical cannabis while also promoting social distancing during the pandemic.

Thank you.

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Send your letter to the Ohio State Medical Board.

Quick reminder: Sunday, March 1 is the last day the Ohio State Medical Board will be accepting comments regarding the possible addition of anxiety, autism spectrum disorder, and cachexia (wasting syndrome) as qualifying conditions for medical marijuana.

So far, our supporters have sent in over 800 letters! If you haven’t yet, will you send a message now?

There’s considerable evidence that patients with these conditions can benefit from medical marijuana, and many other states already allow them to qualify.

Please take a moment to let them know you support adding these conditions by emailing them at MedicalMarijuana@med.ohio.gov. Or use our email action tool, which allows you to edit a pre-written message.

Please forward this email to others so they can send a letter, too!

Thank you.

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Click here to send an email to the State Medical Board of Ohio.

The State Medical Board of Ohio is accepting public comments through March 1 regarding the possible addition of anxiety, autism spectrum disorder, and cachexia (wasting syndrome) as qualifying conditions for medical marijuana.

Research shows medical marijuana can be helpful in treating all three conditions. More than 10 states already allow anxiety as a qualifying condition. Over 20 allow autism spectrum disorder patients to access medical marijuana. And nearly 30 states have approved cachexia (or wasting syndrome).

Please take a moment to let them know you support adding these conditions by emailing them at MedicalMarijuana@med.ohio.gov or using our email tool, which has a pre-written message you can edit.

Thank you for taking action, and please forward this email to others so they can send a letter, too! We'll keep you updated on the medical board's decision.

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At least five shops are now approved to open, with more on the way

Ohio has now approved five dispensaries to begin serving patients, with most announcing they are opening for the first time today, January 16. This is the final major milestone for a program first adopted by lawmakers in 2016, and a relief to those patients who can now get access.

According to the state's website, CY+ and Ohio Valley Natural Relief LLC are opening in Wintersville. There are two shops owned by The Botanist, one in Canton and one in Wickliffe included in the approval list, along with The Forest Sandusky in Sandusky, Ohio. The state's recently updated list is available online here. Many additional dispensaries are expected soon.

While Ohio has one of the most carefully regulated programs in the country, it hasn't been without challenges. Confusion over patient protections since the law was adopted continued throughout the process, and the high regulatory hurdle the state set for operators took longer to implement than many expected – with the state missing its final deadline last September. The program's launch is a relief.

We wish to thank the many supporters who contributed to the bill's passage and adoption following our voter initiative. MPP is pleased that the voter initiative we initiated in 2014 jump-started a serious effort in the legislature to pass such a measure, with today's sales being the final result. Thanks everyone!

Please forward this message to friends, family, and supporters. The big day has finally arrived Ohio!

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If you live in Indiana, ask your lawmakers to support a comprehensive medical marijuana program today!

Today marks the first day of Indiana’s legislative session. With the 2018 elections behind us, it’s time to push for medical marijuana in the Hoosier State. Lawmakers will feel increased pressure to reform Indiana’s outdated marijuana laws, especially since neighboring Ohio and Michigan have legalized medical and adult use marijuana, respectively.

Senate Democrats have made medical marijuana legalization part of their 2019 legislative agenda. Across the aisle, Republican Rep. Jim Lucas has filed legislation to allow medical marijuana.

If lawmakers hear from enough constituents, they will be more likely to support Rep. Lucas’ compassionate bill. Please contact your lawmakers today and ask that they support medical marijuana in 2019. Then, please share the link with your friends and family. Together, we can bring relief to thousands of patients in Indiana.

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If you haven’t voted yet, look up your polling place and check out our Election 2018 page and voter guides.

Over the years, our movement has made significant progress through the ballot box. This year will be no different. Be part of the wave of change today and go vote!

Voters are weighing in on adult-use legalization initiatives in Michigan and North Dakota and medical marijuana measures in Utah and Missouri. Some residents of Ohio and Wisconsin, too, have a chance to voice their support for local measures ending punitive marijuana policies. Go here for information about this year’s ballot questions.

Voters in states without marijuana-related ballot initiatives can play a huge role in changing marijuana laws, too.Visit MPP’s website to find out where candidates stand on marijuana policy in every gubernatorial race, along with in-depth state legislative voter guides for nine states. Roughly half the country lacks a ballot initiative process. The only way we can change marijuana laws in those states is to support thoughtful elected officials and oppose those who aren’t.

If you haven’t voted yet, make a plan right now. Look up your polling location and set a time to go. Spread the word on social media and urge your friends to vote, too!

There’s too much at stake to sit it out.

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A new poll shows the Michigan marijuana legalization campaign ahead with 56% support. While we remain cautiously optimistic about success on Election Day, we are not out of the woods yet.

A well-funded opposition campaign could still emerge. If that happens, we would likely see misleading TV and online ads telling voters that legalization has failed in Colorado, California, and beyond.

The Michigan campaign needs resources in order to present voters with the facts on this issue: prohibition has proven to be an utter failure and legalization policies are working effectively in other states.

There are just 55 days until Election Day. I know you get many such requests, but will you make a $20 donation today to support legalization in Michigan?

Michigan is a very important campaign for these reasons:

– Michigan would be the first state in the Midwest to legalize, putting pressure on nearby states including Illinois and Ohio;
– Michigan would become the second most populous state in the country to fully legalize marijuana; and
– A victory in Michigan would further increase pressure on Congress to pass federal reform in 2019.

This November, let’s make Michigan the 10th state to legalize marijuana.

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Today, West Virginia officially became the 29th state to pass medical marijuana legislation!

Gov. Jim Justice signed the law today after the bipartisan bill passed both the Senate and House earlier this month.

While the law isn’t perfect, it’s a great start toward providing safe and legal access to medical marijuana for qualifying patients. A summary is available here.

This achievement didn’t happen overnight. In fact, MPP, along with many other advocates, has been working tirelessly to get a medical marijuana bill passed for years.

MPP released the following in a press release:

“This legislation is going to benefit countless West Virginia patients and families for years to come,” said Matt Simon of the Marijuana Policy Project, who is a West Virginia native and graduate of West Virginia University. “Medical marijuana can be effective in treating a variety of debilitating conditions and symptoms. It is a proven pain reliever, and it is far less toxic and less addictive than a lot of prescription drugs. Providing patients with a safer alternative to opioids could turn out to be a godsend for this state.”

Six states have adopted comprehensive medical marijuana laws in the past 12 months. Three of those laws, including West Virginia’s, passed through Republican-controlled legislatures. Lawmakers in Pennsylvania and Ohio approved them last April and June, respectively. The other three were approved by voters in November in states won by Donald Trump — Arkansas, Florida, and North Dakota.

“Intensifying public support and a growing body of evidence are driving the rapid growth in the number of states adopting medical marijuana laws,” Simon said. “Lawmakers are also learning about marijuana’s medical benefits from friends, family members, and constituents who have experienced them firsthand in other states. More than nine out of 10 American voters think marijuana should be legal for medical purposes. In light of this near universal support, it is shocking that some legislatures still have not adopted effective medical marijuana laws.”

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