Let your lawmakers know you want them to expedite the implementation of retail sales!

Last year, Virginia made history by becoming the first state in the South to legalize cannabis for adults. While adults can now legally possess and cultivate cannabis in the state, other aspects of the law — such as details for establishing a regulated cannabis market — don’t kick in until 2024. And, nearly all of the cannabis sales provisions are subject to further approval by the incoming legislature and governor.

Let your lawmakers know that you want them to expedite cannabis sales and preserve equitable legalization in Virginia!

The sooner Virginia implements legal sales, the sooner it can provide residents with safe, regulated access to cannabis and begin to repair the decades of harm cannabis prohibition has caused through strong equity provisions.

Governor-elect Glenn Youngkin (R) has not been specific on equity provisions in the legislation he’d want to change, but stated, “All of that will be on the table. Again, I don’t look to overturn the bill, but I think we need to make sure that it works.”

To address the disproportionate harm caused to communities of color by decades of prohibition, it is imperative that Virginia’s legalization law maintains strong social equity provisions. You can check out MPP’s summary of Virginia’s legalization law here.

We also remain concerned about a provision in the law that criminalizes bringing small amounts of cannabis into Virginia for personal use. This provision requires re-enactment this year, and we will continue to push for it to be removed.

The legislature has just convened for its 2022 session. Now is a great time to reach out to your lawmakers and let them know you want them to stand strong on an equitable cannabis industry and expedite cannabis sales in the Commonwealth. Please share this message with your friends and family in Virginia and encourage them to do the same!

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Tell your state lawmakers you support patient grow rights!

Exciting news! Just last week, a bipartisan pair of senators introduced a bill that would permit home cultivation of medical marijuana in Pennsylvania. Sens. Dan Laughlin (R) and Sharif Street (D), who also jointly proposed a separate legalization bill earlier this year, introduced the concept in a letter to senators calling on them to sign on as cosponsors.

Under the proposal, which hasn’t yet been formally introduced, Pennsylvania medical marijuana patients would be allowed to grow a limited number of plants for personal use. The senators cite Pennsylvania’s Medical Marijuana Advisory Board meetings as revealing significant disparities in accessibility, with some patients traveling more than two hours to access their medicine.

Offering patients the alternative to grow their own medicine would “help ease the cost and accessibility burdens,” both senators said. Please take a few minutes to email your state lawmakers to add your voice to the growing number of Pennsylvanians who support grow rights for medical patients.

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Ask your state lawmakers to legalize cannabis this year.

Exciting news! Earlier this week, two crucial cannabis bills passed the Hawaii Senate.

The first measure, SB 767, would legalize cannabis and allow licensed businesses to cultivate, produce, and sell cannabis products. SB 767 passed the full Senate in a 20-5 vote. Under the bill, personal use and possession of cannabis would no longer be a crime and adult home cultivation of up to three mature plants would be allowed. The bill also charges the state Department of Health with crafting rules around business licensing and retail sales. However, the law wouldn’t take effect until the year 2137 and doesn’t address equity or expungement. We are calling on lawmakers in the House to strengthen the bill and call SB 767 for a vote.

Let your lawmakers know you want them to pass legalization this year.

SB 758, which would increase the decriminalized possession threshold from three grams to one ounce, also cleared the Senate in a 24-1 vote. SB 758 also now heads to the House for consideration.

Both bills’ futures are uncertain as they could face tough battles in the House. Gov. Ige also appears to be generally unsupportive of legalization. But every step forward brings us closer to the day when cannabis prohibition ends in Hawaii. And every respectful call and email lawmakers receive in support of legalization helps move them in the right direction. As both bills progress, we’ll be sure to keep you updated.

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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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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 is ultimately enacted, starting July 1, possession of up to an ounce of marijuana will be punishable by a civil fine of $25 instead of a criminal penalty and potential jail time. This is the lowest fine of any decriminalization law!

Here are a few details about the bill:

• Reduces the penalty for possession of marijuana to a modest civil fine of $25. The current penalty for a first offense is up to 30 days in jail and/or up to a $500 fine.
• Creates a rebuttable presumption that a person who possesses no more than one ounce of marijuana possesses it for personal use. (This will make it far less likely that a person will be convicted of possession with intent to distribute when the cannabis is actually for their personal use.)
• Reduces the use of stigmatizing records and prohibits employers from requiring applicants to disclose marijuana possession charges.
• Creates a workgroup to study legalization. (The original bill required the work to be completed by November 30, 2020, but Gov. Northam’s change would delay it until November 30, 2021.)

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

This important victory will dramatically reduce needless cannabis arrests across the state, saving thousands of residents from life-altering criminal records for simple marijuana possession.

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

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