On Tuesday, April 15, the New Hampshire Senate Judiciary Committee will consider cannabis bills, including legalizing possession of up to two ounces of cannabis (HB 198), increasing the medical cannabis possession limit to four ounces (HB 190), and removing a duplicative felony on patients who sell medical cannabis (HB 380).

If you live in New Hampshire, you can register your support for these bills on the Remote Sign In Sheet. Or go the extra mile and testify in person, in writing, or both.

What: N.H. Senate Judiciary Committee hearings on HB 190, HB 380, and HB 198
Where: N.H. State House, Room 100, 107 N. Main St., Concord, NH 03301
When: Tuesday, April 15, starting at 1:10 p.m.

Last year, different versions of cannabis legalization passed the House and the Senate. But the chambers failed to agree on how to legalize sales, so the bill didn't make it past the finish line. Despite two-thirds support for cannabis legalization, the Live Free State still brands those who relax with cannabis as lawbreakers.

HB 198 takes the question of how to sell cannabis off the table, and simply stops punishing adults 21 and older for using and possessing cannabis, while imposing penalties for smoking or vaping cannabis in public.

If you testify, be polite, respectful, and brief. Be sure to include your name, city or town, your position on the bill, and why you support it. If someone has already made the points you planned to make, you can briefly explain you agree and want the committee to approve HB 198. 

Read more

The N.H. House of Representatives voted 208-125 to legalize simple possession of cannabis in the Live Free State. Sixty-two percent of representatives voted in favor of HB 198 to stop punishing adults 21 and older for relaxing with cannabis.

If you live in New Hampshire, let your senator know you want New Hampshire to live up to its "Live Free" motto. It takes just one minute to send a message through our software. You can go the extra mile and also make a phone call to your state senator.

Last year, the New Hampshire House of Representatives and Senate couldn't agree on how to legalize and regulate cannabis sales. Due to that standoff, legislation failed and the Granite State remains an island of prohibition, surrounded by states with more freedom.

HB 198 would take the issue of sales off the table for now and simply legalize possession of modest amounts of cannabis for adults 21 and older, while imposing penalties on smoking in public. It would prevent hundreds of arrests each year and would finally treat adults like grown-ups.

As you likely know, Gov. Kelly Ayotte (R) opposes cannabis legalization. However, at least 16 senators (a veto-proof majority) have either voted "yes" on legalization before or expressed support for legalizing possession and home cultivation.

There will likely be strong pressure put on Republican senators to kill HB 198. That makes it all the more important that senators hear that their constituents expect them to take a principled stance for freedom.

Read more

Ask your senator to support cannabis legalization this year!

The Senate Finance Committee will hold a hearing tomorrow on HB 1 and HB 837 — a pair of bills that would allow voters to decide whether to legalize cannabis for adults’ use in November 2022. The hearing will begin at 1 p.m. and will be available to view online here. 

HB 1, the bill to refer the question of cannabis legalization for adults’ use to Maryland voters on the November 2022 ballot, already passed the House in a vote of 96-34. HB 837, the companion bill that would be contingent on voter approval of HB 1, passed the House in a vote of 92-37.

Please email your senator ahead of tomorrow’s hearing and urge them to support legalizing cannabis this year!

HB 837 includes details for initial steps of cannabis legalization, such as possession limits, limited expungement, and funding for minority- and women-owned businesses. It does not set up a licensing or regulatory system, and simple possession and limited home cultivation would not become legal until July 2023. You can check out our summary of HB 837 here and suggestions to improve the legislation here.

If you are interested in providing written testimony for the bills at the hearing tomorrow, you can submit written testimony between 4 p.m. today and 10 a.m. tomorrow morning. Here you can find full instructions on how to submit written testimony. Oral testimony at the hearing will be sponsor-only and led by HB 1 and HB 837 sponsor and House Judiciary Chair Luke Clippinger.

We’re in the final stretch, as the legislative session is set to adjourn on April 11. Help ensure cannabis legalization crosses the finish line this year by reaching out to your senators today and raising your voice in written testimony at the hearing tomorrow.

Please share this message with Marylanders in your networks and encourage them to do the same!

Read more

Ask your senator to support legalizing cannabis this year!

Today, the House of Delegates approved a pair of bills that would allow voters to decide whether to legalize cannabis for adults’ use in November 2022. This historic vote marks the first time either chamber in Maryland’s legislature has voted on a bill that would legalize cannabis.

HB 1, the bill to refer the question of cannabis legalization for adults’ use to Maryland voters on the November 2022 ballot, passed the House in a vote of 96-34. HB 837, the companion bill that would be contingent on voter approval of HB 1, passed the House in a vote of 92-37.

HB 837 includes details for initial steps of cannabis legalization, such as possession limits, limited expungement, and funding for minority- and women-owned businesses. It does not set up a licensing or regulatory system, and simple possession and limited home cultivation would not become legal until July 2023. You can check out our summary of HB 837 here.

Meanwhile, the Senate is set to begin taking up their own bills to legalize and regulate cannabis for adults next week. The Senate Finance Committee will hold a hearing for Sen. Jill Carter’s SB 692 and Sen. Brian Feldman’s SB 833 on Thursday, March 3 at 1 p.m.

The hearing will be held in person and streamed live on YouTube. To provide written and/or oral testimony at the hearing, you must sign up using an MGA account. A tutorial on how to do so is available here. All oral testimony is limited to two minutes.

In addition to legalizing simple possession and home cultivation, both Senate bills would also establish a regulatory framework for an equitable adult-use market—which is not included in the House package. You can check out our summary of SB 692 here, and a summary of SB 833 here. Our feedback on SB 833 is available here.  

Thank you to everyone who advocated to improve the House bills and to achieve today’s historic milestone! Next stop is the Senate. Please consider testifying at the Senate Finance hearing next week in support of equitable legalization without delay and reach out to your senators ahead of the hearing.

Together, we can end prohibition in the Free State!

Read more

Tell your state legislators it’s time to decriminalize cannabis.

Today, the Utah Legislature came back to work for its 2022 legislative session. And so far, there’s no sign that major cannabis policy reform is on the agenda.

We are encouraged lawmakers are proposing clearer employment protections for medical cannabis patients who are state employees. But so far no lawmaker has indicated they plan to stop the draconian practice of arresting and jailing Utahans for possessing a modest amount of cannabis.

Ask your state legislators to champion decriminalization. Let them know limited law enforcement resources shouldn’t be wasted on cannabis, and that the state shouldn’t be locking its residents in a jail cell for using a plant that is safer than alcohol.

Utah is one of only 19 states that still imposes possible jail time for simple possession of cannabis. The maximum penalty for possessing less than an ounce is up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. Even for those who don’t end up in jail, the scarlet letter of a criminal conviction slams closed the door to opportunity — making it far more difficult to get a good job, housing, and an education, and resulting in hundreds of collateral consequences. Meanwhile, polling shows Utah voters want far more substantial reform: 64% of Utah voters support full adult-use legalization.

Ask your state legislators to support decriminalization, and then spread the word so that others can raise their voices for sensible and humane cannabis policies.

Read more

Ask your state senator to vote “yes” on the medical cannabis bill!

While cannabis policy reform is sweeping the nation, Kansas remains one of only 14 states with no effective medical cannabis law and one of only 19 that still imposes jail time for simple possession of cannabis.

But with your help, this can be the year Kansas finally enacts a compassionate medical cannabis law! The legislature has convened for its 2022 legislative session, and the Senate is poised to act on a bill to legalize medical cannabis. The bill already passed the House of Representatives last year.

Ask your state senator to support a compassionate, comprehensive medical cannabis program.

Polling has shown that the majority of Kansas voters support legalizing cannabis both for adult use and medicinal purposes. Still, the Senate must act in order to bring this long overdue policy change to the Sunflower State.

After you reach out to your lawmakers, be sure to share this message with your friends and family in Kansas and encourage them to do the same!

Read more

Ask your lawmakers to support establishing an effective medical cannabis program and to stop criminalizing possession of small amounts of cannabis!

While cannabis policy reform is sweeping the Midwest, Indiana remains one of only 14 states with no effective medical cannabis law and one of only 19 that still imposes jail time for simple possession of cannabis.

However, as more and more states move forward, it’s only a matter of time before Indiana improves its laws. The legislature has convened for its 2022 legislative session, and several cannabis policy reform bills have been introduced, including bills to legalize medical cannabis and decriminalize possession of small amounts of cannabis. 

Additionally, a bill that would begin setting up a regulatory framework for legal cannabis has also been introduced. While Gov. Eric Holcomb (R) has not been supportive of adult-use legalization, he did recently say that he’s on board with having lawmakers pass legislation to get the state ready for legal marijuana if federal prohibition is lifted. Meanwhile, the Indiana Democratic party is pushing for broader reform, calling on state lawmakers to end prohibition and legalize cannabis for adults. 

Polling has shown that the majority of Indiana voters support legalizing cannabis both for adult-use and medicinal purposes. Still, the legislature must act in order to bring this long overdue policy change to the Hoosier State.

Make sure your lawmakers know this issue matters to voters; ask them to support cannabis policy reform:

Medical: Ask your state legislators to support a compassionate, comprehensive medical cannabis program.

Decriminalization: Let your lawmakers know it’s time to stop arresting marijuana consumers. Ask them to support changing the penalty for possession from possible jail time to a civil fine.

Legalization: Urge your lawmakers to end cannabis prohibition in Indiana and legalize, tax, and regulate cannabis for adults. 

After you reach out to your lawmakers, be sure to share this message with your friends and family in Indiana and encourage them to do the same!

Read more

Ask your legislators to support the voter referral to end cannabis prohibition!

The Iowa Legislature returned to work today, kicking off its 2022 legislative session. Sadly, the Hawkeye State’s elected leaders remain far behind the times when it comes to cannabis policy — Iowa hasn’t even decriminalized simple possession of cannabis, although voters support full legalization.

After years of legislative inaction, three state senators have proposed a new approach — referring the question of legalization to voters themselves. Sen. Joe Bolkcom (D), Sen. Janet Petersen (D), and Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott (D) have put forth a proposal to amend the Iowa Constitution that would provide, “the possession, growth, cultivation, processing, manufacture, preparation, packaging, transferal, consumption, and retail sale and purchase of cannabis, or products created from or including cannabis, by persons 21 years of age or older, shall be lawful.”

The proposal would first need to pass the Iowa Senate and House in two consecutive legislative sessions. (The governor does not have veto power over legislative referrals.) Then, it would need to be approved by voters. Outrageously, Senate Judiciary Chair Brad Zaun (R-Urbandale) says he won’t even give the proposal a committee vote.

Iowa lacks a citizen initiative process, so the only way to change state law is for the legislature itself to pass a law, or for the legislature to refer the question to voters.

Let your legislators know voters deserve a say in cannabis policy. Ask them to work to pass the voter referendum.

You can also ask them to pass decriminalization in the meantime. Iowa is one of only 19 states that still arrests and jails its residents for simple possession of cannabis.

Please reach out to your legislators today and spread the word to other Iowans. It’s unconscionable that in this day and age, Iowans are still being deprived of their freedom for possessing a plant that is safer than alcohol. The overwhelmingly majority of voters agree — it’s past time for their elected representatives to listen.

Read more

Ask Gov. Edwards to sign HB 652 into law! 

On Monday, the Louisiana Senate voted to pass HB 652 — which would reduce the penalty for possessing up to 14 grams of cannabis to a fine of up to $100. The House already passed the bill, so it now heads to Gov. John Bel Edwards’ desk.

Email Gov. Edwards today ask him to sign this important reform into law.

Louisiana was the incarceration capital of the United States until recently. While the legislature has reduced several penalties, many continue to be jaw-droppingly harsh and tear families apart. Under current law, a first offense for possessing up to 14 grams carries up to 15 days in jail. The penalty increases for additional convictions, and a fourth or subsequent simple possession offense carries up to eight years in jail.

Please ask Gov. Edwards to reduce this vastly disproportionate penalty by signing HB 652 into law.

Thank you to everyone who has worked so hard for humane cannabis policies in Louisiana, including Louisiana Progress — which led the charge on legalization and decriminalization advocacy this year; Kevin Caldwell and Common Sense NOLA, whose trailblazing local decriminalization efforts laid the foundation for statewide reform; and Sensible Marijuana Policy for Louisiana, who have been key to medical cannabis progress and broader reform over the years. We are also so grateful to Rep. Cedric Glover for sponsoring the bill.

P.S. In other news, the bill to allow medical cannabis flower — HB 391 — is now headed to Gov. Edwards, too! Meanwhile, the Senate gutted and replaced the bill to tax medical cannabis flower, HB 514. The House did not concur, so that bill is headed to conference.

Read more

Ask Gov. Northam to sign SB 5029 and SB 5013 into law.

During a special legislative session, the Virginia General Assembly approved two important cannabis reform bills. Here’s what the legislation would do:

SB 5029 would prevent law enforcement from using the odor of cannabis as a pretext for searching and seizing property.

SB 5013 would give people issued a summons for cannabis possession the option of pre-paying the civil penalty instead of having to go to court.

The bills now head to Gov. Northam’s desk. Email Gov. Northam today and ask that he sign the bills into law!

The supposed smell of cannabis is perhaps the #1 pretext for police stops. Black individuals are disproportionately stopped and searched, just as they are disproportionately arrested for cannabis. These unnecessary stops are traumatic, demeaning, and can even be deadly. SB 5029 is an important reform that will reduce police-civilian contact over the supposed smell of cannabis.

Meanwhile, SB 5013 will avoid disrupting lives by no longer forcing individuals to miss work or school to go to court for simple possession of cannabis.

After you contact the governor in support of these reforms, please take a minute to also reach out to your lawmakers and ask them to support broader reform — legalizing and regulating cannabis for adults 21 and older.

Together, we can end cannabis prohibition in Virginia!

Read more