Earlier this week, we alerted you that the full Hawaii Senate overwhelmingly approved a legalization bill, S.B. 767, in a historic 20-5 vote. S.B. 767 has now been referred to the House Health, Human Services, & Homelessness Committee. It is now up to Committee Chair Rep. Ryan Yamane to schedule S.B. 767 for a hearing and a vote.

Wyoming currently trails far behind other states when it comes to sensible cannabis policies. That could change this year! A bill—HB 209—that would legalize, tax, and regulate cannabis for adults has been introduced.

Ask your state lawmakers to legalize cannabis this year. Exciting news! This week, two crucial cannabis bills advanced in the Hawaii Legislature. SB 767 would legalize cannabis and allow licensed businesses to cultivate, produce, and sell cannabis products. It would also allow adult home cultivation of up to three mature plants. Under the bill, the state Department of Health would craft rules around business licensing and retail sales by July 1, 2021. The Senate Ways & Means Committee passed SB…

Exciting news! Just last week, a bipartisan pair of senators introduced a bill that would legalize cannabis for adult use in Pennsylvania. Sens. Dan Laughlin (R) and Sharif Street (D) have drafted legislation that would allow adults 21 and older to purchase and possess cannabis from licensed retailers. The possession limit would be set at 30 grams, and medical marijuana patients would have an option to cultivate up to five plants at home.

This past weekend, the Virginia Legislature sent a legalization bill to their governor. D.C. legalized personal possession and cultivation back in 2014, and proposals to regulate and tax cannabis sales in the District were also introduced this week. It’s time for the Maryland General Assembly to meet the moment and follow suit. But we need your help.

After several days of wrangling over details, legislators from the Virginia House and Senate have agreed to terms on a final version of the adult-use legalization bill. Today, both chambers voted to approve the compromise. 

In the past week, two committees in the Minnesota Legislature approved HF 600, which would legalize cannabis for adults 21 and older! This is the first time ever that a Minnesota legislative committee has approved legalization.

Earlier today, the North Dakota House of Representatives approved two pieces of legislation to legalize, regulate, and tax marijuana for adults 21 and older. The proposals were introduced by Republican lawmakers who say they personally oppose legalization but are seeking to prevent a more permissive law from being enacted by voters via the 2022 ballot.

Overall, we are happy with the cannabis legalization bills that have passed the Virginia House and Senate. This week, lawmakers from both chambers are engaged in a “conference committee” that is working to resolve differences between the two bills. Unfortunately, both bills still include one very bad provision that would criminalize bringing small amounts of cannabis into the Commonwealth from another jurisdiction.

Yesterday, Gov. Murphy signed three bills into law that officially enact legalization in New Jersey! Gov. Murphy’s signature ends a three-year campaign to regulate and tax cannabis in the Garden State. As you likely recall, in November 2020, New Jerseyans overwhelmingly approved a ballot referendum supporting cannabis legalization. The following month, the legislature responded with the passage of A.21/S.21 and S.2535. However, both measures stalled due to concerns surrounding penalties for underage…