"It’s encouraging to see that Rep. Jason Nemes and other legislative champions are continuing the fight for medical cannabis in Kentucky. Last year’s bill was derailed, in part, by the pandemic, but in 2021 there will be no excuse for failing to finish the job and pass HB 136," said Matt Simon, MPP's senior legislative analyst.
"November’s clean sweep of marijuana initiatives will help propel neighboring states’ legislatures to get their own bills past the finish line in 2021. These victories—in blue, red, and purple states—reflect the overwhelming popular support for legalization and a huge missed opportunity for states that fail to act," said Karen O'Keefe, MPP's director of state policies.
"We applaud Del. Lewis for his leadership to craft a legalization bill that is rooted in reparative justice, equity, and inclusion. It would release cannabis prisoners, expunge past convictions, reinvest in communities hardest hit by the war on drugs, train Marylanders for good jobs in cannabis, and create an industry that benefits disproportionately impacted communities. We are working with a coalition of organizations that are committed to legalizing marijuana in Maryland, and to getting legalization right and we hope to get this bill past the finish line in 2021," said Karen O'Keefe, MPP's director of state policies.
"Connecticut has such an opportunity to get into the marketplace, and establish itself as a leader in the industry. There’s something in this industry for everyone," said DeVaughn Ward, MPP's senior legislative counsel.
"Serious criminal justice reform cannot begin in our country without ending the war on cannabis. The MORE Act would set federal marijuana policy on a path toward correcting an unfair system and help restore justice to those who have been victimized by prohibition. This legislation would also help address our country’s fiscal and economic challenges by empowering states to implement programs that can stimulate economic growth and generate new tax revenue at a time when both are desperately needed. We call on the Senate to listen to the American people and pass the MORE Act without delay," said Steve Hawkins, MPP's executive director.
"This is a bipartisan issue [and] I think we’re at a tipping point. We’ve passed it in big states and small states, liberal states and conservative states. We’re feeling pretty good. We believe that 2021 is our year," said Matthew Schweich, MPP's deputy director.
"This poll supports what I already suspected, that a marijuana legalization ballot initiative would be viable in Wyoming in 2022. I hope that legislators will seriously consider legalizing marijuana in 2021. They can control the details of the policy. If they don’t take action, then we, as marijuana advocates and drafters of the ballot initiative, would decide those details," said Matthew Schweich, MPP's deputy director.
"This is a bipartisan issue [and] I think we’re at a tipping point. We’ve passed it in big states and small states, liberal states and conservative states. We’re feeling pretty good. We believe that 2021 is our year," said Matthew Schweich, MPP's deputy director.
"Legalization is supported by a supermajority of Americans and there is no excuse for inaction. As more states continue to move forward with enacting legalization laws, the pressure at the federal level will continue to increase. We are hopeful that Congress will pass marijuana reform legislation next year," said Violet Cavendish, MPP's communications manager.