Honolulu, HI — On Tuesday, the Marijuana Policy Project released their Hawaii Cannabis Policy voter guide.

• 2022 Hawaii Cannabis County Primary Voter Guide
• 2022 Hawaii Cannabis Gov & LG Primary Voter Guide
• 2022 Hawaii Cannabis Senate Primary Voter Guide
• 2022 Hawaii Cannabis House Primary Voter Guide

In order to help inform voters about their options, MPP sent a four-question survey to Governor, Lt. Governor, Legislative and County office candidates and compiled their responses. Additionally, the voter guide includes candidates’ public statements on cannabis policy and incumbent lawmakers’ votes on cannabis-related legislation. The voter guide only includes races with primary elections (a General Election voter guide will be circulated after the primary). 

Polling shows 70% of Hawaii voters support legalizing cannabis. Yet, the “Aloha” state remains an island of prohibition. Hawaii is now the only state along the western seaboard that hasn’t legalized and regulated cannabis for adults. While the Hawaii Senate passed a legalization bill in 2021, it stalled in the House and was never called for a hearing. Every state office is on the ballot in 2022, giving voters an opportunity to elect a new, more responsive legislature.

To date, 19 states and Washington, D.C. have legalized cannabis for adults 21 and older. Voters in as many as six additional states may consider legalization initiatives or referrals on Election Day: Arkansas, Oklahoma, Maryland, Missouri, North Dakota, and South Dakota. 

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With Gov. Dan McKee’s signature on the Rhode Island Cannabis Act, adults can now legally possess and cultivate limited amounts of cannabis in the Ocean State; sales are expected to begin by December of this year 

PROVIDENCE, RI — After successful votes in the state legislature yesterday, Gov. Dan McKee held a signing ceremony on the steps of the Rhode Island State House earlier today to officially adopt legislation that legalizes, regulates, and taxes cannabis in Rhode Island. The bill was sponsored by Rep. Scott Slater and Sen. Josh Miller who have introduced and championed a series of bills to legalize cannabis for adults in recent years. 

With the governor’s signature, the law immediately legalizes possession of up to an ounce of cannabis and cultivation of up to three cannabis plants in a private residence for adults 21 and older. The bill also establishes a timeline to establish a legal cannabis market overseen by a new regulatory commission. Members will be appointed by the governor with input from leaders of the General Assembly. Existing medical cannabis establishments will be permitted to obtain hybrid adult-use licenses later this year, and sales are slated to begin in December.

The amended legislation is praised by local social justice organizations for its inclusion of a policy to automatically clear criminal records for misdemeanor and felony possession convictions over the next two years. Recent changes to the proposal also include the elimination of fees for medical cannabis patients. 

Passage of the legislation represents the culmination of organizing and lobbying efforts led by MPP, which has worked with lawmakers and a broad coalition of advocates to build support for legalization in Rhode Island over the past several years.

Jared Moffat, state campaigns manager for MPP, said:

“After years of persistent advocacy by organizations and supporters across the state, lawmakers have enacted a well-crafted cannabis legalization law that will create new opportunities for Rhode Islanders and begin the process of addressing decades of harm caused by prohibition. There is more work to be done to ensure that the full promise and potential of this legislation is achieved, but today is a day for us to celebrate and recognize that the hard work of organizing and educating eventually pays off. I’m grateful to the many volunteers, organizations, lawmakers, and government staff who put countless hours into making this a reality.”

A comprehensive summary of the legislation can be found here, while the full text of the measure can be found here. 

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After a 55-16 vote in the House of Representatives and a 32-6 vote in the Senate, the legislation heads to the desk of Gov. Dan McKee 

PROVIDENCE, RI — Following floor debates in both chambers of the General Assembly earlier today, a majority of Rhode Island legislators have approved legislation to legalize, regulate, and tax cannabis for adults. The bill will be transmitted to Gov. Dan McKee who has previously indicated he will likely sign the measure. With the governor’s approval, Rhode Island will become the 19th state to end marijuana prohibition. The legislation:

• Permits adults to possess and purchase up to one ounce of cannabis and cultivate up to three cannabis plants at home;
• Directs the Rhode Island Judiciary to automatically clear past convictions for cannabis convictions by July 2024;
• Creates a cannabis retail excise tax of 10%, in addition to the normal sales tax rate of 7%, with another 3% local sales tax;
• Reserves a quarter of all new retail cannabis licenses for applicants that qualify as social equity businesses while another quarter of new licenses will be awarded to worker-owned cooperatives; and
• Establishes a social equity assistance fund to provide grants, job training programs, and social services for communities disproportionately impacted by cannabis criminalization.

The Marijuana Policy Project has worked with lawmakers and a coalition of social justice organizations for several years to advance legalization. Jared Moffat, state campaigns manager for MPP, commended legislative leaders for passing a thoughtful and comprehensive legalization measure:

“We are grateful to Rep. Scott Slater and Sen.Josh Miller for their years of leadership on this issue. Rhode Islanders should be proud of their lawmakers for passing a legalization bill that features strong provisions to promote equity and social justice. We’re also thankful to Rep. Leonela Felix who advocated tirelessly for the inclusion of an automatic expungement provision that will clear tens of thousands of past cannabis possession convictions.”

Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee has previously expressed support for legalizing cannabis and included a separate legalization proposal in his omnibus budget bill introduced in January. 

A comprehensive summary of the legislation can be found here, while the full text of the measure can be found here.

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Dover, DE — On Tuesday, Gov. John Carney (D) vetoed HB 371 — a bill that would legalize possession of up to one ounce of cannabis for adults 21 and older. Gov. Carney is the only Democratic governor who has vetoed a cannabis legalization bill. 

According to Civiqs polling, 71% of Delaware voters support legalization. An October 2021 Gallup poll found 68% of Americans believe marijuana use should be legal, including 83% of Democrats and 71% of independents.

“It is a true injustice that Gov. Carney has chosen to veto HB 371. This important legislation would dramatically reduce the number of police interactions, searches, and citations for cannabis possession in Delaware. We know cannabis laws are unequally enforced, and it is Black Delawareans who are disproportionately stopped, searched, and penalized for cannabis, or for the supposed smell of cannabis. After condemning the traumatic search of the DSU women’s lacrosse team in Georgia, Gov. Carney has failed to stand for justice for the same types of intrusive searches at home in Delaware by vetoing HB 371,” said Olivia Naugle, MPP’s senior policy analyst.

“We are deeply disappointed by the governor’s unwillingness to hear voters' demands on this issue. A strong majority of Delaware voters support cannabis legalization and want to see the state stop wasting resources on punishing individuals for activities that are legal in 18 other states. We call on the legislature to take immediate action to override this veto,” said Zoë Patchell, Executive Director, Delaware Cannabis Advocacy Network.

HB 371 passed both the House of Representatives and the Senate by supermajority votes: 26-14 in the House and 13-7 in the Senate. Twenty-five votes would be required in the House to override a veto, and 13 would be required in the Senate. Delaware legislators have until June 30, when the legislative session ends, to override the governor’s veto.

Notably, HB 371 would not legalize or set up a regulatory framework for adult-use cannabis sales. Those details are addressed in separate legislation, HB 372. While HB 372 fell short of the 25 votes needed on the House floor, the bill sponsor, Rep. Ed Osienski (D), changed his vote from yes to no, which will allow him to have the bill reconsidered before the legislative session ends on June 30. The final vote count was 23-15 with two absences (one of whom is a cosponsor of the bill).

It is estimated that Delaware could realize more than $40 million in annual tax revenue from the regulation and taxation of legal cannabis. Furthermore, a poll conducted by the University of Delaware showed 61% of Delawareans support cannabis legalization. 

To date, 18 states and Washington, D.C. have legalized cannabis for adults 21 and older. In neighboring New Jersey, adult-use cannabis sales began in April. Several other states are building strong momentum to legalize adult-use cannabis in 2022, including Maryland, Missouri, Rhode Island, and South Dakota. 

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Read the Marijuana Policy Project’s full report on adult-use cannabis tax revenue here

Washington, D.C. — On Wednesday, the Marijuana Policy Project released an updated report on tax revenue generated from state-legal, adult-use cannabis that includes totals for the entirety of 2021.

In 2021 alone, legalization states generated more than $3.7 billion in cannabis tax revenue from adult-use sales, which is a 34% increase in revenue compared to 2020. As of March 2022, states reported a combined total of $11.2 billion in tax revenue from legal, adult-use cannabis sales since 2014 when sales began in Colorado and Washington state. 

The tax revenue report includes updated numbers for the entirety of 2021 in each state that has legalized cannabis for adult use. Additionally, the report reviews the state's adult-use cannabis tax structure and population. The full report is available at mpp.org/cannabis-tax-revenue.

“Our report is further evidence that ending cannabis prohibition offers tremendous financial benefits for state governments. The legalization and regulation of cannabis for adults has generated billions of dollars in tax revenue, funded important services and programs at the state level, and created thousands of jobs across the country. Meanwhile, the states that lag behind continue to waste government resources on enforcing archaic cannabis laws that harm far too many Americans,” said Toi Hutchinson, President and CEO of the Marijuana Policy Project. 

In states with legal, adult-use cannabis sales, tax revenues can be allocated for social services and programs. This includes funding education, school construction, early literacy, public libraries, bullying prevention, behavioral health, alcohol and drug treatment, veterans’ services, conservation, job training, conviction expungement expenses, and reinvestment in communities that have been disproportionately affected by the war on cannabis, among many others. 

Eighteen states have laws that legalize, tax, and regulate cannabis for adults 21 and older. Eight of the laws were approved in 2020 or 2021, and in six of those states, sales and tax collections have not yet begun. Several other states are building strong momentum to legalize adult-use cannabis in 2022, including Maryland, Missouri, Ohio, Rhode Island, and South Dakota. 

2021 State-by-State Totals: 

    •    Alaska: $28,900,231 
    •    Arizona: $153,824,757
    •    California: $1,294,632,799 
    •    Colorado: $396,157,005
    •    Illinois: $424,206,703
    •    Maine: $12,362,622
    •    Massachusetts: $227,474,842 
    •    Michigan: $209,912,278 
    •    Nevada: $159,885,501
    •    Oregon: $177,773,944 
    •    Washington: $630,863,570

Year-by-Year Totals:

    •    2014: $68,503,980 
    •    2015: $264,211,871 
    •    2016: $530,521,110 
    •    2017: $723,145,481 
    •    2018: $1,275,483,830 
    •    2019: $1,707,204,090 
    •    2020: $2,766,027,570 
    •    2021: $3,715,994,252

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Annapolis, MD — On Friday, Maryland lawmakers approved legislation to refer the question of cannabis legalization for adults’ use to voters on the November 2022 ballot. HB 1 passed the House in a vote of 96-34 and the Senate in a vote of 29-17. As the bill is a voter referendum, it cannot be vetoed by Gov. Larry Hogan (R). 

Separately, HB 837, the companion legislation that includes initial steps for cannabis legalization that would be contingent on voter approval of HB 1, passed the House in a vote of 92-37 and the Senate in a vote of 30-15. The bill now heads to Gov. Hogan’s desk. Both the House and Senate vote margins would be sufficient to override a potential Governor’s veto. 

HB 837 details the initial steps of cannabis legalization, such as possession limits, limited expungement, funding for minority- and women-owned businesses, and a community reinvestment and repair fund. The bill does not create a licensing or regulatory framework, and despite the likelihood that voters will approve the measures in November 2022, simple possession and limited home cultivation would remain illegal in Maryland until July 1, 2023. 

“Marylanders have long awaited a new approach to cannabis policy and the passage of these bills is a promising step forward. We applaud the legislature for taking decisive action this session to finally end the era of cannabis prohibition, a policy that is both long overdue and supported by a majority of constituents. We look forward to working with Maryland legislators on this issue moving forward.” said Olivia Naugle, senior policy analyst at the Marijuana Policy Project. 

According to a 2022 Goucher poll, 62% of Marylanders support cannabis legalization. If voters approve the referendum in November, Maryland would join the 18 states and Washington, D.C. that have approved adult-use cannabis legalization. 

Several other states are building strong momentum to legalize adult-use cannabis in 2022, including Missouri, Ohio, Rhode Island, and South Dakota.

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Washington, D.C. — On Friday, the U.S. House of Representatives voted in favor (220-204) of the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment, and Expungement (MORE) Act, a comprehensive federal cannabis legalization bill that contains strong social equity provisions with an emphasis on restorative justice for communities most impacted by cannabis prohibition. This marks the second time the chamber has passed the MORE Act.

Statement from Toi Hutchinson, President and CEO of the Marijuana Policy Project:

"The fact that the House has repeatedly passed the MORE Act is indicative of the cannabis policy movement's evolution and the growing momentum toward comprehensive reform at the federal level. While this is historic in nature and warrants praise, it is necessary to also recognize that the fight is still far from over. To this day, people across the country are still experiencing the damaging effects of the war on cannabis, while others are profiting in the industry. Following today's action in the House, it is now time for the U.S. Senate to follow suit and take up the MORE Act. We at the Marijuana Policy Project remain committed to ending cannabis prohibition for all and will continue to fight until that becomes our reality."

About the MORE Act:

Sponsored by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler (D-NY), the MORE Act would remove cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act; require federal courts to expunge prior cannabis-related convictions and provide for resentencing; provide grants and funding to communities most harmed by the war on cannabis; lift barriers to licensing and employment in the cannabis industry; protect immigrants from being denied citizenship over cannabis; and allow VA physicians to recommend medical cannabis to veterans. In 2020, the House passed the MORE Act, but it did not advance in the Senate. 

On the Senate side, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced a draft version of an alternative cannabis legalization bill, the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity (CAO) Act. 

According to the latest Gallup poll, 68% of Americans support cannabis legalization. To date, 18 states have legalized cannabis for adults 21 and over, and 37 states have legalized medical cannabis. 

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Washington, D.C. — This week, the U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote on the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment, and Expungement (MORE) Act, a comprehensive federal cannabis legalization bill that contains strong social equity provisions with an emphasis on restorative justice for communities most impacted by cannabis prohibition.

Statement from Toi Hutchinson, President and CEO of the Marijuana Policy Project:

“We applaud the MORE Act's approach to legalization that promises to address many of the harms caused by prohibition through an equity- and justice-centered framework. Americans have made their support for cannabis legalization abundantly clear, and states across the country have taken the lead on cannabis legalization. Now it is time for Congress to take action and finally put an end to the failed policy of prohibition. We urge members of Congress to once again pass this historic piece of legislation.”

About the MORE Act:

Sponsored by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler (D-NY), the MORE Act would remove cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act; require federal courts to expunge prior cannabis-related convictions and provide for resentencing; provide grants and funding to communities most harmed by the war on cannabis; lift barriers to licensing and employment in the cannabis industry; protect immigrants from being denied citizenship over cannabis; and allow VA physicians to recommend medical cannabis to veterans. In 2020, the House passed the MORE Act, but it did not advance in the Senate. 

On the Senate side, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced a draft version of an alternative cannabis legalization bill, the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity (CAO) Act. 

According to the latest Gallup poll, 68% of Americans support cannabis legalization. To date, 18 states have legalized cannabis for adults 21 and over, and 37 states have legalized medical cannabis. 

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Read MPP’s report at www.mpp.org/DecrimReport

Washington, D.C. — Recognizing the 50-year anniversary of the report issued by the Shafer Commission, which investigated the effects of cannabis use on specific communities and found that small amounts of cannabis do not harm society and should not result in criminalization or jail time, the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) released a new report — Behind the Times: The 19 States Where a Joint Can Still Land You in Jail.

MPP’s report examines the laws that lag the furthest behind public opinion: the 19 states and federal government, which have not even “decriminalized” simple possession of cannabis. In those states, it examines penalties for simple possession, arrest rates, and racial disparities in arrests and provides a glimpse at some of the damage inflicted by draconian laws. It also reviews unsolved crime rates in the states that continue to use limited law enforcement resources to arrest and jail adults for possessing a substance that is safer than alcohol.

In addition to the report, MPP led a national virtual press conference, as well as virtual press conferences in Alabama, Pennsylvania, and Texas, recognizing the 50-year anniversary of the Shafer Commission report and detailing the findings of MPP’s report.
 
Statements from speakers at the national press conference:

“What was true 50 years ago is even more compelling today — the cost of criminalizing millions of marijuana consumers is too high, and it is time to end this failed policy in favor of a sensible form of regulated access.” - Professor Richard Bonnie, University of Virginia School of Law, associate director of the Shafer Commission and author of “The Marijuana Conviction: A History of Marijuana Prohibition in the United States”

“It is absolutely amazing that in 2022 we have a multi-billion dollar industry and an entire ecosystem around it, and at the same time we’re still arresting almost 600,000 people a year for simple possession. Those two statements being true at the same time in the same country, this amount of time since that Shafer Report was given is just unconscionable. And that’s part of the work of MPP, we continue to go into states and try to work on the most equitable cannabis reform policy laws that we possibly can.” - Toi Hutchinson, President and CEO of the Marijuana Policy Project 
 
“Marijuana convictions don’t just impact individuals; they impact the society at large. Keeping marijuana illegal doesn’t decrease crime rates; it just introduces new people to the revolving door of ‘justice.’ Those things impact the entire community. We need to be prioritizing public safety. Decriminalizing marijuana allows everyone involved to do that.” - Lt. Diane Goldstein (Ret.), Executive Director, Law Enforcement Action Partnership
 
“For immigrant communities, marijuana-related convictions can result in devastating consequences for individuals and their families, leading to immigration detention, deportation and family separation. As a result of both federal and state laws that criminalize marijuana, more than 45,000 people whose most serious conviction was marijuana possession have been deported since 2003. And marijuana offenses are consistently among the top 10 most serious convictions of people deported.” - Ami Kachalia, Campaign Strategist at the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey
 
“Within my own influential circles, I have lawyers and professors and my sorority circles where I am sharing the report. A lot of people didn’t know about the Shafer Report. A lot of people are surprised at how many states still have such harsh penalties, even the states that also have medical programs.” - Dasheeda Dawson, founder of Cannabis Regulators of Color Coalition
 
Speakers at the Pennsylvania press conference included DeVaughn Ward, Senior Legislative Counsel, Marijuana Policy Project; State Rep. Jordan Harris (D-186); State Rep. Joanna McClinton (D-191); and Dr. Christi Smith, Law Enforcement Action Partnership.
 
Speakers at the Texas press conference included Kevin Caldwell, Southeast Legislative Manager, Marijuana Policy Project; Ann Lee, Founder and Executive Director, Republicans Against Marijuana Prohibition; Laurie Zapinski, arrestee, Texas NORML; State Rep. Joe Moody (D-78), sponsor of decriminalization legislation; and Officer Bryan Rose (Fmr.), Law Enforcement Action Partnership.
 
Speakers at the Alabama press conference included Olivia Naugle, Senior Policy Analyst, Marijuana Policy Project; Jerome Dees, Alabama Policy Director, Southern Poverty Law Center; and Leah Nelson, Research Director, Alabama Appleseed.

To view recordings of the press conferences, follow the links below.

• National Press Conference: https://youtu.be/5rsIN0nGBys
   
• Pennsylvania Press Conference: https://youtu.be/zU0gI9-Ljm8 
   
• Alabama Press Conference: https://youtu.be/GiEWdPYmUaE
   
• Texas Press Conference: https://youtu.be/NCOqE-yjNE8

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Nation’s Largest Cannabis Policy Reform Group Releases Report On The Laws That Lag the Furthest Behind Public Opinion; Press Conferences Scheduled For Tuesday

Read MPP’s report at www.mpp.org/DecrimReport

Washington, D.C. — Recognizing the 50-year anniversary of the report issued by the Shafer Commission, which investigated the effects of cannabis use on specific communities and found that small amounts of cannabis do not harm society and should not result in criminalization or jail time, the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) released a new report — Behind the Times: The 19 States Where a Joint Can Still Land You in Jail.

On Tuesday, March 22, 2022, the Marijuana Policy Project will lead a national virtual press conference, as well as virtual press conferences in Alabama, Pennsylvania, and Texas, recognizing the 50-year anniversary of the Shafer Commission report and detailing the findings of MPP’s report.

• National Press Conference (10:00 a.m. ET): https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84992638900
   
• Pennsylvania Press Conference (11:00 a.m. ET): https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84341598833
   
• Alabama Press Conference (11:30 a.m. ET): https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89964118957
   
• Texas Press Conference (12:00 p.m. ET): https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83590374230

MPP’s report examines the laws that lag the furthest behind public opinion: the 19 states and federal government, which have not even “decriminalized” simple possession of cannabis. In those states, it examines penalties for simple possession, arrest rates, and racial disparities in arrests and provides a glimpse at some of the damage inflicted by draconian laws. It also reviews unsolved crime rates in the states that continue to use limited law enforcement resources to arrest and jail adults for possessing a substance that is safer than alcohol.

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