FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, March 21, 2016

Contact: Violet Cavendish
vcavendish@mpp.org

U.S. Supreme Court Dismisses Nebraska and Oklahoma’s Lawsuit Challenging Colorado’s Marijuana Regulation Laws

* Statement below from MPP’s Mason Tvert, who co-directed the 2012 Colorado marijuana initiative campaign *

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday dismissed Nebraska and Oklahoma’s lawsuit challenging Colorado’s marijuana regulation laws. The decision is available online at http://www.supremecourt.gov/orders/courtorders/032116zor_h3ci.pdf.

The attorneys general for Nebraska and Oklahoma filed the lawsuit directly with the Supreme Court in December 2014, arguing that the state’s decision to regulate the cultivation and distribution of marijuana was “placing stress on their criminal justice systems.” The Colorado and U.S. governments both filed briefs urging the court to dismiss the suit.

Statement from Mason Tvert, Denver-based director of communications for the Marijuana Policy Project and a co-director of the 2012 Colorado marijuana initiative:

“This was a meritless lawsuit, and the court made the right decision. States have every right to regulate the cultivation and sale of marijuana, just as Nebraska and Oklahoma have the right to maintain their failed prohibition policies. Colorado has done more to control marijuana than just about any other state in the nation. It will continue to set an example for other states that are considering similar laws in legislatures and at the ballot box.”

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Founded in 1995, the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) is the nation’s leading cannabis policy reform organization. MPP has played a central role in passing dozens of cannabis policy reforms in states across the country, including 14 successful cannabis legalization campaigns, and also works to advance federal reforms.

Visit www.mpp.org for more information.