"It is about the future, and the future in a state that has legalized cannabis is that no one in the future is going to be subject to criminal prosecution. So, expungement is giving those individuals that have already done their time the opportunity to go on with their lives, to not be held back from housing or jobs or education because of that cannabis conviction," said Steve Hawkins, MPP's executive director.
"Not too long ago, Arizonans who were found in possession of cannabis faced criminal penalties. Now, cannabis is being used as a reward for making a sensible public health decision. The tides have shifted in Arizona and across the country. Now it's time for the federal government to take action," said Violet Cavendish, MPP's communications manager.
After spending nearly nine years in prison for marijuana offenses, Harry Kelso continues to face obstacles related to his conviction even though his home state of Virginia legalized recreational use. MPP Executive Director Steven Hawkins is interviewed for this piece on ABC News Nightline.
"Employers are not restricted in terms of establishing workplace drug testing policies. We really encourage employers to be reasonable and fair and to not take away opportunities for people who do great work," said Matthew Schweich, MPP's deputy director.
"Cannabis reform opponents are seeking to block measures from appearing on the ballot and trying to overturn them after they pass," argues MPP Deputy Director Matthew Schweich in an op-ed for Marijuana Moment.
"Reintroducing the MORE Act is a powerful way to reorient negotiations around legalization that gives our entire nation the power to choose cannabis for medical and adult use, strengthens a blossoming industry that is creating jobs and fueling economic growth, and begins to rectify the harms of the racially motivated war on cannabis and its disproportionate impact on vulnerable communities through criminal justice reform and social equity initiatives" said Steve Hawkins, MPP's executive director.
"It’s another indication that the legislature is quickly moving to pass legalization prior to the June 9th end of session deadline," said DeVaughn Ward, MPP's senior legislative counsel.
"With support now reaching 75 percent, cannabis legalization is clearly more popular than any of New Hampshire’s elected officials. Sadly, Gov. Sununu and a large number of state senators do not seem to care what Granite Staters think—they appear to be hell-bent on maintaining New Hampshire’s ‘island of prohibition’ status at any cost, defying the will of their constituents," said Matt Simon, MPP's senior legislative analyst.
"Cannabis taxes are supporting all kinds of socially beneficial public programs, and these numbers show that, once you get started, the revenue only increases year after year. For any state that still maintains a prohibitionist policy, they've got to be thinking about when their state will make the switch. And these numbers suggest the sooner the better." said Jared Moffat, MPP's state campaigns manager.
"A special session wouldn’t be ideal, in my opinion, because in the meantime thousands of Connecticut residents will continue to be arrested and have their lives upended over cannabis and the state’s market would lag behind others in the region costing Connecticut and its towns millions in revenue that could be used in a post-covid economic recovery," said DeVaughn Ward, MPP's senior legislative counsel.