A handful of federal cannabis bills have been introduced this session. But in order for these bills to move forward, they need to receive a hearing this year.

The STATES 2.0 (Strengthening the Tenth Amendment Through Entrusting States 2.0) Act has been re-introduced by Representatives David Joyce (R-OH), Max Miller (R-OH), and Dina Titus (D-NV). This bipartisan legislation is crafted to set the necessary guardrails needed to curb federal interference in legal cannabis states. If passed, this bill would protect state adult-use cannabis programs and regulate interstate commerce, while requiring the FDA to create regulations surrounding cannabis product manufacturing. 


Additionally, Rep. Joyce and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) introduced the PREPARE (Preparing Regulators Effectively for a Post-prohibition Adult-use Regulated Environment) Act. If enacted, this bill would establish a commission to advise lawmakers on setting an effective regulatory framework for legal cannabis.


Earlier this session, we also saw two positive bills for veterans introduced. HR 966 (Veterans Cannabis Use for Safe Healing Act) and HR 1384 (Veterans for Equal Access Act). Both bills make changes to allow veterans to enjoy the benefits of cannabis with less federal intervention. Currently, both are sitting in committee.
 
MPP is strongly urging lawmakers to make 2025 the year that cannabis consumers, business owners, and banks receive long-awaited federal guidelines and clarity. With 24 states operating adult-use cannabis markets, federal cannabis reform is long overdue. A cohesive regulatory framework provides a safer, more transparent policy climate for all actors involved in the legal cannabis marketplace.
 
Urge your Senators and Congressperson to advance STATES 2.0 and other sensible federal cannabis reform bills this year!

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The Pennsylvania Senate Law and Justice Committee voted down the House-passed legalization bill, HB 1200, in a 3-7 vote. Two committee members who voted to kill the bill — including Chairman Dan Laughlin — made it clear they support legalization but opposed the House’s approach. 
 
MPP has also voiced concerns that the House’s state-run stores model would result in a costly boondoggle that fails to result in legal access. While HB 1200 had its flaws, it’s imperative that the Senate pass legislation — with a model that works. 
 
If you live in Pennsylvania, let your senator know it’s past time PA treat adults like grown-ups.
 
Pennsylvania is one of only 19 states that doesn’t even have a “decriminalization” law. State and local police made more than 11,000 arrests for cannabis possession in 2023 alone. 
 
Pennsylvania should be generating hundreds of millions of dollars in annual revenue from cannabis taxes, instead of ruining lives and forcing consumers across its borders to freer states. 

Unlike half of the country, Pennsylvania lacks a citizen initiative process. The only path to legalization runs through the Legislature. 

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The Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed a bill to legalize cannabis for adults from state-run stores. While legalization is long overdue in the Keystone State, we have serious concerns that — due to federal prohibition — the state-run stores model may prove a costly boondoggle that never results in legal access.
 
If you live in Pennsylvania, let your state senator know you want them to support a workable legalization law!
 
The Cannabis Health and Safety Act (HB 1200), sponsored by Rep. Rick Krajewski and House Health Committee Chair Dan Frankel, would charge the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board with running state cannabis stores and licensing private cannabis growers, processors, transporters, on-site consumption lounges, and labs. Possession of small amounts of cannabis would be downgraded to a fine-only summary offense until sales begin (if they begin), at which time it would be legalized. At that time, adults could also apply for a permit to grow up to two mature cannabis plants at home. 
 
HB 1200 includes important provisions to prevent families from being torn apart and lives being ruined because adults choose to relax with cannabis. It includes broad, automatic expungement to clear the record for past offenses, and invests 50% of the proceeds of cannabis revenue into hard-hit communities.
 
You can find our full summary here.
 
While 54% of Americans live in legal cannabis states, Pennsylvania lags far behind. It is one of only 19 states where adults can be incarcerated simply for possessing cannabis. According to government data, there were more than 11,000 arrests for cannabis possession in 2023 alone. Five of Pennsylvania’s six neighboring states have legalized adult-use cannabis.
 
It’s past time for Pennsylvania to treat adults like grown ups, and stop punishing them for using cannabis. But it’s important that the bill creates a workable model. Let’s get it done, and done right!

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Both the Hawai‘i Senate and House of Representatives approved HB 302 HD 2 SD 2 CD 1. While the bill makes some modest improvements to the medical cannabis program, the conference committee revised it to include alarmingly punitive and intrusive provisions.

We’re now urging Gov. Josh Green to veto the bill. If you live in Hawai'i, you can join us by sending a message here, calling him at (808) 586-0034, or contacting him on Instagram. 

On the positive side, the bill would allow medical cannabis certifications via telehealth and certifications for medical cannabis for any condition. However, the final bill (CD 1) weakened the latter provision and basically made it ineffective. Instead of allowing practitioners to certify cannabis for any condition, only one’s “primary treating medical provider” can do so under CD 1. The vast majority of physicians are not willing to — or allowed to — certify patients. Out of over 15,000 licensed physicians and APRNs in Hawai’i, only 241 are currently certifying patients.

In addition to weakening that positive provision, the final bill:

• Allows the state to inspect medical cannabis patients’ medical records from their certifying provider — absent any suspicion of wrongdoing. This is an alarming violation of health privacy.
• Increases criminalization of cannabis. Legislators ignored our request to remove provisions that create a new Class C felony for illegally operating a dispensary. It carries up to five years in prison.
• Diverts medical cannabis revenue to increase enforcement, appropriating $750,000 from the medical cannabis fund for six new enforcement agents. Our goal is to normalize and help legacy operators transition to the legal market, not to criminalize and stigmatize further.

Meanwhile, SB 1429 is also heading to Gov. Green. It removes the December 31, 2024, sunset on primary caregivers cultivating cannabis and allows each to grow for five patients at a time. However, the bill also includes new penalties, with civil fines of up to $5,000 for each violation. 

We will continue to fight for sensible and humane cannabis laws in Hawai‘i.

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The New Hampshire Senate voted 12-10 (with two excused) to table HB 198, which would have treated adults like grown-ups. HB 198 would have stopped punishing adults 21 and older for possession of up to two ounces of cannabis, while keeping public smoking illegal.  
 
This comes despite a recent UNH poll finding a staggering 70% support for the bill, and a mere 21% opposed.
 
All of the Democratic senators voted against tabling, as did Republican Senators Keith Murphy and Victoria Sullivan. Republican Senators Denise Riccardi and Daryl Abbas were excused, but would likely have voted to table the bill. Sen. Abbas previously voted to kill the bill in committee and Sen. Riccardi voted against every prior year’s legalization bill. All of the remaining ten Republican senators voted to table the bill — David Rochefort, Timothy Lang, Mark McConkey, James Gray, Daniel Innis, Ruth Ward, Tim McGough, Kevin Avard, Sharon Carson, Howard Pearl, Regina Birdsell, and Bill Gannon.
 
It is technically possible to remove the bill from the table, but it appears extremely unlikely to happen this year. Next year will be an election year, with all seats in the Senate and House up for election — along with the governorship. 
 
If you live in New Hampshire, consider signing up for your local senator’s email alerts or following them on social media, and see if you can get an audience with them in the next several months. You can thank them for their support, or plead with them to reconsider blocking the will of the people. Remember to always be polite and respectful. Many lawmakers and voters have evolved on cannabis policy over the years. Hostile and threatening behavior will backfire.
 
Legalizing medical cannabis and decriminalization also took many years in the Granite State. We’re not giving up, and we hope you won’t either.

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When MPP was founded in January 1995, the landscape of cannabis policy in America looked drastically different from how it does today. Medical cannabis was illegal in every single state, and the halls of Congress hadn't seen a bill aimed at reforming federal cannabis laws in decades. 

Fast forward thirty years, and the change is undeniable. Today, medical cannabis is legal in 39 states, offering vital relief to countless patients. Adult-use cannabis is now a reality in 24 states, representing a significant shift towards ending prohibition. On the federal level, several bills have been introduced to remove federal penalties for state-legal cannabis markets and to finally end federal prohibition altogether.

As we celebrate our 30th anniversary, it's inspiring to reflect on the incredible journey and the monumental progress we've witnessed. MPP has been an instrumental force at every pivotal moment of this transformation. In fact, MPP has been responsible for the majority of state cannabis law reforms enacted since 2000. Our dedicated efforts have led to the passage of 15 medical cannabis laws and 14 adult-use legalization laws. This includes landmark victories such as Colorado in 2012, which marked the first adult-use legalization state in the nation, and the groundbreaking legislative victories in Vermont and Illinois, the first two states to legalize cannabis for adults through their state legislatures rather than via ballot initiative. 

Watch this video for a look at MPP’s three-decade cannabis reform advocacy journey:

The numbers speak for themselves: no other organization in this movement has changed as many cannabis laws, positively impacted as many patients and consumers, created as many new markets, or done more to advance the end of cannabis prohibition in the U.S. than MPP.

As we celebrate this significant milestone, we extend our deepest gratitude to our dedicated staff, our tireless volunteers, our generous donors, our committed coalition partners, and the millions of individuals whose voices have fueled this movement. While we can be proud of the progress made over the past 30 years, our work is far from over. Federal prohibition continues to cast a shadow, and ensuring equitable and just cannabis policies across the nation remains a critical priority.

Here's to 30 years of progress, and to the continued fight for a future where cannabis policy is rooted in compassion, common sense, and justice for all!

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In recent weeks, both the Texas Legislature and appellate courts have been imperiling the will of voters who enacted local cannabis decriminalization ordinances. 
 
The Texas Senate has already passed legislation (SB1870) that prohibits local ordinances that run counter to state drug laws. Cities, counties, local law enforcement, and prosecutors that pursue decriminalization would face steep civil financial penalties. A House version of the bill, HB5082, has been heard in committee. Because the bills are companion bills, if the House passes HB 5082 without changes, they would go to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk (unlike the normal legislative process that would go from one chamber to another and then proceed to the governor). 
 
If you live in Texas, let your state rep know you oppose this attack on Home Rule!
 
Meanwhile, cannabis decriminalization ordinances have also been facing threats in court. An appellate court ruled against San Marcos implementing its decriminalization ordinance, which was approved by 82% of voters. Then, another appellate court ruled against Austin's decriminalization law, which was approved by 86% of voters and has been in effect for over three years. Both of those rulings came from challenges put forth by state Attorney General Ken Paxton (R), who argues state statutes and Constitutional provisions prevent localities from enacting laws that conflict with statewide policy.
 

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We are thrilled to announce that edibles have been added to the medical program! Governor Kelly Armstrong (R) signed HB1203 into law. The new law will allow edible lozenges to be recommended for qualifying patients in the medical program.

We are pleased to see North Dakota expand its options for patients seeking relief through cannabinoids. Edibles will be limited to 5 milligrams per serving and 50 milligrams per package. Packaging must be tamper-resistant and unattractive to children.

In other news, we are disappointed that the Senate voted down the decriminalization bill (HB1596) in a 13-33 vote. HB1596 would have downgraded possession of up to 15 grams of cannabis to a noncriminal citation rather than the current criminal infraction. This bill would have prevented the life-altering impacts of a criminal conviction, and resulted in courts spending less time on small cannabis charge cases.

We hope that the next session will bring further reform. After all, cannabis is legal in almost half of the states.

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We are happy to announce that this session has ended with some cannabis "wins" in Maryland! Governor Wes Moore signed into law bills to legalize home production of edible products, reduce penalties for some cannabis offenses, allow for resentencing, and expand expungement.

With the passage of Delegate David Moon's (D) HB 413, Marylanders will now be allowed to manufacture cannabis products for personal use. It will also reduce the grossly excessive, five-year mandatory sentence for some cannabis offenses. For example, pertaining to volume dealers of cannabis, the charge will now be reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor.

Moreover, the governor also signed Sen. Nick Charles's (D) bill, SB 432, into law. The bill forbids any cannabis possession charge the governor has pardoned from coming up in Maryland's Judiciary Case Search. We fully support this passing so that individuals no longer have to carry the burden of a criminal record for simply possessing cannabis.

Another positive bill for cannabis businesses passed into law, SB 215, which outlines new changes for cannabis businesses. Notably, the bill allows another limited round of licenses for growers, processors, dispensaries, micro-licenses, and on-site consumption lounges to be issued. The on-site computation lounge will also now be allowed to sell non-infused food products in addition to single-serve cannabis products.

We are grateful for Governor Wes Moore's long-standing dedication to cannabis reforms. The Maryland Legislature's work helps undo the unfair burden of cannabis charges that have plagued people for decades. We hope other states will follow suit.

We would like to see even more restorative cannabis bills passed in the next session. Bills like SB 1023, which would have offered employment protections for fire and rescue workers who use cannabis, deserved a hearing this session. First responders are more than deserving of responsibly using cannabis in their time off.

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The New Hampshire Senate Judiciary Committee narrowly voted down a simple bill — HB 198 — to legalize adults' possession of up to 2 ounces of cannabis. But in New Hampshire, committees don't get the final say. The full Senate will be deciding HB 198's fate on Thursday, May 1.

If you live in New Hampshire, email and call your state senator to ask them to vote "yes" on HB 198. Let your senator know it's past time the Live Free State treat adults like grown-ups.

Every one of New Hampshire's neighbors has legalized cannabis for adults 21 and older. And two-thirds of voters want the Granite State to follow suit. The least the legislature can do is stop punishing adults for simple possession.

In other news, the New Hampshire Senate deadlocked last week on a bill (HB 53) to allow medical cannabis patients to cultivate their own medical cannabis. After a recess, the majority of senators voted to table the bill. HB 53 can be removed from the table at any time if a majority of members vote to do so. 

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