"Respect for precedent, and respecting the will of the people, and honoring elections—all of these norms have been challenged. Republicans may be more willing to restrict citizen initiatives these days. They’re emboldened by you-know-who," said Matthew Schweich, MPP's deputy director.
"How those states dealt with expungement of past convictions has differed," said Jared Moffat, state campaigns manager for the Marijuana Policy Project, which lobbies for legalization.
"Leader Schumer is taking seriously his commitment to see legalization happen at the federal level, and address the ongoing harm from prohibition. We have no doubt he is looking at all vehicles that can accomplish reform," said Chris Lindsey, MPP's director of government relations.
"The more states move on legalization, the more out-of-touch states that are left behind appear. Marijuana stores near state borders have parking lots full of license plates from their prohibitionist neighbors. It’s a very clear illustration of the economic growth that states are ceding to their neighbors the longer they fail to listen to voters," said Karen O'Keefe, MPP's director of state policies.
[MPP Executive Director Steve] Hawkins said his broad observation about New York is that the plan reflects how state legislative debates have shifted from a focus on law enforcement and public safety to social equity.
"The law does not provide guidance on how Virginia residents should obtain cannabis prior to the advent of legal sales. In reality, most people will probably continue doing what they've been doing until regulated retail stores are established," said Matt Simon, MPP's senior legislative analyst.
Matt Simon of the Marijuana Policy Project called the bill "a big step backwards for criminal justice reform in New Hampshire." He said it treats cannabis the same as alcohol when they are very different.
Slate's Jordan Weissmann has a conversation with Marijuana Policy Project Executive Director Steven Hawkins about the final stretch toward legalization.