[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.

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.

"It’s hugely important. Winning a (marijuana) license is only half the battle. This will unlock banking services that certainly will be a benefit to small operators in the space as well as social equity businesses," said Steve Hawkins, MPP's executive director.

"Now that Virginia has legalized cannabis for both medical and nonmedical use, it is becoming increasingly difficult for North Carolina residents to understand why their state’s cannabis policies remain stuck in the 20th Century. It’s encouraging to see that some state lawmakers are working to move the state forward on this important issue," said Matt Simon, MPP's senior legislative analyst.

"I would expect that the president would be hearing from Vice President Harris on this, getting her input, understanding why she has been a supporter of legalization, and I think at that point, she would be incredibly important in delivering that message," said Steve Hawkins, MPP's executive director.

Cannabis and the hit sitcom "Family Matters" are colliding in a way that fans might have not expected. The show’s lead actor, Jaleel White (AKA Steve Urkel), has partnered with a popular dispensary to create a cannabis brand that takes inspiration from his iconic character, according to Forbes.

We are very sad to share the news that Steve Fox, our former MPP colleague and widely respected figure in the cannabis reform movement, has passed away. Among other accomplishments, Steve played an instrumental role in the Colorado 2012 legalization campaign.

"States across the country are rolling back prohibition and finding that legalizing and regulating cannabis works. This victory in New Mexico, along with the recent legalization victories in New York and Virginia, will help tip the scale towards federal cannabis reform," said Steve Hawkins, MPP's executive director.

"Folks like to think that it’s just as easy as saying, ‘We’re gonna legalize cannabis.’ And that’s it. This is an issue that touches public safety, public health, economic development and criminal justice. It’s a very complicated issue, a lot to be sorted out," said DeVaughn Ward, MPP's senior legislative counsel.