"More than 60 percent of Alabamians think it should be legal for adults to use cannabis. Reducing Alabama’s penalty for cannabis possession to a fine-only criminal offense is a modest step forward, but it is a very important one. This bill would save thousands of individuals from the trauma of arrest and incarceration. We call on lawmakers to swiftly enact the bill," said Karen O'Keefe, MPP's director of state policies.
"You have 36 states including Arkansas, Louisiana, and Utah where these laws are working well and protecting the seriously ill and are not causing law enforcement problems," said Karen O'Keefe, MPP's director of state policies.
"Virginia legislators are proving that it is possible to work swiftly to pass legislation that would not only legalize cannabis, but also address the disproportionate harm caused by decades of prohibition,"said Steve Hawkins, MPP's executive director.
"Virginia is on the brink of becoming the 16th state to end cannabis prohibition and replace it with sensible legalization and regulation for adults 21 and over," said Steve Hawkins, MPP's executive director.
"People may experience sticker shock when the stores first open, and say, ‘I can get this cheaper from my guy I went to high school with.’ But both Colorado and Washington have higher taxes than are in this bill, and over time they’ve captured the vast majority of the market…The prices are much lower in the stores than from illicit sources," said Matt Simon, MPP's senior legislative analyst.
"Legislative leaders in Virginia deserve a big round of applause for their commitment to ending cannabis prohibition and replacing it with sensible regulation. There are still a few details that still need to be resolved in the legislation, but overall we are happy with the direction things appear to be going and hopeful that legislators will agree on a policy that works for all Virginians," said Matt Simon, MPP's senior legislative analyst.
"New Jersey could be the game changer for the Northeast and for the Mid-Atlantic. It is a huge state, there will be a large market there, and it will undoubtedly put pressure on surrounding states to rethink their positions and create momentum for cannabis reform," said Steve Hawkins, MPP's executive director.
"We know that legislators want to do this the responsible way and we know that legislators want to listen to their constituents and respect the will of the people. This compromise allows us to do both. It’s a middle ground, and it’s something that could work for all sides," said Matthew Schweich, MPP's deputy director.