MPP spearheaded most of the major state-level cannabis policy reforms enacted in the past 20 years.
MPP played a leading role in 10 of the 18 adult-use legalization laws, starting with drafting, funding, and staffing the historic 2012 Amendment 64 initiative in Colorado — which made the state the first place in history to legalize cannabis for adults and regulate it like alcohol. MPP also led the coalitions that passed initiatives to legalize and regulate cannabis in Alaska, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, and Nevada in 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2020.
Turning to state legislation, MPP spearheaded the advocacy campaigns that made Vermont and Illinois the first two states to legalize cannabis for adults through the legislative process rather than the ballot box. MPP also played a leading role in passing the most recent legalization law to pass a state legislature — Connecticut.
MPP and the campaign committees it funded also played a leading role in successful efforts to pass 14 state medical cannabis laws (in Arizona, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, and Vermont) and seven decriminalization laws (in Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont).
Meanwhile, MPP is also working with patient advocates to advance medical cannabis in several other states, including Nebraska, South Carolina, and Tennessee. In addition, MPP monitors and analyzes all cannabis-related bills in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, as well as cannabis policy in the U.S. territories.
Visit your state page to learn about current cannabis-related legislation or initiatives in your state or to contact your state legislators. We also invite you to review MPP’s resources in support of decriminalization, legalization and regulation, and medical cannabis.