Politics
Here’s What Politicians Are Saying About Marijuana Laws On 4/20

Dozens of lawmakers and congressional candidates are calling for marijuana reform on 4/20.
While major brands are marketing off the informal cannabis holiday, policymakers and office-seekers are drawing attention to the ongoing harms of prohibition and encouraging policy changes.
Here’s what they’re saying:
Members of Congress
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT):
It makes no sense for young people to be denied jobs because they were arrested for smoking marijuana. It is time to legalize marijuana, expunge past marijuana convictions and end the failed war on drugs. pic.twitter.com/KimMYKoLAn
— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) April 20, 2020
We have got to legalize marijuana, expunge past marijuana convictions and end the failed War on Drugs.
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) April 20, 2020
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA):
It’s long past time to legalize marijuana and create a cannabis industry that’s open to all—and begin to repair the damage caused by our current criminal justice system. https://t.co/tqjRBsuA7t
— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) April 20, 2020
Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ):
It’s not enough to legalize marijuana—we must expunge arrest records & repair the damage done to those communities that have been most harmed by the failed War on Drugs. My Marijuana Justice Act would do this & more. The end we seek is not just legalization—it’s justice.
— Sen. Cory Booker (@SenBooker) April 20, 2020
Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA):
The Senate must pass my Marijuana Opportunity Act to legalize marijuana at the federal level and expunge non-violent marijuana-related offenses from the records of the millions who’ve been arrested or incarcerated. Too many lives have been ruined by these regressive policies.
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) April 20, 2020
Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA):
We must legalize marijuana and expunge all prior convictions.
— Ed Markey (@EdMarkey) April 20, 2020
Black and Brown communities have been unfairly criminalized by the War on Drugs. As we move towards cannabis legalization, we must prioritize social justice and invest in the communities harmed most by these discriminatory policies.
— Ed Markey (@EdMarkey) April 21, 2020
Rep. Don Young (R-AK):
For too long, the federal government has stood in the way of states that have acted to set their own #cannabis policies. I’ve visited my state’s legal cannabis operations, and the fact is that these businesses contribute to our economy and create jobs for Alaskans. pic.twitter.com/cX8zvsxtZa
— Rep. Don Young (@repdonyoung) April 20, 2020
Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR):
The U.S. today has effectively given death sentences to hundreds of thousands of non-violent drug offenders trapped in COVID-19 hotspots in our prisons.
This 4/20, let's commit to staying the course & reforming our harmful cannabis policies.https://t.co/0dt4E2BSTs
— Earl Blumenauer (@repblumenauer) April 20, 2020
Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI):
4/20 during a global pandemic is the best time to make the case for the nationwide legalization of cannabis.
We're already halfway there:
Stay on your couch.
Only go to the grocery store.
Social distance.#LegalizeIt
— Rep. Mark Pocan (@repmarkpocan) April 20, 2020
Rep. Dwight Evans (D-PA):
As a supporter of legalizing cannabis, I urge #Philly residents: remember to use your medical marijuana at HOME – no public gatherings – stay home and save lives this #420day! #philly420 https://t.co/yMayjSGjWs
— Dwight Evans (@RepDwightEvans) April 20, 2020
As vice chair of @HouseSmallBiz, I agree: #cannabis businesses – including PA medical marijuana businesses – should be eligible for @SBAgov relief like other employers are!
I’m also a strong supporter of the #MOREAct. Time for equal treatment! https://t.co/4rTHFXKT0n
— Dwight Evans (@RepDwightEvans) April 20, 2020
Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA):
Today is #420, a day where millions celebrate marijuana. Especially today, we cannot forget how our country’s policies, rooted in systemic racism, have locked up communities of color. That’s why I introduced the #MarijuanaJusticeAct to reform our outdated marijuana laws.
— Barbara Lee (@BLeeForCongress) April 20, 2020
Just a reminder as people celebrate #420Day: hundreds of thousands of people – largely people of color – are still in prison for marijuana offenses.
It's past time to end the failed and racist War on Drugs and get real #MarijuanaJustice!
— Rep. Barbara Lee (@RepBarbaraLee) April 20, 2020
Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN):
Our prison population is largest in the world. This overcrowding is a major factor in the spread of #COVID19 among incarcerated people. Trump should commute the sentences of non-violent offenders immediately! #TrumpCoronavirusTestFailure #420day #LegalizeMarijuana
— Steve Cohen (@RepCohen) April 21, 2020
Rep. Joe Kennedy (D-MA):
Justice in this country demands a reckoning with our past.
That’s why we must not just legalize marijuana but expunge past possession records and provide clemency.
Now.
— Rep. Joe Kennedy III (@RepJoeKennedy) April 20, 2020
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA):
We must legalize marijuana.
We must expunge marijuana convictions.
We must reinvest in the communities of color disproportionately impacted by the failed War on Drugs.
This is a matter of justice.
— Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) April 20, 2020
The only thing marijuana has been a gateway to is the criminal justice system for people of color.
It's absurd that we continue arresting people for using a plant that is legal in 11 states.
Here is our three step plan to end the prohibition of marijuana in America. pic.twitter.com/Dz6BxK1de2
— Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) April 20, 2020
Rep. Donna Shalala (D-FL):
For years, states have been changing their cannabis laws without investing in a better understanding of the effects of cannabis on human health.
My bill would reschedule cannabis and allow us to study it, so we can safely bring US cannabis policy into the 21st century. #420day pic.twitter.com/v2HKUkP0eJ
— Rep. Donna E. Shalala (@RepShalala) April 20, 2020
Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY):
Happy 4/20 to all who celebrate. #NY12
(Source: @Cannabis_Voter) #420FromHome pic.twitter.com/g1phlj3pk4
— Carolyn B. Maloney (@CarolynBMaloney) April 20, 2020
Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA):
Happy 420
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) April 20, 2020
Current and former government officials and candidates
Former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-TX):
Legalize marijuana. Free the people arrested for marijuana and expunge their records. Prioritize licenses to sell marijuana to those who disproportionately bore the brunt of the war on drugs (blacks have been arrested at 3x the rate of whites). https://t.co/Fb3BaI3siH
— Beto O'Rourke (@BetoORourke) April 20, 2020
Former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julian Castro:
We need to legalize marijuana.
We also need to release those incarcerated for minor drug charges and expunge their records so they can live productive lives.
It’s long past time we end the failed war on drugs. pic.twitter.com/z7JZyz9PPP
— Julián Castro (@JulianCastro) April 20, 2020
Former presidential candidate Andrew Yang:
For 4/20 a blast from the past. 😀 https://t.co/0Uhl17MW98 https://t.co/JWBl21YH5R
— Andrew Yang🧢🇺🇸 (@AndrewYang) April 21, 2020
Former Labor Secretary Robert Reich:
Today seems like a good day to remind you that the federal prohibition on marijuana has been a disaster, wasting billions of dollars and deepening racial and economic inequality.
We must end this madness. pic.twitter.com/oIUfFWXvKh
— Robert Reich (@RBReich) April 20, 2020
It's a moral outrage that millions of people are behind bars for marijuana charges while the marijuana industry is making a killing, and dispensaries are the new Apple stores.
— Robert Reich (@RBReich) April 20, 2020
Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman (D):
4 years ago my campaign released this video.
I was the only national candidate to call for marijuana’s full legalization; emphasizing the damage rooted in racism.
The case has never been more resonant than this #420day
Marijuana | Fetterman for Senate https://t.co/9ydDq6izCg pic.twitter.com/b1WoDahXMW
— John Fetterman (@JohnFetterman) April 20, 2020
Oregon Senate Democrats:
This is the 4th year rec. cannabis users can celebrate 4/20 legally in OR. Many dispensaries deliver, or you can use a courier service. New OLCC rules also allow curbside pickup at dispensaries. Celebrate responsibly while social distancing.#StayHomeSaveLives #orpol #dontpassit pic.twitter.com/t13FAoV6aM
— OR Senate Democrats (@ORSenDemocrats) April 20, 2020
OR is a leader. On cannabis policy reform & progress toward equity.
👉 1st state to decrim
👉 2nd to allow medical use
👉 5th to approve rec. use
👉 4th in canna-jobs
We're also leading on flattening the curve.
Celebrate responsibly. #StayHomeSaveLives#DontPassIt #orpol #orleg pic.twitter.com/YmZGFHvRXM— OR Senate Democrats (@ORSenDemocrats) April 20, 2020
Pennsylvania Rep. Jake Wheatley (D):
Please join @SenSharifStreet @RepGainey and me today at 4:20 PM for a FB live stream discussion on ending the prohibition of cannabis in PA. Please RT!
FB live event link: https://t.co/hkvq49pqux pic.twitter.com/BUIJEAhntG
— Jake Wheatley (@RepWheatley) April 20, 2020
Pennsylvania Rep. David Delloso (D):
I will join state lawmakers and activists in explaining why the prohibition of cannabis should end in Pennsylvania. Watch at 4:20 p.m. TODAY.
👉Details: https://t.co/rDoM3PYUIr
👉Join us at the Facebook Live event at 4:20 p.m. TODAY: https://t.co/9Uz1ZCG3zV— Rep. David M. Delloso (@RepDelloso) April 20, 2020
California Sen. Scott Wiener (D):
Today is 4/20. Let’s commit to a couple things:
✅ Not going to Golden Gate Park to celebrate. Get takeout or order in! #StayHome
✅ Expunging *all* #cannabis convictions immediately. We need to remove this scar caused by mass incarceration.
— Senator Scott Wiener (@Scott_Wiener) April 20, 2020
Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring (D):
They said it couldn’t be done, but starting July 1, minor marijuana possession will no longer be a crime in Virginia. This is a great start and an important 1st step toward legal, regulated adult use.https://t.co/Gyk69ucRZE
— Mark Herring (@MarkHerringVA) April 20, 2020
Washington, D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine (D):
State AGs have an important role to play in #cannabis policy and innovation to ensure that the cannabis market is responsive to the significant racial disparities in the criminal justice system—which persist today.
— AG Karl A. Racine (@AGKarlRacine) April 20, 2020
City of Denver:
🌲🔥💨💨As the 1st state to #LegalizeIt, we have a unique & lengthy history celebrating 420. This year, though, we are practicing social distancing. Please stay Stoned at Home, remember to wash your hands frequently (cuz cheese dust), and as always, consume responsibly & legally. pic.twitter.com/WR2qM1eejT
— City and County of Denver (@CityofDenver) April 20, 2020
If you are missing Denver's annual 4/20 celebration, we’ve got you covered with a hazed out playlist to stream while you are Stoned at Home. Some amazing live sets at @LevittDenver and @RedRocksCO. Roll a fatty. Consume responsibly. Enjoy all afternoon.✌️https://t.co/0PKvYizxPO pic.twitter.com/jByZkCFvDd
— City and County of Denver (@CityofDenver) April 20, 2020
City of Sacramento:
Today is 4/20, a day celebrated by cannabis enthusiasts across the U.S., including here in Sacramento.
However, this year’s 4/20 arrives as the County of Sacramento’s “stay-at-home order” — to prevent the spread of COVID-19 — remains in effect.https://t.co/D6OTakEd8W
— City of Sacramento (@TheCityofSac) April 20, 2020
Congressional candidates
John Hickenlooper:
The cannabis industry is a huge part of our state economy and employs tens of thousands of Coloradans.
And it isn't being given the same access to small business loans other businesses are for COVID-19 relief.
This needs to be fixed in the next relief bill. #420Day
— John Hickenlooper (@Hickenlooper) April 20, 2020
The cannabis industry is a significant part of Colorado's economy. We've got to make sure they can access the resources they need. #420Day pic.twitter.com/pl059BgU6J
— John Hickenlooper (@Hickenlooper) April 21, 2020
Betsy Sweet:
"As your U.S. Senator, I will support the legalization of marijuana. This is a medical issue. This is a racial issue. This is a social justice issue.
Add your name if you support legalizing cannabis in the United States. #legalizeit
➡️ https://t.co/4BkBbOnbOU pic.twitter.com/DVrlGa82DP
— Betsy Sweet (@BetsySweetME) April 20, 2020
I support legalization of #marijuana for medical & recreational use.
When we do this, we need to:✅ Expunge the records of anyone in jail for nonviolent cannabis-related offenses
✅ Keep the growing and sales local
✅ Maintain the medical system for patients who need it pic.twitter.com/0l4r7kR75a— Betsy Sweet (@BetsySweetME) April 20, 2020
Paula Jean Swearengin:
Recreational legalization of hemp & cannabis can create a better economy in WV and states like it within 6-8 months.
🌳Additionally it’s important that we serve those most affected by the criminalization of cannabis & work to create opportunities for all.#420day #PaulaJean2020 pic.twitter.com/nTrNnDBlv3
— Paula Jean Swearengin (@paulajean2020) April 20, 2020
Mike Broihier:
I am the Democrat running against Mitch McConnell — and I believe we *must* deschedule + legalize marijuana (just like alcohol or tobacco).
It would help prevent drug addiction, save taxpayer money, benefit small farmers, & undo horrible racial injustices.
We must act. #420day
— Mike Broihier (@MikeForKY) April 20, 2020
Eddie Mauro:
Americans need not be incarcerated for non-violent offenses like possession. We need comprehensive criminal justice reform & we must #LEGALIZE #marijuana & release those locked up, immediately! Discussions LIVE tomorrow night at 7PM. RSVP NOW! https://t.co/gZsCJoCLEj https://t.co/4c2FZRGoil
— Eddie Mauro for U.S. Senate (@eddiejmauro) April 20, 2020
Lawrence Hamm:
Happy #420 everybody! TODAY IS THE DAY! I will be LIVE answering your questions on https://t.co/SBmJ9LPyc2 at 7 PM sharp! I look forward to hearing from all of my future constituents! #RedditAMA #HammForSenate pic.twitter.com/2NYZNPk3sg
— Lawrence Hamm for US Senate (@HammForSenate) April 20, 2020
Jess Scarane:
Legalize marijuana and expunge all prior convictions. https://t.co/g4IYmrWKOH
— Jess Scarane for Senate (@JessforDelaware) April 20, 2020
When we legalize marijuana, we must also guarantee people who were harmed by our ridiculous policing of weed have the first shot at building a business in it.
Donate one of the many weed numbers today to help elect a senator who will fight for it. https://t.co/g4IYmrWKOH https://t.co/hSdaZISZAx
— Jess Scarane for Senate (@JessforDelaware) April 20, 2020
Alex Morse:
Congress should protect workers employed in the state-licensed cannabis industry by ensuring that state-licensed businesses are eligible for Small Business Administration crisis relief funding and loans.
— Alex Morse (@AlexBMorse) April 20, 2020
I was the 1st Mayor in 2016 to support the legalization of recreational marijuana in MA. It is a necessary step to begin dismantling the war on drugs and in Holyoke, we have worked to ensure those communities harmed by prohibition can build wealth in the new emerging industry.
— Alex Morse (@AlexBMorse) April 20, 2020
Rob Anderson:
Happy 420. Here’s some Political PSA outtakes. pic.twitter.com/9Suuagvldg
— ⚜️Rob Anderson for Louisiana (@RobAnderson2018) April 20, 2020
In Congress I’ll fight to legalize cannabis.
I need 420 activists to pitch in $4.20.
Will you help me fight for marijuana legalization by giving $4.20 today?https://t.co/A5mjfDqYoq
— ⚜️Rob Anderson for Louisiana (@RobAnderson2018) April 21, 2020
Hector Oseguera:
On 4/20 remember that the most dangerous thing about cannabis is getting caught with it.
— Hector for Congress NJ08 (@Oseguera2020) April 20, 2020
Ya granddaddy purp is cool…
but have you ever explored racial disparities in marijuana enforcements despite comparable consumption rates 🤯https://t.co/B1lZdLg6Ku
— Hector for Congress NJ08 (@Oseguera2020) April 20, 2020
John Lesinski:
Black Americans are arrested 3.64 times more often than white Americans for marijuana possession, even though usage rates are similar. It's a tool for disproportionately penalizing minorities.
This injustice must stop. We must decriminalize. In Congress, I will work to do so.
— John Lesinski for Congress (@johnforva) April 20, 2020
Zina Spezakis:
The war on drugs is racist.
Adult marijuana use should be legal.
Expunge the marijuana arrest records and restore those voting rights.#420day https://t.co/BtmCex3PQp
— Zina Spezakis for Congress NJ9 ✊🏼🇺🇸🌈🌹🌎 (@ZSpezakis) April 20, 2020
Marijuana use in NJ is similar among all races but African Americans are arrested 3x more than whites in our state. I support #legalizedmarijuana for anyone 21+ and an end to racist drug policies. Can you make a donation of $4.20 today? #420day #LegalizeIthttps://t.co/7ajVOaxUI5
— Zina Spezakis for Congress NJ9 ✊🏼🇺🇸🌈🌹🌎 (@ZSpezakis) April 20, 2020
Robbie Goldstein:
In 2016, Massachusetts legalized recreational cannabis use, ending a decades-old, disastrous policy. The National Registry of Exonerations found in 2017 that people of color were five times as likely to go to prison for drug possession. (1/5)
— Robbie Goldstein (@RobbieForChange) April 20, 2020
In our community, many of those incarcerated for cannabis-related offenses are still in prison, or are facing steep challenges as they look for jobs, find housing, and work to rebuild their lives post-incarceration. (3/5)
— Robbie Goldstein (@RobbieForChange) April 20, 2020
Then, we must turn our attention to providing those re-entering our community the resources they need to get back on their feet. #mapoli (5/5)
— Robbie Goldstein (@RobbieForChange) April 20, 2020
David Kim:
"In 2018, there were.. 700K marijuana arrests nationwide,.. 43% of all drug arrests… [R]ace plays a big part in who gets penalized."
Black people are 3.6 times more likely to be arrested for possession than whites, despite similar usage rates. #420day https://t.co/1mt75Aj9fr
— David Kim🌹🧢🌍❤🧘🏻♂️🏳️🌈✊ (@davidkim2020) April 20, 2020
Albert Lee:
Happy 420. Join us later today for our virtual townhall on Cannabis Legalization & Prison Reform. Meanwhile, we are looking for 420 contributions of $4.20 today. Chip in to support the change we need. https://t.co/GAoEYtc7bL pic.twitter.com/6ulhZStly0
— Albert Lee For Congress 🌹 (@AlbertLee2020) April 20, 2020
Brenda Lopez:
Join me in the fight to legalize recreational marijuana and, as a result, grow our state’s economy and better fund public schools and programs. https://t.co/NFxF7fjYS1 pic.twitter.com/zBQ1FlNH64
— Brenda for Congress (@VoteBrendaLopez) April 20, 2020
Lulu Seikaly:
We need to federally decriminalize marijuana, release those who are in prison for marijuana charges, and then expunge their records completely. This is the moral thing to do, but it also makes logical and fiscal sense.
— Lulu Seikaly (@LuluForTexas) April 20, 2020
Mckayla Wilkes:
Have I been arrested for marijuana possession? Yes.
Am I ashamed of that? No.I am tired of privileged politicians admitting they smoked & faced no consequences, then explaining why they think it should still be illegal.
END THE PROHIBITION.
EXPUNGE THE RECORDS.#420day— Mckayla Wilkes for Congress (@MeetMckayla) April 20, 2020
Russ Cirincionee:
Why I am the better choice for New Jersey: Frank Pallone voted for the draconian 1994 crime bill.
I will reform and work to abolish that bill. New Jersey has one of the highest arrest levels for marijuana possession in the nation, and we must end the prohibition on marijuana. pic.twitter.com/IKCDSwddV6— Russ Cirincione for NJ-6🌹 (@RussForUs2020) April 20, 2020
Adam Schleifer:
As a former federal prosecutor who took on fraud and major international drug cartels (who’ve made billions off of marijuana), I know it’s time to #legalizemarijuana at the federal level.
For safety.
For fairness.
For revenue. pic.twitter.com/fPbaftasXj— Adam Schleifer for Congress (@AdamSchleiferNY) April 20, 2020
Nate McMurray:
Happy 420, from a stuffy guy who never had a puff—BUT ALWAYS SUPPORTED LEGALIZATION (check my record):
—Because it’s medicine for some
—None of my business for others
—Would make NY farmers cash
—And is enforced unfairlyBLAZE UP 🔥 RESPONSIBLY pic.twitter.com/0oa2L0eEL4
— Nate McMurray for Congress 2020 (@Nate_McMurray) April 20, 2020
Mara Candelaria Reardon:
The evidence is clear: states with legal marijuana are safer, fairer, and more productive. Happy #420 everyone! pic.twitter.com/9g0MNZm67Z
— Mara Candelaria Reardon (@Maraforindiana) April 21, 2020
Jamaal Bowman:
When we legalize marijuana, let's make sure it's not just wealthy white lobbyists like John Boehner cashing in.
It's insulting to our communities that people would get rich off a product that STILL criminalizes millions of black and brown people.https://t.co/JNHoh7cE5K
— Jamaal Bowman (@JamaalBowmanNY) April 20, 2020
Heidi Briones:
I support legalization of marijuana at the federal level, decriminalizing all opioids, and more. It's time to stop carrying on the so-called "war on drugs" because it's actually a war on people. #420day
— Heidi for Oregon💡 (@HeidiBriones) April 20, 2020
Shahid Buttar:
We set a goal to get 420 donations of $4.20 on 4/20, and we're halfway there!
Can you pitch in to make sure we hit this goal?
In Congress, I'll champion weed legalization and expunging past convictions. Together, we'll end the racist War on Drugs. https://t.co/DWgyuX0dKj
— 🌹Shahid Buttar for Congress (@ShahidForChange) April 20, 2020
Scott Costello:
I am on of only 2 of 14 Candidates in my district to support
✅Legalization of Cannabis and
🕊decriminalization of all drugs
🏥Treatment Not Prison🚔#420day #legalizeit
— Scott Costello Progressive Democrat (@ScottLCostello) April 20, 2020
Lisa Welch:
It’s 420. Time for us to officially end the federal prohibition on #marijuana and help those who have suffered under the laws in place. Over half the states have it legal in some form & during this pandemic it’s considered essential. Time to #legalizeit https://t.co/cCdSESys29
— Dr. Lisa Welch for US House (@Welch_tx) April 20, 2020
Maxwell Bero:
Any effort to fully legalize marijuana must also include provisions to help the communities that have been most hurt by the racist War on Drugs.
— Maxwell Bero for Congress (@beroforcongress) April 21, 2020
Jason Call:
It’s 4/20 all day today!
Which tbh makes it about the same as yesterday #DecriminalizeCannabis #420day
— Jason Call for Congress WA02 🌹 (@CallForCongress) April 20, 2020
420 Justice is not just about decriminalizing weed
It’s about restorative justice for millions of lives destroyed
It’s about admitting our legal system & policing is inherently & historically racist
➡️ Release
➡️ Expunge
➡️ Repair— Jason Call for Congress WA02 🌹 (@CallForCongress) April 20, 2020
Samelys Lopez:
On #420day we should celebrate the healing benefits of marijuana. Its life-saving properties should be researched and promoted.
Yet 4 of the top 10 neighborhoods in NYC for marijuana arrests are in the Bronx. The war on drugs disenfranchises community & tears families apart. 1/3
— Samelys López for NY-15🌹 (Bronx) (@SamelysLopez) April 20, 2020
We must pass the Marijuana Regulation & Taxation Act.
This ensures legalization is tied to racial & economic justice. Let’s meet the needs of our community and direct reinvestment towards those most harmed by the drug laws.#LegalizeItRight#MarijuanaJustice
3/3
— Samelys López for NY-15🌹 (Bronx) (@SamelysLopez) April 20, 2020
Qasim Rashid:
Marijuana records should be expunged
Marijuana should be decriminalized & legalized
Incarcerated citizens should be allowed to vote
These 3 actions don't cost a penny, they repeal racist polices that target people of color, & they strengthen our democracy
Let's get this done
— Qasim Rashid for Congress (@QasimRashid) April 20, 2020
Melanie D’Arrigo:
Legalize marijuana. Expunge their records! https://t.co/CVhdlcz31w
— Melanie D'Arrigo for Congress (@DarrigoMelanie) April 20, 2020
Melquiades Gagarin:
A #420day 🧵: Please take a moment & remember all the incarcerated Black and brown folks.
For all families torn apart because of failed drug policy.
For all the communities decimated.
Fight to have records expunged. For full legalization. For full equity in the industry.
— Mel For Progress🌹🇵🇭🇵🇷 (@MelforProgress) April 20, 2020
My point is, the people responsible for this injustice are still in power and still pushing their backwards legislative agenda.
If you’re celebrating today, help us fight to get them out.https://t.co/88d2ND9aHx
— Mel For Progress🌹🇵🇭🇵🇷 (@MelforProgress) April 20, 2020
Ben Sigel:
I 100% agree. It’s time to legalize marijuana. #420 #wethe4th https://t.co/XFcdkj4Ne3
— Ben Sigel (@bensigel) April 20, 2020
Lauren Ashcraft:
The Dude would approve of our Lunch with Lauren Live today! It's snack time and we’re making brownies while talking cannabis legalization and what that should mean for communities hit hardest by the war on drugs. Make a $4.20 donation to my campaign here: https://t.co/Ba5qTzWIeP pic.twitter.com/Pd88FXApUz
— Lauren Ashcraft for NY-12🌹 (@VoteAshcraft) April 20, 2020
Jen Perelman:
I support Marijuana Legalization bc:
✅ Tax revenue would significantly boost Florida’s economy
✅ It would drastically reduce our non-violent prison population
✅ Safer than alcohol
✅ Life should be enjoyed
Happy #420day !#CriminalJusticeReform #LegalizeIt
— Jen Perelman For Congress (@JENFL23) April 21, 2020
Ihssane Leckey:
With 15 minutes left of 4/20 on the East Coast, I would like to say:
We should legalize adult cannabis.
We should make sure that the communities who have been destroyed by the war on drugs are the first to benefit from legalization.
— Ihssane Leckey for Congress (@ihssaneleckey) April 21, 2020
Amanda Siebe:
I'm proud to be 1 of few candidates who are honest about #Marijuana use
We each have our reasons why we use #cannabis, but for me, I'm a #Patient. #MMJ gave me my life back when big pharma was killing me
Time to #LegalizeIt@anthonyvclark20 @BAEforChangehttps://t.co/fN99vlbvjq
— #Siebe2020 for US House (@SiebeforORD1) April 20, 2020
HAPPY 420!!#Marijuana improves my quality of life
It increases my appetite
Decreases my pain
& Helps me sleepit shouldn't make me a criminal, cost me custody of my son, or risk my housing, care, & freedom
TIME TO #LEGALIZE!
Who's with me??#LegalizeIt #Happy420 #PuffPuffPass pic.twitter.com/EvMnCFxKcl— #Siebe2020 for US House (@SiebeforORD1) April 20, 2020
Nabilah Islam:
The war on drugs is racist.
Legalizing adult use cannabis is a no brainer.
The black and brown communities that have been hurt the most should be the ones that benefit.
All three things are true.
— Nabilah Islam for Congress (@NabilahforGA07) April 20, 2020
Morgan Harper:
Legalize marijuana. Expunge their records!
— Morgan Harper (@mh4oh) April 20, 2020
Donna Imam:
Send one of the most competitive races $4.20 today if you believe that the focus of the justice system should be to rehabilitate people back into being productive citizens of the community. https://t.co/E5syDov440
See: https://t.co/YBLVt8gj6T Happy 420 #420day pic.twitter.com/SllMDDepZN— Donna Imam (@donnaimamTX) April 20, 2020
Mike Hood:
Cannabis laws in the US, at the state level, have long pointed toward a national trend.
Federal laws are long over due to bridge gaps and normalize state regulations.
I am proposing a unique strategy to focus related tax revenue on buoying arts programshttps://t.co/htaPXfeaOC
— Mike Hood – 2020 US House Candidate (OH-11) (@NewSpirit2020) April 20, 2020
Julie Oliver:
End the federal prohibition on marijuana.https://t.co/QfaMZNYufd pic.twitter.com/DvFWl3tF91
— Julie Oliver (@JulieOliverTX) April 20, 2020
Shaniyat Chowdhury:
Legalize marijuana
Expunge records
Reinvest in small businesses
Happy 4/20 pic.twitter.com/Q4qkrVMRQS
— Shaniyat Chowdhury for US Congress NY5 (@Shaniyat2020) April 20, 2020
We are about to go live on Marijuana Legalization & Prison Reform.
Can we get 420 people to chip in $4.20 today so we can continue to our fight to June 23rd? https://t.co/Nx1fdqKgJm https://t.co/GrKT9CHO4u
— Shaniyat Chowdhury for US Congress NY5 (@Shaniyat2020) April 20, 2020
Lacy Watson:
The M.O.R.E. Act is bipartisan legislation in favor of decriminalizing cannabis & expunging prior convictions. Please use your voice to urge Congress to move forward & vote on H.R. 3884. @ACLU @ACLU_WV @AMPROG @CAPaction pic.twitter.com/0F7ULwoZvu
— LacyWatson4Congress (@votelacy) April 20, 2020
Suraj Patel:
Legalizing marijuana is necessary, and it must be done with an emphasis on economic justice for communities of color hurt by the war on drugs. Read my thoughts: https://t.co/1rhTddBNXH
— Suraj Patel (@surajpatelnyc) April 20, 2020
State and local candidates
Andru Volinsky:
I support legalizing marijuana, and I'm not afraid to talk about it. Any legalization bill must include expunging records – and begin to lay the framework for a fair tax system for local growers. #420day pic.twitter.com/6Od1nXhOz7
— Andru Volinsky (@AndruVolinsky) April 20, 2020
New Hampshire is in the top third of states w/ the highest Black arrest rates for marijuana possession. We must legalize and expunge the records of all, including Black people, who are 4x more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession than white people #nhpolitics #420day https://t.co/dE6NOYca5c
— Andru Volinsky (@AndruVolinsky) April 20, 2020
Stephen Smith:
Proud to have the only major party candidate for Governor to publicly support full cannabis legalization.
Happy 4/20, y’all. #WVCantWait #SmithforWV pic.twitter.com/7VxJF3w1YO
— WV Can't Wait & Stephen Smith for Governor (@WVCantWait) April 20, 2020
Jenna Wadsworth:
I understand that there is a huge economic opportunity for our farmers and rural communities that comes with being able to grow and sell cannabis. #NCpol #NCAg #legalizeit #cannabis #coronavirus #COVID19NC #marijuanajustice #NCAgriculture #NCGA #NCLeg #marijuana
— Jenna Wadsworth (@jennawadsworth) April 20, 2020
LEGALIZE IT.
That’s it. That’s the Tweet. #420day #420blazeit #cannabis #legalizeit #marijuana #NCpol #NCAg pic.twitter.com/VpHihFmz4W
— Jenna Wadsworth (@jennawadsworth) April 20, 2020
Eliza Orlins:
Marijuana prohibition has disproportionately impacted low-income communities and communities of color, fueling mass criminalization, and a crisis of over-incarceration. That’s why I support legalizing marijuana and ending the racist war on drugs. 2/2
— Eliza Orlins (@elizaorlins) April 20, 2020
Joe Moody:
I’ve got a few things to say about where the #txlege might be headed w/cannabis policy next session. Will be joining @TexasNORML for the #420StreamAThon tomorrow at 1pm CT. Follow the link and join in! #CJReform https://t.co/CQ2XMs3fbt pic.twitter.com/bRqnrBrcXH
— Joe Moody (@moodyforelpaso) April 19, 2020
This story will be updated throughout the day with additional posts from lawmakers, officials and candidates.
Congressional Candidates Openly Grow And Smoke Marijuana To Get Through Coronavirus Isolation
Photo courtesy of Philip Steffan.
Politics
Washington, D.C. Could Allow Marijuana Sales Under Mayor’s New Bill And Democratic Control Of Congress

The mayor of Washington, D.C. on Friday introduced a bill to create a regulated marijuana market in the District. And while similar legislation has been introduced in past years, the new proposal comes as Democrats take control of both chambers of Congress—a situation that bodes well for removing a federal spending rider that has long blocked legal cannabis sales from being implemented in the nation’s capital.
In other words, there’s renewed hope among advocates that 2021 will finally be the year that a commercial cannabis industry can be established in D.C., where voters approved an initiative legalizing marijuana possession and home cultivation in 2014. Congressional appropriations legislation has since prevented the District from authorizing sales, with Republicans in the majority in at least one chamber on Capitol Hill.
Mayor Muriel Bowser’s (D) bill largely reflects past proposals, though it does include new licensing provisions and funding mechanisms that are meant to bolster social equity in the industry.
Today, we introduced the Safe Cannabis Sales Act of 2021 to create an equitable adult-use cannabis program, advance a safer and more just DC, and empower and uplift residents who have been disproportionately affected by the criminalization of cannabis.
— Mayor Muriel Bowser (@MayorBowser) February 26, 2021
“This is about safety, equity, and justice,” Bowser said in a press release. “Through this legislation, we can fulfill the will of D.C. voters, reduce barriers for entering the cannabis industry, and invest in programs that serve residents and neighborhoods hardest hit by the criminalization of marijuana.”
Under the Safe Cannabis Sales Act, adults 21 and older would be allowed to purchase marijuana from licensed dispensaries starting October 1, 2022. A 17 percent tax would be imposed on cannabis sales.
The bill would provide for automatic expungements of prior marijuana convictions and use part of the tax revenue from cannabis sales to support reinvestments in communities most impacted by prohibition. It would also create a new licensing category for delivery services, with a stipulation that eligibility is continent on residency and income factors, such as requiring owners to have lived in certain low-income wards for at least five years.
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Marijuana Moment is already tracking more than 700 cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments.
Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access.
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The proposal calls for some tax revenue to be used for grants to be awarded to “locally disadvantaged certified business enterprises to open/expand sit-down restaurants in Wards 7/8. Additional monies would be used to support small grocery stores in those areas. Starting in fiscal year 2023, revenue would fund “school supplies, equipment, and afterschool sports and activities for students attending public schools” in those wards.
With respect to licensing, the legislation would also provide “preference points for certain cannabis business applications for returning citizens or D.C. residents arrested or convicted of a cannabis offense or to a cannabis certified business enterprise or veteran owned business enterprises.”
The activist group D.C. Marijuana Justice expressed concerns with several provisions of Bowser’s bill, including that it could limit the amount of cannabis that people could possess after growing the plant at home under the city’s current law.
You know the "cannabis that has been cut from the cannabis plant" weighs MORE immediately after it is cut from the plant due to water weight.
One *BRANCH* from the cannabis plant, with leaves, buds, and stem can weigh well over 10ozs after it's been cut. pic.twitter.com/i5foTTkCsE
— DC Marijuana Justice💨🏛💨🏛💨🏛💨 (@DCMJ2014) February 27, 2021
Last year, the mayor released a budget plan for the 2021 fiscal year that contained a signal that the local government was preparing to implement regulations for retail marijuana sales just as soon as Congress allowed it by shifting the city’s current medical cannabis program to the jurisdiction of the Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration (ABRA).
Bowser also unveiled a legalization bill in 2019, and part of it called for ABRA to regulate the legal industry and for the agency to be renamed the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration, a change that is also included in the mayor’s latest legislation.
Meanwhile, next door to the District, lawmakers in Virginia sent a marijuana legalization bill to the desk of Gov. Ralph Northam (D) on Saturday. On the other side of the city, legislators in Maryland are also considering legalizing cannabis this year.
In D.C., Bowser approved legislation in December to decriminalize possession of drug paraphernalia for personal use and promote harm reduction.
Activists filed a proposed ballot initiative to legalize marijuana sales in August, but it did not advance.
Separately, a local councilman introduced a bill in October that would expand opportunities for formerly incarcerated people to participate in the city’s existing medical cannabis market. The new legislation from Bowser would specifically make it so “returning citizens and D.C. residents with a criminal background” could work or manage a marijuana businesses. And those with past cannabis convictions could own a marijuana business.
Read the mayor’s marijuana sales bill below:
Safe Cannabis Sales Act of … by Marijuana Moment
Marijuana Use Won’t Automatically Block People From Federal Jobs, Biden Administration Memo Says
Photo courtesy of WeedPornDaily.
Politics
Virginia Lawmakers Send Marijuana Legalization Bill To Governor’s Desk Just Hours Before Deadline

Virginia lawmakers approved a bill to legalize marijuana with just hours left before the deadline to get legislation to the governor this session.
The Senate and House of Delegates approved differing reform proposals earlier this month, and negotiators have since been working to reconcile the bills in conference committee—a contentious process that at times appeared as if it would end without a deal.
But on Saturday, lawmakers agreed to the bicameral compromise plan.
The Senate voted 20-19 to approve the conference committee report on its bill as well as the identical version for the House legislation. The House voted to approve the conference report on its bill, 48-43, with two abstentions. When considering the Senate version, the House voted 47-44, with one abstention.
“It’s been a lot of work to get here,” Sen. Adam Ebbin (D), the lead sponsor of the Senate version of the legislation, said prior to the Senate vote. “But I would say that we’re on the path to an equitable law allowing for responsible adults to use cannabis.”
House Majority Leader Charniele Herring (D), the chief sponsor of the her chamber’s legalization bill, said that “racial justice is about more than addressing penalties for simple possession.”
“It is about reformative justice that provides equitable and social economic opportunity for individuals and communities which have been harmed by disproportionate policing and prosecution of cannabis,” she said. “Legalizing cannabis does not end systematic racism but it does remove one of the tools used in advancing systematic racism.”
The compromise legislation now goes to the desk of Gov. Ralph Northam (D), who supports ending cannabis prohibition.
Among the most pressing issues for lawmakers to negotiate in recent weeks was the timeline for crafting regulations for the cannabis market. The Senate has pushed for a reenactment clause to be included which would extend the process into next session, whereas the House side wanted to complete legislative work during the current session, arguing that enough research has already been done to effectively decide the issue. But Senate negotiators won out, meaning that the legislature will revisit cannabis regulations and post-legalization penalty structures next session.
Another major area of contention dealt with how the state would approach cannabis possession in the time between the bill’s signing and implementation of legal sales going into effect. Under both versions, the adult-use market wouldn’t launch until January 1, 2024 to give the state time to establish a regulatory agency to oversee the program. While the Senate had wanted to make the legalization of simple possession and home cultivation take effect starting on July 1 of this year, negotiators ultimately agreed to delay it to coincide with commercialization in 2024.
In the meantime, under the deal, a new Virginia Cannabis Control Authority will begin work this July to lay the ground for a legal marijuana industry.
Here are some of the other major provisions that were resolved in conference:
Referendum—The Senate version of the bill would have asked voters to weigh in on legalization through a nonbinding referendum on this November’s ballot. But the issue became increasingly contentious in recent days and conference negotiators decided to drop the idea.
Local control—Whereas the Senate measure called for individual cities to be able to ban marijuana businesses from operating in their area, the House version did not include an opt-out provision. Conferees decided to allow municipalities to elect to ban cannabis commercialization, but they must do so by December 31, 2022.
Penalties for youth—Under the House bill, minors caught possessing cannabis would be subject to a $25 fine with a referral to substance misuse treatment. The Senate, meanwhile, proposed a $250 fine for youth possession for the first offense and then criminal charges and even jail time for subsequent convictions. The agreed-upon final legislation would continue the current approach of treating youth possession as a delinquency, subject to a civil penalty of up to $25, but add a mandatory substance misuse treatment or education program or both. There would be no interaction with courts for such youths. For people between the ages of 18 and 20, the conference deal would continue the existing $25 fee that exists under the state’s decriminalization law and add that they may be ordered to enter a treatment or education program or both.
Social equity—Both versions of the legislation called for licensing priorities for social equity businesses, but there were differences in how each chamber defined what constitutes a social equity applicant. The final legislation defines an equity business as one that has at least 66 percent ownership by people who have been convicted of misdemeanor marijuana offenses (or have family members with such convictions) or people who live in a geographic area that is economically distressed or has a disproportionate rate of cannabis policing. People who graduated from a historically black college or university located in the state would also qualify. Also, beginning on July 1, the state would establish Cannabis Equity Reinvestment Fund and a Cannabis Equity Business Loan Fund.
Vertical integration—The House’s measure would ban vertical integration, a process that would allow a single company could control aspects of growing, processing and selling marijuana products. The Senate, meanwhile, wanted to allow vertical integration only if a cannabis business paid a $1 million fee into a state equity fund. Under the final legislation, vertical integration will be generally limited but will allow existing medical cannabis and hemp businesses to partially vertically integrate. Micro-businesses will also be able to vertically integrate.
In general under the legislation, adults 21 and older would be able to purchase and possess up to one ounce of cannabis and cultivate up to four plants for personal use. It also allows people to petition for suspended or modified sentences for marijuana convictions and establishes criteria for sealing past records.
The bill would set a cannabis excise tax of 21 percent and allow localities to add an additional 3 percent tax on top of the state’s existing 6 percent retail sales tax. Revenue would partly fund pre-K education programs for at-risk youth and would support the new equity funds as well as addiction prevention and treatment services and public health initiatives.
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Marijuana Moment is already tracking more than 700 cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments.
Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access.
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The proposal would create a new cannabis-focused state agency to regulate the legal market as opposed to having it fall under the existing alcoholic beverage authority as was the case under the governor’s original plan.
Post-legalization penalties set to go into effect in 2024, which are subject to renewal by the legislature next session, would include a $25 fine for possessing between one ounce and one pound in public. For public consumption, there would be a civil penalty of no more than $25 for first offense. A second offense would come with a $25 civil penalty and an order to enter a substance misuse treatment or education program, or both. Third or subsequent offenses would constitute a Class 4 misdemeanor with no possibility of jail time. Meanwhile, bringing marijuana across state lines would be a Class 1 misdemeanor.
Now that the final bill is headed to Northam’s desk, the governor will have the opportunity to suggest amendments to lawmakers, who can then adopt the suggestions as is or change or reject them, at which point the bill would go back to the governor for final action.
Jenn Michelle Pedini, executive director of Virginia NORML, said the bill’s passage “is another historic step for cannabis justice” that will “replace the failed policy of cannabis prohibition with one that promotes Virginia’s economy as well as Virginians’ public health and safety.”
“This effort remains a work in progress and our efforts in Virginia are far from over,” Pedini, who also serves as NORML’s national development director, said. “NORML is dedicated to continuing our work with lawmakers and regulators to advance legislative reforms that are most closely aligned with the views of the majority of Virginians who desire a safe, legal cannabis market. In particular, we hope to expedite the timeline with which Virginia adults will no longer face either criminal or civil penalties for the personal possession and cultivation of cannabis.”
Matt Simon, senior legislative analyst for the Marijuana Policy Project, said it’s “exciting that Virginia is on track to end cannabis prohibition and replace it with sensible regulation.”
“Lawmakers in other states are already taking notice and seeking to learn from Virginia’s example,” he said.
Earlier on Saturday, the ACLU of Virginia and other groups had urged lawmakers to defeat the final proposal prior to the release of its actual text, saying that the provisions as described in media reports showed it to be a “symbolic marijuana legalization bill made behind closed doors that does not advance the cause of equal justice and racial justice.”
BREAKING: We, @thcjusticenow, @RISEforYouth, and @JusticeFwdVa urged Virginia lawmakers to vote no on a symbolic marijuana legalization bill made behind closed doors that does not advance the cause of equal justice and racial justice in Virginia. https://t.co/kS47X9qK7g
— ACLU of Virginia (@ACLUVA) February 27, 2021
The Virginia NAACP argued that the bill, based on press accounts, “includes Systemically Racist probable cause provisions” and pledged that its members “will not stand by while Jim Crow’s sister Jane tries to creep her way into Virginia law.”
We will not stand by while Jim Crow’s sister Jane tries to creep her way into Virginia law.”
2/2— Virginia NAACP (@NAACPVirginia) February 27, 2021
But after the bill’s text came out, NAACP issued an updated statement saying that while the final legislation “is not perfect, it’s a step in the right direction.”
The Virginia NAACP will not rest until full equity and restorative justice is achieved.”
2/2— Virginia NAACP (@NAACPVirginia) February 28, 2021
The ACLU, for its part, maintained its opposition, saying that lawmakers “failed to legalize marijuana for racial justice” and “paid lip service to the communities that have suffered decades of harm caused by the racist War on Drugs with legislation that falls short of equitable reform and delays justice.”
The new changes, which would not legalize simple possession until 2024, do nothing to break the chains of marijuana prohibition.
It would delay & deny justice to all those whose lives have been upended & who are still being harassed by police on the streets every day.
— ACLU of Virginia (@ACLUVA) February 28, 2021
All of this legislative action comes a little over a month after Northam and top lawmakers initially unveiled their legalization proposal.
The cannabis legislation’s structure was informed by separate studies conducted by a legislative research body and a working group made up of state cabinet officials.
Support for legalizing marijuana is strong in Virginia, according to a poll released this month. It found that a majority of adults in the Commonwealth (68 percent) favor adult-use legalization, and that includes most Republicans (51 percent).
The legislature has also taken up a number of other more modest cannabis reform proposals this session.
Bills to allow medical patients to access whole-flower cannabis in addition to oils, facilitate automatic expungements for certain marijuana convictions, protect employment rights of medical cannabis patients and allow those in hospice and nursing facilities to access medical marijuana have also advanced this session.
Virginia lawmakers passed separate legislation last year that decriminalized possession of up to an ounce of marijuana, replacing existing penalties with a $25 civil fine and no threat of jail time. The law took effect last July.
Read a summary of the provisions of the Virginia marijuana legalization conference report below:
Virginia Marijuana Legalization Conference Details by Marijuana Moment on Scribd
New Mexico House Approves Marijuana Legalization Bill, With Senate Action Imminent
Photo courtesy of Philip Steffan.
Politics
New Mexico House Approves Marijuana Legalization Bill, With Senate Action Imminent

The New Mexico House of Representatives on Friday approved a bill to legalize marijuana in the state, one day ahead of a scheduled Senate committee hearing on that chamber’s separate proposals to end cannabis prohibition.
The legislation that cleared the House—which would allow adults 21 and older to possess “at least” two ounces of cannabis and grow up to six mature and six immature plants for personal use—recently sailed through two committees before moving to the floor, where it was approved in a 39-31 vote.
The measure is favored by reform advocates because—unlike other House and Senate reform measures that have been introduced this session—it would prioritize using tax revenue from marijuana sales to support reinvestments in communities most impacted by the war on drugs. It also stands out for including provisions to automatically expunge prior cannabis convictions.
Meanwhile, the Senate Tax, Business & Transportation Committee will take up three separate legalization bills on Saturday.
Rep. Javier Martinez (D) introduced the House legislation, which would establish a system of regulated marijuana sales. It would require rules for the market to be implemented by January 2022.
“As I dove into this work years ago, I realized that, to me, legalizing recreational cannabis is not about the money,” Martinez said on the floor prior to the vote. “It’s a great revenue source for the state, but that’s not why I’m doing it.”
“Legalizing adult use of cannabis is probably going to be good for tourism. Legalizing is probably going to be good in terms of creating jobs and a new homegrown industry,” he said. “But really when you get to the core of why I’m doing this and why I’ve worked on this for so long, it’s because I have seen the faces of the people who have most been impacted by this terrible and unwinnable war on drugs. It’s one that we cannot win.”
The Taxation & Revenue Committee approved a substitute version of the measure on Wednesday that includes a number of changes, including moving the start of legal sales back to January 1, 2022 from October 1 of this year. That would apply to existing medical cannabis dispensaries and microbusinesses, with sales for other retailers set to start September 2022.
Language was also removed in committee that earmarked tax revenue for a community reinvestment fund and a low-income patient subsidy program. The fund accounts will still be created, but it would be up to lawmakers to steer money to them in future sessions once cannabis revenue starts coming in.
Other modifications include language on regulatory authority for the cannabis market, allowing health and safety inspections of businesses, addressing workplace and employment issues, replacing fines and fees for youth who violate the law with a civil infraction penalty, stipulating that people can petition for resentencing for offenses made legal and adjusting the state excise tax on marijuana from nine percent to eight percent while giving local jurisdictions the option to levy an additional four percent tax.
On the floor on Friday, members additionally accepted a technical amendment to add back in a section of the bill that had been inadvertently deleted by committee staff.
Rep. Randal Crowder (R) offered an amendment to allow local jurisdictions to opt out of allowing marijuana businesses. But after it was pointed out to him that its broad language would have unintentionally impacted medical cannabis operations as well as recreational ones, he withdrew it. A second, revised version, was more narrowly drafted to focus only on adult-use operations, but it was blocked by a successful motion to table it.
“Cannabis legalization in New Mexico is one step closer to the finish line,” Emily Kaltenbach, senior director of resident States and New Mexico for the Drug Policy Alliance, said after the vote. “After tonight’s debate, we’re even more optimistic that this bill has a path to the governor’s desk.”
She argued that the House bill is superior to the three measures the Senate panel will take on Saturday.
“Given HB 12 puts the lives of New Mexicans ahead of solely business interests, it is critical it be the vehicle for legalization as the issue moves forward,” she said. “HB 12 legalizes cannabis in an equitable way that begins to repair the harms that have disproportionately impacted Hispanic/Latinx, Black, Native and Indigenous people in New Mexico. New Mexicans are absolutely ready to see marijuana legalization become a reality in the state, but they have made it clear that repairing the damage done by the drug war is non-negotiable.”
For her part, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) has repeatedly talked about the need to legalize as a means to boost the economy, especially amid the coronavirus pandemic. She said during a State of the State address last month that “a crisis like the one we’ve experienced last year can be viewed as a loss or as an invitation to rethink the status quo—to be ambitious and creative and bold.”
The governor also included cannabis legalization as part of her 2021 legislative agenda that she released last month and said in a recent interview that she’s “still really optimistic about cannabis” this session.
That optimism is bolstered by the fact that several anti-legalization Democrats, including the Senate president pro tem and the Finance Committee chair, were ousted by progressive primary challengers last year.
Additional pressure to end cannabis prohibition this year is coming from neighboring Arizona, where voters approved legalization in November and where sales officially launched earlier this month.
New Mexico shares another border with Colorado, one of the first states to legalize for adult use. Cannabis is also expected to be legalized across the southern border in Mexico, with lawmakers facing a Supreme Court mandate to end prohibition by April.
Last year, a bill to legalize cannabis for adult use passed one New Mexico Senate committee only to be rejected in another before the end of the 30-day session.
Earlier, in 2019, the House approved a legalization bill that included provisions to put marijuana sales mostly in state-run stores, but it died in the Senate. Later that year, Lujan Grisham created a working group to study cannabis legalization and issue recommendations.
Polling indicates that voters are ready for the policy change. A survey released in October found that a strong majority of New Mexico residents are in favor of legalization with social equity provisions in place, and about half support decriminalizing drug possession more broadly.
Last May, the governor signaled that she was considering actively campaigning against lawmakers who blocked her legalization bill in 2020. She also said that she’s open to letting voters decide on the policy change via a ballot referendum if lawmakers can’t send a legalization bill to her desk.
Washington Supreme Court Strikes Down Criminalization Of Drug Possession
Photo courtesy of Mike Latimer.