Editing Marijuana Policy Project (section)

== State legislative victories ==

'''Delaware'''

In June 2015, the Delaware Legislature passed and Gov. Jack Markell signed a bill to reduce the penalty for possession of up to an ounce of marijuana to a simple fine. MPP led the two-year lobbying effort for the law, which reduces the penalty for possession of up to an ounce of marijuana to a civil fine for adults 21 and older. Minors under the age of 18 will be subject to a $100 criminal fine, while those between 18 and 21 will be subject to a $100 civil fine for a first offense and a $100 criminal fine for a second offense.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.delawareonline.com/story/firststatepolitics/2015/06/18/senate-debate-marijuana/28927757/|title=Markell signs Delaware marijuana decriminalization bill|access-date=19 December 2017}}</ref>

In May 2011, the Delaware Legislature passed and Gov. [[Jack Markell]] signed SB 17, which allows qualified, registered patients to obtain three ounces of marijuana every 14 days from state-regulated compassion centers. MPP led the two-year grassroots and lobbying efforts to pass the bill, which is based on MPP's model bill.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://digitaljournal.com/article/306806|title=Delaware becomes 16th state to pass medical marijuana law|date=17 May 2011|access-date=19 December 2017}}</ref> This made Delaware the 16th state, plus the District of Columbia, to adopt a medical marijuana law.

'''District of Columbia'''

In March 2014, D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray signed a bill removing all criminal penalties for possession of up to an ounce of marijuana and replacing them with a civil fine of $25. Police will also no longer have grounds to search individuals simply based on the smell of marijuana. Before the bill can become law, however, it must undergo a 60-working-day review process in Congress. MPP, along with the Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), was instrumental in passing this legislation—by assisting with bill drafting, meeting with members of the D.C. Council, participating in working groups, testifying at hearings, and generating constituent advocacy in support of the bill.

'''Illinois'''

In August 2013, Gov. Pat Quinn signed medical marijuana legislation passed by the Illinois Legislature, making Illinois the 20th state to legalize medical marijuana. MPP lobbied for nearly 10 years in Springfield to bring about this state legislative victory. As many as 60 retail establishments will be licensed to sell medical marijuana to patients with cancer, AIDS, and other serious illnesses.

In July 2016, Illinois Gov. [[Bruce Rauner]] (R) signed a bill to reduce the penalty for up to 10 grams of marijuana from a criminal offense carrying possible jail time to a violation punishable by a non-criminal fine. MPP's lobbying team led the two-and-a-half-year advocacy effort, working closely with [[Clergy for a New Drug Policy]] and other allies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-illinois-marijuana-decriminalzation-0730-20160729-story.html|title=Rauner reduces punishment for minor pot possession from jail to citation|first=Monique|last=Garcia|website=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=July 29, 2016 |access-date=19 December 2017}}</ref>

'''Maryland'''

In April and May 2011, the Maryland General Assembly approved and Gov. [[Martin O'Malley]] signed an affirmative defense bill, removing criminal penalties from qualifying patients who possess up to an ounce of marijuana and establishing a work group to study a more comprehensive law.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tokeofthetown.com/2011/05/maryland_removes_penalties_from_medical_use_of_mar.php|title=Maryland Removes Penalties For Medical Use Of Marijuana - Toke of the Town|date=10 May 2011|access-date=19 December 2017}}</ref> The bill improves upon a sentencing mitigation bill the legislature enacted in 2003, following four years of lobbying by MPP. MPP also played a leading role in the 2011 victory, including in-person lobbying, working with patients, and testifying before legislative committees.

In May 2013, Gov. O'Malley signed a research-oriented medical marijuana bill to allow teaching hospitals to apply to an independent commission to run medical marijuana programs. Gov. O'Malley also signed a bill that allows patients' designated caregivers to raise an affirmative defense for possession of medical marijuana.

In April 2014, Gov. Martin O'Malley signed legislation making Maryland the 21st medical marijuana state. MPP lobbied in support of medical marijuana legislation in Maryland for more than a decade. The legislation will allow state residents suffering from certain qualifying conditions to use medical marijuana if their doctors recommend it. It will also permit registered cultivators to grow medical marijuana and up to 15 licensed [[marijuana dispensaries]] to distribute the medicine to patients. Possession limits and regulations governing cultivation and [[marijuana dispensary]] facilities will be determined by a state-sanctioned commission prior to implementation.

Also in April 2014, Gov. Martin O'Malley signs legislation making Maryland the 18th state to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana. The legislation makes possession of less than 10 grams of marijuana a civil offense punishable by a fine of up to $100 for a first offense, up to $250 for a second offense, and up to $500 for subsequent offenses. Third-time offenders and individuals under 21 years of age will be required to undergo a clinical assessment for substance abuse disorder and a drug education program. MPP is proud to be a member of the Marijuana Policy Coalition of Maryland, which led the charge for this sensible marijuana policy reform in Maryland.

'''Minnesota'''

In May 2014, Gov. [[Mark Dayton]] signed legislation making Minnesota the 22nd medical marijuana state. MPP and its local affiliate worked for several years to bring about the victory. The law allows qualifying patients to obtain preparations of marijuana from eight locations. It does not allow smoking.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/health/3777541-minnesotas-medical-marijuana-law-takes-effect-today|title=news|website=Duluth News Tribune|access-date=19 December 2017}}</ref>

'''New Hampshire'''

In July 2013, Gov. [[Maggie Hassan]] signed a bill approved by the New Hampshire Legislature to legalize medical marijuana, making New Hampshire the 19th medical marijuana state. MPP worked for several years to bring about this victory in the Granite State. The 2013 legislation will allow patients with serious illnesses to obtain marijuana from four nonprofit, state-licensed alternative treatment centers.

On July 18, 2017, Gov. [[Chris Sununu]] signed HB 640 into law, reducing penalties for possessing three quarters of an ounce or less of marijuana from a criminal misdemeanor to a civil violation punishable only by a fine. A fourth offense within three years would be a fine-only misdemeanor. Marijuana possession by those under 18 would be subject to the jurisdiction of juvenile court, and they would typically receive substance abuse education. MPP led the multi-year lobbying effort for the law.

'''New York'''

In July 2014, Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed legislation making New York the 23rd medical marijuana state. The law's passage is the product of many years of work by legislative champions, patients, their loved ones, and advocacy organizations, including MPP, Compassionate Care NY, and the Drug Policy Alliance. The new law will protect certain seriously ill patients who use marijuana pursuant to their doctors' advice from civil and criminal penalties. A number of modifications were made at the insistence of Gov. Cuomo. As a result, patients will not be allowed to smoke medical cannabis, the law will sunset after seven years, and there will be no more than five manufacturers—with a total of up to 20 locations—in the entire state. MPP continues work to improve the law.

'''Ohio'''

On June 8, 2016, Gov. John Kasich signed House Bill 523 into law, making Ohio the 25th state to adopt a workable medical marijuana law. The legislation, passed by the Ohio General Assembly the previous week, will allow seriously ill patients to use and purchase medical cannabis that will be cultivated and processed in-state. This legislation was a direct response to an initiative MPP funded and sought to qualify for the November 2016 ballot. Although the legislation isn't as strong as the constitutional amendment MPP promoted, it shares many of the same critical principles, most especially by ensuring seriously ill patients will no longer be treated like criminals and will have reasonable access to medicine. In conjunction with Ohioans for Medical Marijuana, MPP plans to continue advocacy efforts to ensure that the State of Ohio lives up to the promises contained in HB 523, while also working to better the program using the ballot initiative proposal as a roadmap for these improvements.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA131-HB-523|title=House Bill 523 - Summary - The Ohio Legislature|website=www.legislature.ohio.gov|access-date=19 December 2017}}</ref>

'''Pennsylvania'''

On April 17, 2016. Gov. [[Tom Wolf]] signed legislation making Pennsylvania the 24th medical marijuana state. Patients and their families led the effort for years, and MPP played a major supporting role beginning in mid-2015, bringing on a contract lobbyist and a staffer who devoted most of her time to Pennsylvania. MPP helped ensure the bill language was as strong as possible and worked on advocacy and communications, including creating videos of families from Campaign for Compassion. The new law is one of the stronger ones to pass through a legislature. Its broad list of qualifying conditions includes intractable pain and PTSD and up to 150 dispensaries will be allowed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/li/uconsCheck.cfm?yr=2016&sessInd=0&act=16|title=2016 Act 16|first=Legislativate Data Processing|last=Center|website=The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly.|access-date=19 December 2017}}</ref>

'''Rhode Island'''

In January 2006, the Rhode Island Legislature overwhelmingly overrode Gov. [[Donald Carcieri]]'s veto of MPP's bill to protect medical marijuana patients from arrest, making Rhode Island the 11th medical marijuana state. This was the first state medical marijuana law to be enacted over the veto of a governor.

In June 2009, the Rhode Island Legislature again overwhelmingly overrode Gov. Carcieri's veto of MPP's bill to create "compassion centers" to provide medical marijuana to qualified patients, making Rhode Island the second state (after New Mexico) to license and regulate medical marijuana dispensing.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.projo.com/news/content/MEDICAL_MARIJUANA_OVERRIDE_06-17-09_IUEOBRE_v16.3e8eb3e.html|title=providencejournal.com: Local & World News, Sports & Entertainment in Providence, RI|website=providencejournal.com|access-date=19 December 2017}}</ref>

In June 2012, the Rhode Island Legislature passed and Gov. [[Lincoln Chafee]] signed twin bills to decriminalize the simple possession of marijuana. MPP led the three-year lobbying and grassroots effort for the bills, which reduce the penalty for possession of up to an ounce of marijuana to a $150 civil fine for most offenses.

'''Vermont'''

In May 2004, at the conclusion of MPP's intensive, three-year lobbying campaign, Vermont became the ninth state to enact a medical marijuana law—and only the second state (after Hawaii) to do so through its legislature, rather than through a ballot initiative. In May 2011, the Vermont Legislature approved S. 17, which added four non-profit [[marijuana dispensaries]] to the existing law. MPP played an instrumental role in passing this legislation, by funding a two-year lobbying effort and helping elect a governor who supports sensible marijuana policies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/307589#ixzz1OyKkfbep|title=Vermont legalizes medical marijuana dispensaries (Includes interview)|date=6 June 2011|access-date=19 December 2017}}</ref>

In June 2013, Gov. Peter Shumlin signed legislation passed by the Vermont Legislature to decriminalize the simple possession of marijuana. MPP led the nearly four-year lobbying effort for the law, which reduces the penalty for possession of up to an ounce of marijuana to a civil fine for adults 21 and older. Minors will typically be required to complete diversion.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://vtdigger.org/2013/06/06/bill-reducing-penalty-for-possession-of-small-amounts-or-marijuana-signed-into-law/|title=Bill reducing penalty for possession of small amounts or marijuana signed into law|date=6 June 2013|website=vtdigger.org}}</ref>

In January 2018, the Vermont Legislature passed a limited legalization bill, which will make it legal for adults to possess and grow limited amounts of marijuana. Gov. Phil Scott (R) said he will sign the bill into law. MPP's staff and lobbyists led advocacy efforts for medical marijuana, decriminalization, and legalization in Vermont for more than 15 years.{{citation needed|date=August 2018}}