No doubt about it, we’re living through a moment of unprecedented historic change here in the United States. And cannabis legalization is no exception. Even amidst the challenges of negotiating a pandemic and the civic unrest surrounding the tragic death of George Floyd, cannabis is marching steadily towards the mainstream.
Will 2020 be the year to put it over the top? Not likely, say many industry watchers. Although the COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the importance of medical cannabis in millions of Americans’ self-care regimens, it’s put a crimp in the door-to-door signature-gathering work needed to get voter initiatives on ballots.
But that’s not to say there’s not still work to do! If you’re one of the untold millions who support the legalization of one of humankind’s oldest and most revered plant medicines, there’s plenty you can do from the safety of your own living room. We’re going to share a list of a few of the national and local organizations working to advance cannabis legalization. If you’d like to be part of the Green Wave in 2020, they could use your help getting safe, legal medicinal cannabis closer to the finish line.
Cannabis Legalization 2020: Resources for Advocacy
Marijuana Policy Project (MPP)
This long standing advocacy group, self-described as the largest organization in the country focused solely on enacting humane marijuana laws, has been working since 1995 to change laws both on the local and national levels. But they’re hardly stuck in the past: The organization’s recent presentations focus on how cannabis legalization can help reduce tension between police and communities of color and to foster greater racial justice and equity for all.
The MPP is active here in the Keystone State. Visit the group’s dedicated Pennsylvania page for news, updates and local resources.
National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML)
Another longstanding and respected force in the cannabis legalization movement, NORML has been working to shift public opinion around cannabis since 1970. With a focus on legalizing the responsible adult use of cannabis, the group advocates for access to safe, convenient and affordable cannabis for all legal consumers. And if adult-use cannabis legalization doesn’t match your personal beliefs, NORML also espouses strong support for access to medical cannabis, arguing that:
Of all the negative consequences of marijuana prohibition, none is as tragic as the denial of medicinal cannabis to the tens of thousands of patients who could benefit from its therapeutic use.
Pennsylvania Cannabis Coalition
Dedicated to protecting and preserving Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana market, this Harrisburg-based group solicits input from ordinary citizens such as yourself as it seeks to build a more robust and sensible medical cannabis market here in the state.
Cannabis Legalization 2020: What’s Happening in Pennsylvania?
Early this year, Pennsylvania state representative Jake Wheatley, Jr. introduced a bill to legalize adult-use cannabis. Seen as a necessary follow-up to his failed House Bill 50 of 2019, this version incorporated suggestions and input from stakeholders all across the state, including significant criminal-justice and social reform components. Representative Wheatley is currently collecting signatures for a petition to support the bill; signing it online is simple and easy.
Although last year’s effort ended in failure, there are some positive early signs this time around. According to a survey commissioned by the Pennsylvania Cannabis Coalition in May, 62% of likely voters—both Democrats and Republicans—supported adult-use cannabis sales in the state.
If you have any questions about cannabis legalization—or any other topics in the world of cannabis—drop us a line. We’re here to help!
