Marijuana Policy Project

History and Organization:

• MPP co-founders were previously at NORML.
• MPP was incorporated in 1995.
• Rob Kampia served as MPP’s executive director.
• Matthew Schweich served as interim executive director.
• Steven W. Hawkins was named executive director in 2018.
• MPP has a lobbying group and a public education group.
• The education branch accepts tax-deductible donations.
• The lobby group influences politicians.
• MPP funding comes from individual contributions.
• MPP has over 40,000 dues-paying members.

State-Level Advocacy and Legislative Victories:

• MPP focuses on changing state laws.
• MPP led the 2012 Amendment 64 initiative in Colorado.
• MPP supported successful campaigns in Alaska, Maine, Massachusetts, and Nevada.
• MPP played a role in passing medical marijuana laws in various states.
• MPP is working on legalization efforts in more states.
• Delaware, D.C., Illinois, and other states reduced penalties or legalized medical marijuana with MPP’s support.

Specific Achievements and Efforts:

• Various states legalized medical marijuana with MPP’s support.
• Several states decriminalized marijuana possession.
• MPP played a key role in passing legislation and initiatives in states like Maryland, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, and Pennsylvania.

Ballot Initiatives and State-Specific Campaigns:

• MPP supported ballot measures in multiple states to regulate and tax marijuana.
• MPP led successful campaigns in states like Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, and Nevada.
• MPP’s efforts in states like Vermont, Rhode Island, and Illinois led to significant changes in marijuana laws.

Federal Lobbying and Policy Influence:

• MPP works on federal goals like treating marijuana like alcohol under federal law.
• MPP influences members of Congress to support legislation protecting medical marijuana patients and providers.
• MPP advocates for federal laws treating marijuana like alcohol and has been involved in various federal lobbying efforts and campaigns.

Marijuana Policy Project Data Sources