Marijuana Policy Project

Marijuana Policy Project
Basic facts
Location:	Washington, D.C.
Type:	501(c)(4)
Top official:	Adam J. Smith, Executive Director
Year founded:	1995
Website:	Official website
Promoted policies
Marijuana Legalization

The Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) is a national 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C. It works to lobby state and federal governments for reduced penalties on marijuana cultivation, sales, and use, as well as the legalization and regulation of recreational and medicinal cannabis.

Background

Voting on Marijuana
Ballot Measures
By state
By year
Not on ballot
Local Local marijuana Local marijuana tax

The Marijuana Policy Project was founded in 1995, with the goal of reducing penalties for marijuana cultivation, use, and sales.

The project is composed of two different organizations, with MPP dealing with ballot initiatives and lobbying and the MPP Foundation serving as the tax-deductible educational branch.

Leadership

As of August 2025, Adam J. Smith was executive director of MPP.

The following individuals were members of MPP's board of directors as of August 2025:

• Betty Aldworth, chair
• David Abernathy, vice-chair
• Brian Vicente, treasurer
• Sal Pace
• John Gilmore
• Kim Napoli
• Tom Roth
• Barrington Rutherford

Work and activities

Legislative and policy advocacy

MPP's website said it has "spearheaded most of the major state-level cannabis policy reforms enacted in the past 20 years."

The group works by lobbying for pro-marijuana legislation and sponsoring pro-marijuana ballot initiatives, as well as seeking to educate the public through media outreach and networking. The group publishes a voter guide on gubernatorial and U.S. senate races "to educate voters on where candidates stand on cannabis policy reform so that they can cast informed votes."

As of August 2025, MPP said it was focusing on legalizing and regulating recreational cannabis in Hawaii, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania, as well as enacting medical cannabis laws in Kansas, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Wisconsin. The group monitors cannabis-related legislation in all 50 states and Washington D.C.

MPP also monitors marijuana-related legislation at the federal level and urges its supporters to lobby members of Congress on cannabis-related bills.

Marijuana Policy Project Foundation

The Marijuana Policy Project Foundation (MPP Foundation) was established in 1996 as the 501(c)(3) nonprofit affiliate of the Marijuana Policy Project.

The MPP Foundation functions as the educational outreach arm of the Marijuana Policy Project. As of August 2025, the foundation's mission statement was "to increase public support for and identify and activate supporters of non-punitive, non-coercive marijuana policies. The goal is to regulate marijuana like alcohol in all 50 states, D.C., and the five U.S. territories."

Political activity

Between 2016 and 2024, Marijuana Policy Project made $38,346 in contributions to candidates, according to records compiled by OpenSecrets.

According to Open Secrets, MPP spent a total of $21,982 in support of Democratic candidates in the 2016 election cycle, while the group spent $34,450 in support of Republicans. Nearly 85 percent of the total amount the organization spent supported incumbents.

In the 2014 election cycle, MPP spent $72,500 on candidate contributions, $61,500 of which supported Democratic candidates.

According to Open Secrets, the Marijuana Policy Project spent $31,220 in total contributions in the 2012 election cycle. The breakdown is as follows:

• $24,620 in contributions to candidates
• $3,500 in contributions to leadership PACs
• $2,500 in contributions to 527 committees
• $2,500 in contributions to satellite spending groups
• $-1,900 in contributions to parties

Ballot measure activity

Overview of ballot measure support and opposition

The following table details the Marijuana Policy Project's ballot measure stances available on Ballotpedia:

Ballot measure support and opposition for Marijuana Policy Project
Ballot measure	Year	Position	Status
Marijuana Legalization Initiative	2023	Supported	a Approved
Maryland Question 4, Marijuana Legalization Amendment	2022	Supported	aApproved
North Dakota Statutory Measure 2, Marijuana Legalization Initiative	2022	Supported	dDefeated
South Dakota Initiated Measure 27, Marijuana Legalization Initiative	2022	Supported	dDefeated
Nebraska Medical Marijuana Initiative	2020	Supported	Not on the ballot
Michigan Marijuana Legalization Initiative	2018	Supported	a Approved
Maine Marijuana Legalization, Question 1	2016	Supported	aApproved
Arkansas Medical Cannabis Act, Issue 7	2016	Supported	Not on the ballot
California Proposition 64, Marijuana Legalization	2016	Supported	aApproved
Nevada Marijuana Legalization, Question 2	2016	Supported	aApproved
Massachusetts Marijuana Legalization, Question 4	2016	Supported	aApproved
Arizona Medical Marijuana Question, Proposition 203	2010	Supported	aApproved

Maryland Question 4, Marijuana Legalization Amendment (2022)

See also: Maryland Question 4, Marijuana Legalization Amendment (2022)

The Marijuana Policy Project supported Question 4 in Maryland, which was designed to legalize marijuana in the state. The measure was approved.

North Dakota Statutory Measure 2, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2022)

See also: North Dakota Statutory Measure 2, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2022)

The Marijuana Policy Project supported Measure 2 in North Dakota, which was designed to legalize marijuana in the state. The measure was defeated.

South Dakota Initiated Measure 27, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2022)

See also: South Dakota Initiated Measure 27, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2022)

The Marijuana Policy Project supported Measure 27, which was designed to legalize marijuana in the state. The measure was defeated.

Nebraska Medical Marijuana Initiative (2020)

See also: Nebraska Medical Marijuana Initiative (2020)

The initiative was designed to amend the Nebraska Constitution to legalize medical marijuana. The Marijuana Policy Project was part of the coalition, Nebraskans for Sensible Marijuana Laws, which led the campaign in support of the ballot initiative. The measure did not appear on the ballot.

Michigan Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2018)

See also: Michigan Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2018)

The Marijuana Policy Project contributed over $550,000 to the support committee, Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol. Michigan Proposition 1 legalized the recreational use and possession of marijuana for persons 21 years of age or older and enacted a tax on marijuana sales. The measure was approved.

Maine Marijuana Legalization, Question 1 (2016)

See also: Maine Marijuana Legalization, Question 1 (2016)

The Marijuana Policy Project contributed over $330,000 to the support committee, Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol. Maine Question 1 legalized recreational marijuana for adults over the age of 21. The measure was approved.

Arkansas Medical Cannabis Act, Issue 7 (2016)

See also: Arkansas Medical Cannabis Act, Issue 7 (2016)

The Marijuana Policy Project contributed $25,000 to the support committee, Arkansans for Compassionate Care. Arkansas Issue 7 would have supported legalizing medical marijuana for 56 qualifying conditions, putting the Arkansas Department of Health in charge of implementing the program, and allocating tax revenue to providing low-income patients with medical marijuana. The measure appeared on the ballot but votes were not counted.

California Proposition 64, Marijuana Legalization (2016)

See also: California Proposition 64, Marijuana Legalization (2016)

The Marijuana Policy Project of California, an affiliate of Marijuana Policy Project, raised over $777,000 in support of the measure. California Proposition 64 legalized recreational marijuana for persons 21 years or older and established certain sales and cultivation taxes.

Nevada Marijuana Legalization, Question 2 (2016)

See also: Nevada Marijuana Legalization, Question 2 (2016)

The largest donor in support of Question 2 was the Marijuana Policy Project with contributions exceeding $700,000. Nevada Question 2 legalized the recreational use of one ounce or less of marijuana by individuals 21 and older.

Massachusetts Marijuana Legalization, Question 4 (2016)

See also: Massachusetts Marijuana Legalization, Question 4 (2016)

The top in-kind donor in support of Question 4 was the Marijuana Policy Project, which provided $341,640.14 worth of goods and services. The measure legalized marijuana and regulated it in ways similar to alcoholic beverages. After the election, the Massachusetts State Legislature passed H.3818 to amend the statute increasing the tax on marijuana and changing other regulations.

Arizona Medical Marijuana Question, Proposition 203 (2010)

See also: Arizona Medical Marijuana Question, Proposition 203 (2010)

The Marijuana Policy Project contributed $140,000 to the support campaign. The proposition allowed residents in the state with specific medical conditions to be treated with certain amounts of marijuana for personal use.

Notable endorsements

See also: Ballotpedia: Our approach to covering endorsements

This section displays endorsements this organization made in elections within Ballotpedia's coverage scope.

Notable ballot measure endorsements by Marijuana Policy Project

Measure	Position	Outcome
Maryland Question 4, Marijuana Legalization Amendment (2022)  source	Support	Approved
Montana CI-118, Allow for a Legal Age for Marijuana Amendment (2020)  source	Support	Approved
Montana I-190, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2020)  source	Support	Approved
Nebraska Medical Marijuana Initiative (2020)  source	Support	Not on the ballot
North Dakota Statutory Measure 2, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2022)  source	Support	Defeated
Ohio Issue 2, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2023)  source	Support	Approved
South Dakota Constitutional Amendment A, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2020)  source	Support	Overturned
South Dakota Initiated Measure 26, Medical Marijuana Initiative (2020)  source	Support	Approved

Finances

The following is a breakdown of Marijuana Policy Project's revenues and expenses for the 2011 to 2022 fiscal years, according to documents submitted to the Internal Revenue Service.

Annual revenue and expenses for Marijuana Policy Project, 2011-2022

Tax Year	Total Revenue	Total Expenses
2011	$997,901	$950,584
2012	$1,370,905	$2,961,798
2013	$1,824,542	$1,102,926
2014	$2,000,940	$2,249,899
2015	$1,830,649	$1,748,614
2016	$4,676,460	$4,569,581
2017	$2,371,259	$2,306,543
2018	$1,742,760	$1,954,499
2019	$1,872,495	$1,550,295
2020	$1,169,472	$1,213,310
2021	$2,867,339	$2,886,111
2022	$2,093,528	$2,279,100

Noteworthy events

Statement on marijuana policies amid the coronavirus pandemic

Coronavirus pandemic
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On April 16, 2020, Marijuana Policy Project executive director Steve Hawkins argued that states should suspend enforcement of marijuana laws during the coronavirus pandemic. Hawkins wrote, "The coronavirus crisis has abruptly forced all Americans to reexamine our priorities. ... One public policy that offers no benefit whatsoever during this time of crisis is our nation’s failed prohibition of cannabis. As governments work to minimize the negative impacts of COVID-19, it’s clear that punitive cannabis laws and unnecessarily strict regulations serve as far more of a hindrance than a help. ... In the 11 states where cannabis is already legal for adults, interaction among law enforcement and consumers has already dropped considerably, so fewer steps are likely to be needed. The other 39 states should immediately suspend enforcement and prosecution of cannabis laws for the duration of the national emergency. Not only does it protect public health, it also avoids wasting limited law enforcement and court resources during a crisis."

Recent news

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for "Marijuana + Policy + Project"

All stories may not be relevant to this organization due to the nature of the search engine.

Marijuana Policy Project News Feed

See also

• What is an influencer?
• National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws
• Marijuana laws ballot measures
• History of marijuana ballot measures and laws
• Drug Policy Alliance
• National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws
• Arkansas Medical Marijuana Act (2016)
• California Proposition 64, Marijuana Legalization (2016)
• Nevada Marijuana Legalization, Question 2 (2016)

External links

• Marijuana Policy Project official website