source:
The Weed Blog
by Johnny Green
Ron Crumpton, Executive Director of the Alabama Safe Access Project (ASAP), tells us that State Representative Patricia Todd – in collaboration with
ASAP -
will be filing multiple cannabis reform measures in the upcoming
legislative session, including a measure to decriminalize cannabis, a
proposal to legalize it entirely, and two proposals to bring protection
for medical cannabis patients; one would legalize medical cannabis
entirely, and one would provide an affirmative defense for qualified
patients
In June the
State of Alaska officially certified an initiative to legalize
cannabis, passing it through its initial hurdle towards becoming law.
Advocates will now need to collect 30,169 valid signatures by next
summer to place the proposal – which would legalize cannabis possession,
and retail outlets – on next November’s general election ballot.
In May,
a Behavior Research Center poll -
which shocked the political world in Arizona – found that 56% in the
state support the legalization of recreational cannabis (4% above the
national average). The next month, an initiative was filed which would
do just that; legalize cannabis for those 18 and older, including
state-licensed retail outlets.
Advocates of the initiative –
which, like Colorado’s Amendment 64, is a constitutional amendment –
will need to gather roughly 260,000 signatures to put the proposal to a
vote of the people in 2014, though they have until Jul 3rd to do so.
In July, the Arizona Supreme Court
ruled that
police must return cannabis seized from an authorized patient from
California, setting legal precedent across the state which forces police
to abide by the portion of Arizona’s medical cannabis law which
recognizes valid patients from other medical cannabis states.
Earlier this month the state’s attorney general
gave approval to a medical cannabis legalization initiative which was filed by
Arkansas for Responsible Medicine, giving them the go-ahead to begin collecting signatures to put their proposal to a vote in 2014. Another group has
filed a separate initiative,
a constitutional amendment which would legalize cannabis possession,
cultivation and distribution centers; the proposal awaits approval by
the state.
Arkansans for Compassionate Care, the proponents of last year’s
Issue 5 which would have legalized medical cannabis in Arkansas, but failed
narrowly in
the election, have also filed a new medical cannabis initiative after
being rejected by the attorney general several times in recent weeks,
based on “ambiguities” in the language.
Last month California’s Democratic Party – the largest state Democratic Party in the country -
approved two cannabis related resolutions,
one calling for President Obama to respect state marijuana laws, and
one urging state lawmakers to pass legislation protecting medical
cannabis safe access. Both are now official platforms of the party.
On October 1st activists
will begin gathering signatures for the
California Cannabis Hemp Act of 2014 (also known as the
Jack Herer Initiative),
aiming to put it to a vote in 2014; the proposal would fully legalize
cannabis possession (12 pounds), private cultivation (99 plants),
industrial hemp and cannabis retail outlets.
In May, the state’s governor
signed multiple cannabis proposals which made the state the first in history to approve regulations for recreational cannabis. A couple days later, the governor
signed a proposal explicitly legalizing hemp in the state.
Last week
a poll was released which
found that 54% of those in Colorado support the legalization of
cannabis, showing that support has remained steady since the passage of
Amendment 64 in November.
Recreational retail outlets are expected to begin opening early next year.
Earlier this month Delaware
Governor Jack Markell announced that he would be moving forward with
the state’s 2011-approved medical cannabis law (though in scaled-back
form, with 1 dispensary rather than 4), which he halted over fears of
the federal government prosecuting state employees. This will lead to
the state’s first medical cannabis dispensary opening, likely by next
year.
- District of Columbia (U.S. Capital)
Last month
a proposal was filed in
the city’s council which would decriminalize cannabis possession in the
district. The proposal – which will be formally voted on next month –
is sponsored by a majority of the council, indicating that it will be up
to the mayor to decide whether or not the measure passes into law.
A few weeks ago Washington D.C.’s first medical cannabis dispensary
opened its doors, located just blocks from the White House, with a view of the U.S. Capitol Building.
Earlier this month the group
United for Care submitted over 100,000 signatures (after
only a month of collecting) on their initiative to legalize medical
cannabis in the state; the group needed to submit 70,000 to have it
reviewed by the state’s supreme court. Once given approval, the group
will need to collect roughly 685,000 signatures to put the proposal to a
vote in 2014.
The leader of the group, attorney and former Obama
fundraiser John Morgan, has pledged to do “whatever it takes” to get the
initiative passed into law, and plans to spend over $20 million to do
so.
Although nothing new has come forward in terms of specific legislation, the nonprofit, pro-legalization group
Georgia Campaign for Access, Reform and Education (
Georgia C.A.R.E. Project) continues to educate the public in Georgia on the necessity of reforming their state’s failed cannabis policies
Although the
state’s Senate unanimously approved marijuana decriminalization this
year, the proposal eventually stalled in the House. However, lawmakers
and advocates behind the bill plan to continue to fight for its passage
in 2014, and are optimistic about its chances.
The organization
Compassionate Idaho -
which is now officially a subchapter of Americans for Safe Access – in
continuing to work on an initiative aimed at legalizing medical
cannabis.
On the first day of this month, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn
signed a proposal into
law which legalized medical cannabis, including up to 60 state-licensed
dispensaries. Although the passage of this law is a giant step forward,
advocates continue to fight for further reform, as the restrictive law
is only a 4-year starter program.
Senate
Bill 0580 – which would have decriminalized the possession of 2 ounces
of cannabis – was filed earlier this year by Senator Karen Tallian,
though unfortunately no significant progress was made on it in the
Senate. However, Senator Tallian plans to refile the proposal next
session, and advocates will continue to push for its passage.
H.F. 22,
introduced this session, would have legalized the possession and
state-licensed sale of medical marijuana to qualified patients, though
it was eventually voted down in committee. Regardless of the vote, the
bill started a conversation in the state which was much-needed
.
Earlier this month a bill to legalize medical cannabis was filed in the Kansas Senate, titled the
Cannabis Compassion and Care Act. The measure has been referred to the
Public Health and Welfare Committee.
Last
month State Senator Perry Clark introduced a medical cannabis
legalization proposal, which had a public hearing on August 21st. This
legislation, according to
polling released this month, is supported by an overwhelming 78% of Kentucky residents.
A measure designed to drastically reduce the penalties – and remove mandatory minimums – for cannabis charges was
approved in May by
the state’s full House, but unfortunately ended up being narrowly
rejected by the full Senate the following month. The fight, however, is
far from over, as those behind the proposal plan to continue working
towards its passage in the upcoming legislative session.
In June, legislation to add post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to the list of qualifying medical cannabis conditions
officially became law in Maine.
Last month, an initiative to legalize cannabis was officially
sent to the November ballot in Portland, Maine, giving voters the opportunity to reform their city’s marijuana laws
In May the state’s governor
signed legislation to
allow medical cannabis distribution to occur at certain authorized
academic medical centers that become licensed with the state. The
passage of the proposal drew mixed reactions, with some calling it a
step forward, and others calling it a farce.
The State of Massachusetts is
moving forward with
implementation of its 2012-approved medical cannabis law, and has
recently begun accepting applications from those interested in receiving
a license to open a medical cannabis dispensary.
In May, the Michigan Supreme Court
made an important ruling which protects medical cannabis patients from the state’s zero-tolerance THC driving policy.
In June, the nonprofit medical cannabis organization
Michigan Compassion became the
first cannabis-related organization to
receive a Google Grant; the group will be awarded $240,000 in free
advertising. Also in June, activists in the cities of Ferndale and
Jackson
submitted the required number of signatures to put their cannabis decriminalization proposals to a vote this November.
In August, a medical cannabis review panel
gave preliminary approval to the addition of PTSD as a qualifying medical cannabis condition; a public hearing will be held before a final vote occurs.
Earlier this week an initiative to legalize cannabis possession
was officially verified for this November’s ballot in Lansing, Michigan’s capital.
In
may legislation was introduced in Minnesota to legalize medical
cannabis. The proposal is sponsored by over 40 lawmakers, and although
it was filed too late to be approved in 2013, proponents are preparing
for a huge push in 2014.
In St. Louis a proposal decriminalizing small amounts of cannabis officially became law on June 1st.
In July, a state lawmaker
announced that
he will be filing two cannabis-related bills in the 2014 session; one
to decriminalize up to 35 grams, and one to legalize cannabis similar to
Colorado’s Amendment 64.
Nebraska
NORML ran an initiative earlier this year to legalize cannabis, though
unfortunately fell short of the signatures required to place the
proposal on the ballot. However, the group is continuing to push for
legalization; those interested in getting involved should e-mail
norml@normlne.org.
In June Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval
signed a proposal into
law which legalizes medical cannabis dispensaries throughout the state,
fixing a huge hole in the law; up until the passage of this proposal,
dispensaries were entirely illegal, despite medical cannabis being a
constitutional right since 2000, leading most patients to rely on the
black-market to obtain their medicine.
Last Month New Hampshire officially became the 20th state to legalize medical cannabis, after the governor
signed legislation into law.
Earlier this year the state’s
House of Representatives approved
a measure which would decriminalize up to a quarter pound of cannabis,
making it a simple $100 ticket. Although the measure has stalled in the
Senate, it has been an inspiration to activists, and lawmakers will
continue to discuss the issue in the next session.
In June New York’s Assembly
approved a measure legalizing
medical cannabis; the approval now sits in the Senate, where, according
to the bill’s primary sponsor, it has enough support to pass.
Earlier this month a federal judge
ruled that New York City’s ‘stop-and-frisk’ policy is “unconstitutional”.
House Bill 637,
which would make the possession of up to an ounce of cannabis a simple
ticket rather than a criminal misdemeanor, passed its first reading in
the house, though stalled in subcommittee. Advocates in the state should
contact their lawmakers, urging them to support this common-sense
proposal to free-up police resources to focus on serious offenses.
In May the
Ohio Ballot Board unanimously approved an
initiative to legalize cannabis and hemp, sending it through the
initial hurdle towards putting it to a vote; advocates will now need to
collect roughly 385,000 valid signatures to place the initiative on the
2014 ballot.
Although there’s not much new to report on, Oklahoma State Senator Constance Johnson continues to consider
running an initiative to legalize medical marijuana in the state.
Although there’s not much new to report on, Oklahoma State Senator Constance Johnson continues to consider
running an initiative to legalize medical marijuana in the state.
In July, Oregon’s governor
signed a measure drastically
reducing the penalties for most cannabis-related charges, including
making the possession of up to an ounce a ticket, rather than a
misdemeanor.
Just a couple weeks ago the governor
signed a proposal legalizing
medical cannabis dispensaries, a move which remedies a problem which
found medical cannabis legal for qualified patients, despite access
points being entirely illegal. Under the regulations set forth in the
initiative, over 200 dispensaries are expected to open.
Last week advocates of last year’s
Measure 80 to legalize cannabis
announced that,
starting next month, they’ll begin to collect signatures on two new
initiatives aiming for the 2014 ballot; one a state-law change, one a
constitutional amendment.
In June the NCAAP
officially endorsed a
proposal in the state’s Senate which would legalize the possession,
private home cultivation and state-licensed retail sale of cannabis for
adults.
Polling released in May found that over 80% in the state support medical cannabis legalization.
On
April 1st the possession of up to an ounce of cannabis became
decriminalized in Rhode Island. In just 4 months – from April 1st to
August 1st -
nearly 1,000 misdemeanors were avoided because of this new law.
Members of Columbia NORML are a
ctively lobbying lawmakers in the state in an attempt to bring forth the legalization of cannabis.
Earlier
this year a piece of legislation was introduced and discussed in South
Carolina which would have added legal protections to those using
cannabis for medical purposes. The bill didn’t advance out of committee,
but will be filed again in 2014.
Tennessee State Senator Frank Nicely is
considering drafting legislation to legalize hemp in the state.
A few months back Texas lawmakers held a public hearing on
House Bill 594,
which would have added an “affirmative defense” for patients who
possess and use marijuana. The law never advanced beyond that, but began
a conversation which is vital to the eventual passage of such measures.
Advocates in the state should be constantly communicating with their
lawmakers, urging them towards cannabis law reform.
A
poll released this week found that a large majority in Utah support medical cannabis legalization; 61% to 28%.
On June 6th Vermont’s governor signed a proposal decriminalizing cannabis possession – the law
took effect on July 1st. Also in July, the state’s first medical cannabis dispensary
opened its doors for qualifying patients.
The
state’s Liquor Control Board continues to finalize regulations for the
newly-legal recreational cannabis industry, with retail outlets to be
licensedby the end of the year. In the meantime, the nonprofit
organization Sensible Washington
is working on legislation that
they plan to have filed in the upcoming legislative session which would
defelonize the possession of all drugs (when not intended for
distribution), making the charges misdemeanors rather than felonies (in
Washington State the possession of
any amount of a controlled
substance, or over 40 grams of cannabis a felony with a maximum sentence
of 5 years in prisons). So far the effort has at least 4 legislative
cosponsors.
House Bill 2961, sponsored
by 10 state legislators, would allow qualifying patients in the state
(as well as their caregiver) to purchase, grow and possess cannabis. The
measure would allow patients to grow up to 12 plants, and would also
legalize dispensaries. Although the proposal stalled in committee,
advocates plan to continue building support for the proposal.
Several lawmakers in Wisconsin
are in the process of drafting legislation to legalize medical cannabis, which they plan to introduce in the upcoming session.
Earlier this month the newly-formed
Wyoming NORML announced
an initiative campaign to
put a cannabis legalization initiative on the 2016 ballot. The group
will need to collect roughly 37,000 signatures to do so.
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