Author Archives: ushempmuseum
Weekly Legislative Update 5/6/17
Welcome to this week’s edition of the NORML legislative roundup! The biggest story this week in the marijuana world was the inclusion of the Rohrabacher-Blumenauer language (Section 537) in the omnibus spending package to prevent the Department of Justice from interfering with lawful state-regulated medical marijuana consumers and businesses. In a signing statement by President … Continue reading
Federal – House and Senate Measures Seek to Protect Marijuana Businesses and Consumers
Update: HR 1824 and S 780 were referred to committees. Senator Wyden and Representative Blumenauer have introduced legislation in the House and Senate (HR 1824 and S 780) to offer a wide range of legal protections to state-compliant marijuana-related businesses and consumers. Specifically, these measures will protect consumers in legal marijuana states by ensuring them access to … Continue reading
California: Oppose Legislation To Ban Vaping In Public Housing
Update: The Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee voted in favor of AB 62 by a vote of 7-0 on April 27 and now heads to the full Assembly. Legislation introduced by Assemblyman Jim Wood, AB 62, would ban smoking and vaping of tobacco, cannabis, and other medicinal herbs in public housing. Cal NORML opposes … Continue reading
Study: Cannabis Often Substituted For Prescription Medications
Adults often substitute cannabis for the use of prescription medications, according to data published in the Journal of Pain Research. Investigators from the Bastyr University Research Institute assessed the frequency of drug substitution among a self-selected national sample of 2,774 self-identified marijuana consumers. Just under half of respondents (46 percent) reported using cannabis in place … Continue reading
Colorado: Patients May Use Medical Cannabis While Awaiting Trial
Legislation was signed into law that permits registered medical cannabis patients to legally use marijuana while on bond in a criminal case. Senate Bill 17 states, “[T]he court shall not require as a condition of any bond that [s] person … with a valid registry identification card … abstain from the use of medical marijuana.” … Continue reading
Texas: Comprehensive Medical Marijuana Legislation Introduced
Update: HB 2107 had a hearing on May 2 and after powerful targeted testimony, the number of cosponsors for the bill jumped from 5 to 75! Update: A bipartisan House version of SB269 to legalize medical marijuana in the state of Texas has just been introduced by Representative Eddie Lucio III, D-Brownsville, titled HB 2107, … Continue reading
Congress’ 2017 Budget Plan Reauthorizes Protections For State Medical Cannabis Programs
Spending legislation approved in the past 24 hours by members of the US House and Senate reauthorizes language protecting state-sanctioned medical marijuana and industrial hemp programs. The President is expected to sign the budget bill into law imminently. Specifically, Section 537 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2017, states that no federal funds may be … Continue reading
Impactful and Heartfelt Hearing Creates Historic Support for Texas Medical Cannabis Bill
By Jax Finkel Executive Director, Texas NORML Late in the evening on Tuesday, May 2nd, the House Public Health Committee held a hearing for HB 2107 which would make the Compassionate Use Program more inclusive for patients with debilitating medical conditions. Many patients stayed late into the evening to provide powerful and emotional testimony. After … Continue reading
Maine: Support Measure to Expedite Retail Cannabis Sales
Legislation is pending to expedite the retail sale of marijuana products to those over the age of 21. LD 1448 and LD 1491 would permit licensed medical cannabis dispensaries the opportunity to “sell limited marijuana retail products to a person who is 21 years of age or older.” A majority of voters in November approved … Continue reading
