Hemp History
Michigan NORML Joins Fight to Legalize Marijuana in 2018
Marijuana activists across Michigan are gearing up for a renewed effort to legalize marijuana for adults 21 and up. Last week the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol took the first steps to qualify their new proposal for the 2018 ballot by formally submitting language to the State of Michigan for review. If passed by … Continue reading
Atlanta City Council Considers Decriminalization of Marijuana
On Monday, May 15, 2017, the City Council of Atlanta, Georgia will vote on an ordinance that would decriminalize the possession of one ounce or less of marijuana within Atlanta’s City Limits. Under Georgia law, the possession of one ounce or less is an arrestable offense that could result in up to a $ 1000 … Continue reading
Weekly Legislative Update 5/13/17
Welcome to this week’s edition of the NORML legislative roundup! So much to talk about this week, so let’s start with our favorite villain, Attorney General Jeff Sessions. This week, Sessions superseded the 2010 Holder Memo, regarding DOJ’s policy on charging and sentencing decisions – establishing what I like to now refer to as The Sessions … Continue reading
Chris Christie Has Zero Credibility on Drug Policy
From Forbes: According to Erik Altieri, Executive Director of the decades-old drug reform nonprofit NORML, Christie has spent much of time as governor (and, as it happens, much of the opioid epidemic) fighting the rising tide of calls for cannabis reform in his state. Last week, as part of opioid-themed comments, Christie even called the … Continue reading
Delaware Legislature Advances Full Legalization To Full House Vote
Never in the history of Delaware has a marijuana legalization bill passed out of committee – yet these days NORML chapters throughout the country are writing a new future. After organizing of heroic proportions, Delaware NORML has driven the phone calls, lead the meetings, organized the town halls, and created momentum so strong that yesterday, HB 110, to legalize … Continue reading
Historic: Decriminalization is Scheduled to Be Heard on the Texas House Floor
On May 11, new ground will be broken in Texas politics and the marijuana movement. HB 81, to decriminalize marijuana from jail time to a simple ticket, will be heard by the full Texas House. This is unprecedented as sensible sentencing reform has not been debated from the house floor since 1973, , when Texas changed their laws to … Continue reading
Washington: Support For Marijuana Policy Reform Surges Post-Legalization
Public support for marijuana legalization has surged in Washington state in the years following the enactment of legislation permitting the commercial production and retail sale of the plant, according to survey data published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence. Fifty-five percent of voters approved the voter-initiated measure in 2012. Investigators with the Public Health … Continue reading
Congressional Protections For Legal State Medical Marijuana Programs Expected To Be Extended
We welcome the extension and expansion of critical marijuana policy provisions through September 30 in the proposed fiscal year 2017 omnibus funding legislation. The decision to reauthorize the Rohrabacher-Blumenauer amendment language illustrates both compassion and common sense when it comes to marijuana policy. Now, the majority of states and over 90 percent of the public approves … Continue reading
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
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