Industrial Hemp Legislation
Wisconsin: Marijuana Decriminalization Measure Never Considered
Legislation to depenalize the possession and cultivation of limited quantities of marijuana in Wisconsin was never considered by members of both the House and Senate this legislative session. Assembly Bill 246 would have eliminated, “1) the penalty for possession of marijuana if the amount of marijuana involved is no more than 25 grams; 2) the penalty … Continue reading
Federal: House Members Re-Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Prevent Federal Prosecutions Of State-Compliant Marijuana Consumers, Businesses
Representative Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), along with five other Republicans and six Democrats, has reintroduced legislation to prevent the federal government from criminally prosecuting individuals and/or businesses who are engaging in state-sanctioned activities specific to marijuana. HR 1094 states, ‘‘Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the provisions of this subchapter related to marihuana shall not apply … Continue reading
Maine: Lawmakers Remove Unscientific Per Se Standards For Cannabis
Previously, lawmakers were debating legislation, LD 1320, to impose ‘per se’ criminal penalties to individuals who drive with trace levels (5ng/ml or higher) of THC in their blood — regardless of whether he/she is behaviorally impaired. Fortunately, members of the Transportation Committee amended the bill to remove provisions that make operation of a motor vehicle … Continue reading
Minnesota: House Members Pass Measure To Permit Growing Of Industrial Hemp
House members on May 4 voted 110 to 18 in favor of legislation, HF 1437, to authorize the state-sanctioned production of industrial hemp. The measure now goes to the Senate for further consideration. Last year, members of Congress approved language in the omnibus federal Farm Bill explicitly authorizing states to sponsor hemp research absent federal … Continue reading
Alabama: Lawmakers Adjourn Without Finalizing Unscientific Per Se Standards For Cannabis
State lawmakers adjourned without moving SB 162, which sought to impose ‘per se’ criminal penalties to individuals who drive with trace levels (5ng/ml or higher) of THC in their blood — regardless of whether he/she is behaviorally impaired. Although Senate lawmakers approved the measure, House members failed to pass the legislation prior to the adjournment … Continue reading
Delaware: Senate Leader To Introduce Marijuana Legalization Legislation In 2017
Senate Majority Whip Margaret Rose Henry intends to introduce legislation in the 2017 legislative session that legalizes and regulates the adult use and retail sale of marijuana. The soon-to-be sponsor and author of the state’s medical marijuana legislation said at a recent Medical Marijuana Act Oversight Committee meeting, “Education is suffering. Revenue from legalizing marijuana could … Continue reading
Federal: Support HR 1774: The Compassionate Access Act
Legislation is pending in the US House of Representatives to allow states greater freedom to authorize medical marijuana to qualified patients. HR 1774, The Compassionate Access Act, reschedules marijuana under federal law to a classification other than Schedule I. The measure also excludes cannabidiol from the definition of marijuana and prohibits federal officials from interfering … Continue reading
Federal: Senators Introduce Measure To Permit CBD-Rich Marijuana
Bipartisan legislation, S. 1333, is pending in the Senate to amend the Controlled Substances Act to exclude cannabidiol and cannabidiol-rich plants from the definition of marijuana. Cannabidiol is a non-psychotropic compound in the plant that possesses various therapeutic properties, including anti-convulsant activity. Clinical trials have determined it to be safe and well tolerated in human … Continue reading
Texas House Adjourns Without Floor Votes on Marijuana Reform Measures
House lawmakers adjourned on Thursday without taking floor votes on several pending bills to amend state marijuana laws. Both HB 507 (decriminalization) and HB 557 (relating to industrial hemp) were placed on the House calendar, but were never called for a vote. House Bill 557 had previously passed unanimously out of the Agriculture and Livestock … Continue reading
Wisconsin: Lawmakers Fail To Act On Hemp Measure
Lawmakers have failed to act on legislation to establish activities involving the cultivation of industrial hemp. AB 215 would have required, “the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) to issue licenses that authorize the growing and processing of industrial hemp.” Hemp is a distinct variety of the plant species cannabis sativa L. that contains minimal … Continue reading
