Industrial Hemp Legislation
New Hampshire: Governor Signs Penalty Reduction Measure Into Law
On June 21st, Governor Maggie Hassan signed legislation, Senate Bill 498, into law to reduce the penalty for first-time possession of marijuana offenses from a Class A offense to an unspecified misdemeanor. Members of the House previously voted 298 to 58 to amend Senate Bill 498 to make first-time offenses a civil violation rather than a … Continue reading
Kansas: Governor Signs Marijuana Sentencing Reform Measure
Governor Brownback signed House Bill 2462 into law on Friday, May 13th 2016 to amend marijuana possession penalties. The law reduces criminal penalties for first-time marijuana possession offenses from a Class A misdemeanor (punishable by up to one year incarceration and a $ 2,500 fine) to a Class B misdemeanor (punishable by no more than … Continue reading
Georgia: Lawmakers Fail To Act on Senate Resolution That Would Have Placed Marijuana Question Before Voters
Senate lawmakers failed to act on Senate Resolution 6, which sought to place a constitutional amendment on the November 2016 ballot to regulate adult marijuana use, prior to a legislative deadline – thus tabling it for this session. NORML would like to thank those of you who took time to contact your state Senator and … Continue reading
Hawaii: Lawmakers Fail To Act On Marijuana Legalization Measure
Members of the House Judiciary Committee failed to act on legislation to permit adults to legally possess and cultivate personal use amounts of marijuana before the 2016 legislative session came to a close. Senate Bill 873 sought to amend the criminal code to remove criminal penalties specific to the possession and cultivation of marijuana for … Continue reading
New Hampshire: Lawmakers Table Legalization Measures
Lawmakers failed to consider two pieces of legislation related to the legalization of marijuana before the end of the 2016 legislative session. HB 1610 and HB 1675 both sought to permit the personal cultivation and commercial retail sale of marijuana in the state. Members of the House rejected a separate measure, HB 1694 in a … Continue reading
Missouri: Senate Fails To Vote On Industrial Hemp Measure
Members of the Senate failed to consider pending legislation, House Bill 2038, to expand the state’s industrial hemp research program, before the legislative session came to an end. House Bill 2038 was previously approved by members of the House on April 11th, 2016 in a 123 to 29 vote. Other pending measures, House Bill 1973 and Senate Bill 584, also failed … Continue reading
New Mexico: Lawmakers Fail To Consider Hemp Legislation
Legislation has been tabled, SB 3 and HB 148, to permit the state Department of Agriculture to license farmers to grow industrial hemp for “research and development purposes.” Hemp is a distinct variety of the plant species cannabis sativa L. that contains minimal amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. Various parts of … Continue reading
New Mexico: Senators Vote Down Cannabis Regulation
Members of the Senate voted down Senate Joint Resolution 5 which sought to put legalization before a public vote this November. Although 17 Senators stood in favor of the measure, 24 voted against it. However, the vote marks the first time that such a measure has ever been debated on the floor of either chamber of … Continue reading
Tennessee: Measures To Reclassify Minor Marijuana Offenses Defeated
Legislation that sought to reduce marijuana possession penalties was unfortunately defeated this legislative session. House Bill 873 was previously passed by members of the Criminal Justice Committee on April 1st but members of the Finance Ways & Means Subcommittee and Committee failed to ever consider it. The companion Senate bill, Senate Bill 1211, was never considered by members … Continue reading
Iowa: Medical Marijuana Expansion Measure Killed
Senate legislation to expand the physician-authorized use and dispensing of marijuana-related products for therapeutic purposes was killed by members of the House of Representatives in a 31-63 failed vote. Under a 2014 law, adolescents with intractable epilepsy, but no other qualifying condition, may possesses limited quantities of cannabidiol-extracted oils. The law provides no legal supply … Continue reading
