NORML Releases Updated and Revised 2016 Congressional Scorecard

Posted on September 29, 2016 by ushempmuseum

FBScorecardToday is National Voter Registration Day and we are pleased to present this valuable voter education tool to the marijuana movement: NORML’s updated and revised 2016 Congressional Scorecard. The Scorecard is an all-encompassing database that assigns a letter grade of ‘A’ (the highest grade possible) to ‘F’ (the lowest grade possible) to members of Congress based on their comments and voting records on matters specific to marijuana policy.

KEY FINDINGS

Of the 535 members of the 114th Congress:

  • 330 members (62%) received a passing grade of ‘C’ or higher (270 Representatives and 60 Senators)
  • Of these, 22 members (4%) received a grade of ‘A’ (20 Representatives and 2 Senators)
  • 254 members (47%) received a ‘B’ grade (218 Representatives and 36 Senators)
  • 54 members (10%) received a ‘C’ grade (32 Representatives and 22 Senators)
  • 172 members (32%) received a ‘D’ grade (149 Representatives and 23 Senators)
  • 32 members (6%) received a failing grade (16 Representatives and 16 Senators)
  • 60 Senators (60%) received a passing grade of a C or higher (Two A’s, 36 B’s, and 22 C’s)
  • 270 Representatives (62%) received a passing grade of a C or higher (20 A’s, 218 B’s, and 32 C’s)
  • Of the 233 Democrats in Congress, 215 (92%) received a passing grade of a ‘C’ or higher
  • Of the 302 Republicans in Congress, 113 members (37%) received a passing grade of ‘C’ or higher

This analysis affirms that voters’ views on marijuana policy are well ahead of many of their federally elected officials. While the majority of Americans support legalizing the use and sale of cannabis for adults, only four percent of Congressional members voice support for this position. Approximately half (51%) of federal lawmakers favor liberalizing medical cannabis policies. However, this percentage remains far below the level of support frequently expressed by voters in state and national polls.

Also evident is that Congressional support for marijuana law reform is largely a partisan issue. While more than nine out of ten Democrats express support for some level of reform, just over one-third of Republicans hold similar positions. This partisanship lies in contrast to voters’ sentiments, which tend to view the subject as a non-partisan issue. For example, recent polls from swing states show that super-majorities of Democrats, Republicans, and Independents endorse medical marijuana legalization. Further, most Republican voters embrace principles of federalism with regard to cannabis policy. Nonetheless, Republican support for this position remains marginal among members of Congress.

HOW NORML’S CONGRESSIONAL SCORECARD IS CALCULATED

  • An ‘A’ letter grade indicates that this member has publicly declared his/her support for the legalization and regulation of marijuana for adults.
  • A ‘B’ letter grade indicates that this member supports policies specific to the legalization of medical cannabis and/or the decriminalization of cannabis.
  • A ‘C’ letter grade indicates that this member has publicly declared his/her support for the ability of a state to move forward with cannabis law reform policies free from federal interference.
  • A ‘D’ letter grade indicates that this member has expressed no support for any significant marijuana law reform
  • An ‘F’ letter grade indicates that this member expresses significant and vocal opposition to marijuana law reform

FOR MORE INFORMATION

To find NORML’s grade for a specific member of Congress, please click here for the Senate scorecard and click here for the House scorecard. NORML’s full 2016 Congressional Scorecard and Executive Summary is available online here.

NORML Blog, Marijuana Law Reform

Categories: Hemp History | Tags: , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Hawaii: Members of the House Fail to Act on Hemp Legislation

Posted on September 28, 2016 by ushempmuseum

Legislation, Senate Bill 2787, to further encourage the state Department of Agriculture to license farmers to grow industrial hemp for “research and development purposes” failed to move forward in the House after members of the Senate approved the measure in a 24-0 vote. 

Additional legislation, Senate Bill 2757, to authorize the department of agriculture to establish a three-year industrial hemp research program to investigate the viability of industrial hemp as a building material for housing in the State failed to be considered by members of the Senate.

2016 was the final year in a two year session so this marks the end of consideration for both pieces of legislation. 

In 2014, lawmakers previously approved legislation, Senate Bill 2175, establishing a two-year pilot program at the University of Hawaii at Manoa to study the potential use of industrial hemp as a phytomediator (a plant capable of removing toxins from the soil) and as a biofuel.
 

NORML would like to thank those of you who contacted your state lawmakers in support of this common sense legislation. 

National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws – Advocacy Campaigns

Categories: Industrial Hemp Legislation | Tags: , , , , , | Leave a comment

California: Governor Signs Emergency Legislation to Discourage Enactment of Local Medical Marijuana Bans

Posted on September 28, 2016 by ushempmuseum

Governor Jerry Brown on Wednesday, February 3, signed legislation that seeks to dissuade California cities and counties from enacting municipal restrictions on the cultivation and dispensing of medical marijuana. The measure takes immediate effect.

Assembly Bill 21 amends a drafting error in the The Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act by removing an apparent March 1, 2016 deadline for localities to establish their own cultivation regulations or else forfeit that authority to the state. It also removes objectionable language authorizing local governments to prohibit patients from cultivating, storing, donating, or processing marijuana for their own personal use, and by doing so, reaffirms that qualified patients have the right under state law to engage in personal cultivation absent a city or state license. 

In recent months, numerous California cities and counties have hastily enacted provisional bans on medical marijuana-related activities out of fear that the state would become to sole authority on the issue following the March 1 deadline. Passage of AB 21 states that localities retain the ability to regulate medical marijuana production and commerce in the manner that they see best. The hope is that localities will halt efforts to impose restrictions, and will reconsider existing moratoriums, now that it is clear that local lawmakers will continue to possess the authority to legislate the issue beyond March 1, 2016. The passage of this legislation “gives local governments time to develop thoughtful policies for regulation,” California NORML Director Dale Gieringer said in a statement.

Further information on both pending and enacted local ordinances, as well as talking points to best address them, is available from California NORML here.

National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws – Advocacy Campaigns

Categories: Industrial Hemp Legislation | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Arizona: Lawmakers Fail To Act On Measure To Defelonize Minor Marijuana Offenses

Posted on September 27, 2016 by ushempmuseum

House lawmakers failed to consider, House Bill 2007, legislation to defelonize minor marijuana possession offenses.

Arizona’s penalties pertaining to the possession and/or sale of cannabis are among the toughest in the nation. Under present law, marijuana possession is classified as a felony, punishable by up to two years in jail. Annually, an estimated 20,000 Arizonans are arrested for violating marijuana possession laws.

House Bill 2007 would have reclassifed minor marijuana possession offenses from a felony to a civil offense, punishable by a fine only — no arrest, no criminal prosecution, and no criminal record.

NORML would like to thank those of you who contacted your state lawmakers in support of this legislation. 

For more information on legislative efforts in Arizona, please contact Arizona NORML here.

National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws – Advocacy Campaigns

Categories: Industrial Hemp Legislation | Tags: , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Maryland: Governor Signs Industrial Hemp Legislation

Posted on September 27, 2016 by ushempmuseum

Governor Larry Hogan has signed legislation, House Bill 443, to permit the Department of Agriculture to authorize institutions of higher education to cultivate industrial hemp for academic research purposes.

Members of the Senate voted 45 to zero in favor of the bill. House members voted 136 to zero in favor of the measure.

Members of Congress recently approved language in the omnibus federal Farm Bill explicitly authorizing states to sponsor hemp research absent federal reclassification of the plant.

Presently, 26 states have enacted legislation permitting licensed hemp cultivation in a manner that is compliant with this statute.

NORML would like to thank those of you who contacted your state lawmakers in support of this legislation. 

Additional information on pending marijuana law reform information is available from Maryland NORML here or write info@marylandnorml.org.

National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws – Advocacy Campaigns

Categories: Industrial Hemp Legislation | Tags: , , , , , | Leave a comment

Florida: Lawmakers Table Hemp Measures

Posted on September 26, 2016 by ushempmuseum

House and Senate legislation, HB 271 and SB 554, that sought to redefine industrial hemp as an agricultural crop and establish licensing regulations to allow for the plant’s cultivation died in committee this legislative session.

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 the plant can be utilized in the making of textiles, paper, paints, clothing, plastics, cosmetics, foodstuffs, insulation, animal feed and other products. The crop is commercially cultivated throughout the world.
 
Members of Congress recently approved language in the omnibus federal Farm Bill explicitly authorizing states to sponsor hemp research absent federal reclassification of the plant. Presently, 24 states have enacted legislation permitting licensed hemp cultivation in a manner that is compliant with this statute.

It is time to allow Florida farmers the opportunity to explore this emerging market.

NORML would like to thank those of you who contacted your lawmakers and urged their support for this legislation. 

National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws – Advocacy Campaigns

Categories: Industrial Hemp Legislation | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

New Jersey: Marijuana Decriminalization Measure Pending

Posted on September 26, 2016 by ushempmuseum

Assembly Bill 2050, legislation to decriminalize minor marijuana possession offenses in New Jersey, is pending in the General Assembly. 

If approved, the legislation would remove criminal penalties for those who possess 15 grams of marijuana or less. Offenders would face civil fines of (1) $ 150 for a first violation; (2) $ 200 for a second violation; (3) $ 500 for a third or subsequent violation, but would no longer face arrest, criminal prosecution, or a criminal record. Those who possess more than 15 grams of marijuana but less than 50 grams would face a disorderly persons offense. Those who possess more than 50 grams would continue to face criminal charges. 

Under current state law, the possession of up to 50 grams of cannabis is classified as a disorderly person penalty, punishable by up to six months in jail and a $ 1,000 fine. 

New Jersey’s 24,765 arrests for possession of small amounts of marijuana in 2013 was the state’s highest number in 20 years

Enter your zip code below to contact your lawmakers and urge their support for this measure. 

For additional information you can contact New Jersey NORML here. Or you can check out their Facebook page here. 

National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws – Advocacy Campaigns

Categories: Industrial Hemp Legislation | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

Hawaii: Lawmakers Fail To Act On Legislation To Restrict Home Cultivation

Posted on September 25, 2016 by ushempmuseum

House lawmakers took no action on legislation that sought to eliminate patients’ longstanding rights to cultivate medical marijuana.

House Bill 1680 sought to repeal patients’ legal authority to cultivate personal use quantities of cannabis. The legislation was not heard in time for the filing deadline and therefore will no longer be considered by lawmakers during this legislative session. 

NORML maintains that criminalizing the personal cultivation of cannabis is an arbitrary prohibition that has absolutely no basis in public safety. We support the right of individuals to grow their own cannabis as an alternative to purchasing it from licensed commercial producers. NORML further maintains that the inclusion of legislative provisions protecting the non-commercial home cultivation of cannabis serves as leverage to assure the product available at retail outlets is high quality, safe and affordable. 

Permitting home cultivation provides patients with steady, uninterrupted access to unique strains of medicinal cannabis that are best tailored to their individual needs. Many patients may not be able to access dispensaries or find necessary strains and formulations available at these facilities.

NORML would like to thank everyone who contacted their lawmakers and urged them to reject HB 1680. 
 
Additional information about this and other pending legislation is available from the Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii here.

National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws – Advocacy Campaigns

Categories: Industrial Hemp Legislation | Tags: , , , , , , | Leave a comment

New York: Measure Seeks To Expand Access To Medicinal Cannabis

Posted on September 25, 2016 by ushempmuseum

Legislation is pending the the Assembly to increase patients’ ability gain access to medicinal cannabis.

Assembly Bill 9151 calls on the Department of Health to double the number of state-licensed medical cannabis producers and dispensaries. These new facilities will be located in underserved regions of the state.

At present, only a total of 20 dispensaries are permitted, which are located in only 13 of New York’s 62 counties. Statewide, there are 978,500 New Yorkers for every dispensary. Qualified patients are reporting extremely limited dispensary hours and a shortage of high CBD medicine.  Passage of A. 9151 would address the problem of patient access by requiring the Department of Health to authorize additional facilities by January 2017.

Please enter your zip code below to contact your state lawmakers and urge them to support this legislative effort.

Additional information on pending marijuana law reform information is available from Empire State NORML here or on their Facebook page here.  

National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws – Advocacy Campaigns

Categories: Industrial Hemp Legislation | Tags: , , , , , , | Leave a comment

New Mexico: Senate Declines to Move Measure to Prohibit Medical Marijuana Insurance Reimbursements

Posted on September 24, 2016 by ushempmuseum
After extremely compelling testimony from injured workers in earlier committees, the Senate Judiciary Committee never scheduled a hearing for House Bill 195, which sought to prohibit workers compensation insurers from reimbursing employees who qualify for medical cannabis access for injuries sustained on the job. This means that the measure, which had been narrowly approved by members of the House of Representatives, is now dead for 2016.

NORML thanks those of you who took time to contact your elected officials and encouraged them to reject this legislation.

Employees injured on the job ought to be able to access medicinal cannabis. State lawmakers should not be acting in a manner that may limit the access of qualifying patients and that may inadvertently drive them toward using more dangerous substances.

We hope that you please continue to play an active role in marijuana law reform efforts in New Mexico.

National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws – Advocacy Campaigns

Categories: Industrial Hemp Legislation | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment