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Iowa: Bill Pending to Reduce Marijuana Possession Penalties

Posted on March 2, 2017 by ushempmuseum

Update: Members of the Senate Judiciary subcommittee passed the measure to the full Committee on February 28.

Senate legislation is pending, SF 280, to reduce minor marijuana possession penalties involving the possession of five grams of marijuana or less.

If passed, the measure would classify first time offenses from a serious misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail and a $ 1,000 fine, to a simple misdemeanor, punishable by no more than 30 days in jail and a $ 625 fine.

These changes would not apply to subsequent offenders. Senate File 280 does not decriminalize minor marijuana offenses, but it is an important first step in the process of revisiting and revising Iowa’s marijuana laws.

You can write your lawmakers in support of this penalty reduction by entering your zip code below.

National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws – Advocacy Campaigns

Categories: Industrial Hemp Legislation | Tags: Bill, Iowa, marijuana, Penalties, Pending, Possession, Reduce | Leave a comment

New Mexico: Marijuana Decriminalization Measure Gains Momentum

Posted on March 2, 2017 by ushempmuseum

Update: SB 258 has passed out of two committees and awaits action by the full Senate.

Legislation is pending, Senate Bill 258, to reduce penalties for the possession of up to eight ounces of cannabis.

The measure eliminates criminal criminal penalties for the possession of up to one ounce of cannabis, reducing the offense to a $ 50 fine. It amends possession penalties for quantities from one ounce to four ounces to a petty misdemeanor, punishable by a $ 200 fine. For offenses involving more than four ounces, but fewer than eight ounces, penalties are reduced to a $ 300 fine.

Under current law, marijuana possession offenses over one ounce are punishable by up to one year in jail and a $ 1,000 fine.

Please enter your information below to contact your elected officials in support of this important measure.

National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws – Advocacy Campaigns

Categories: Industrial Hemp Legislation | Tags: Decriminalization, Gains, marijuana, Measure, Mexico, Momentum | Leave a comment

Federal Legislation Introduced To Exclude Cannabis From The Controlled Substances Act

Posted on March 1, 2017 by ushempmuseum

Representatives Tom Garrett (R-VA) and Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) have introduced bipartisan legislation in Congress to exclude marijuana from the federal Controlled Substances Act, thus providing states with the exclusive authority to regulate the plant how best they see fit.

The “Ending Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2017” removes the cannabis plant from the CSA so that it is no longer scheduled under federal law. This legislation gives states the power and flexibility to establish their own marijuana policies free from federal interference.

Individual states are “more than capable” of deciding their own cannabis policies, Rep. Garrett explained in a prepared statement.

According to polling data released last week by Quinnipiac University, 59 percent of Americans endorse legalizing the adult use of marijuana, and 71 percent of voters — including majorities of Democrats, Independents, and Republicans, believe that state governments, not the federal government, should be the ultimate arbiters of marijuana policy.

With the recent confirmation of militant marijuana prohibitionist Jeff Sessions to the position of US Attorney General, and with comments from the Trump administration warning of a coming federal crackdown in adult use states, our best defense is a strong offense.

Please take time today to contact your federal elected officials and urge them to act on passage of the “Ending Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2017.” You can do so by clicking here.

Speaking earlier today before the National Association of Attorney Generals, Session’s doubled-down on his reefer rhetoric — denying scientific facts that legalizing cannabis access is associated with lower rates of opioid abuse (“Give me a break,” he responded) and urging state AGs, “[W]e don’t need to be legalizing marijuana.”

If the Justice Department won’t listen to reason, then we must take this issue out of its hands. Act now to pass the “Ending Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2017” to ensure that medical marijuana patients and others are protected from undue federal interference.

NORML Blog, Marijuana Law Reform

Categories: Hemp History | Tags: cannabis, Controlled, Exclude, Federal, From, Introduced, Legislation, Substances | Leave a comment

Vermont: Legislation Pending to Tax and Regulate the Sale of Marijuana

Posted on March 1, 2017 by ushempmuseum

Rep. Samuel Young has introduced H. 490 to regulate the commercial and retail marijuana market.

H. 490 establishes a regulated system whereby adults may legally obtain marijuana from state-licensed retail providers and sellers.

Statewide polling reports that a majority of Vermont voters support legalizing and regulating marijuana. According to a RAND Corporation study, regulating the commercial sale of cannabis in Vermont would generate $ 20 million to $ 75 million annually in new tax revenue.

Please enter your information below to urge your lawmakers to support this important legislation.

National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws – Advocacy Campaigns

Categories: Industrial Hemp Legislation | Tags: Legislation, marijuana, Pending, Regulate, Sale, Vermont | Leave a comment

Federal: Bill Introduced To End Federal Marijuana Prohibition

Posted on February 28, 2017 by ushempmuseum

Representatives Tom Garrett (R-VA) and Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) have introduced bipartisan legislation to exclude marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act, thus leaving states the authority to regulate the plant how best they see fit.

The “Ending Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2017” eliminates federal criminal penalties for possessing and growing the plant. This legislation gives states the power and flexibility to establish their own marijuana policies free from federal interference.

Representative Garrett says that marijuana prohibition disproportionately impacts those residing in jurisdictions of lower socioeconomic status, and believes that state governments are plenty capable of setting their own marijuana policies.“Virginia is more than capable of handling its own marijuana policy, as are states such as Colorado or California,” he said in a prepared statement.

The intent of the “Ending Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2017 is consistent with the view of most voters. According to recent polling by Quinnipiac University, 59 percent of Americans support full marijuana legalization and 71 percent believe that states, not the federal government, should set marijuana policy.

With the recent confirmation of militant marijuana prohibitionist Jeff Sessions to the position of US Attorney General, and with recent comments from the Trump administration warning of a coming federal crackdown in adult use states, passage of this Act is necessary to ensure that medical marijuana patients and others are protected from undue federal interference.

Enter your information below to contact your lawmakers and urge them to support this pending legislation.

National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws – Advocacy Campaigns

Categories: Industrial Hemp Legislation | Tags: Bill, Federal, Introduced, marijuana, prohibition | Leave a comment

Alternative Fact: Marijuana Causes Violence

Posted on February 28, 2017 by ushempmuseum

Attorney General Jeff Sessions
Photo by Gage Skidmore

Speaking to the press this evening, Attorney General Jeff Sessions doubled down on his infamous reefer madness rhetoric. Sessions stated:

“We’re seeing real violence around that. Experts are telling me there’s more violence around marijuana than one would think and there’s big money involved.”

Sessions’ latest comments describe a reality that only exists in the world of alternative facts. Marijuana legalization has not lead to increased crime or violence, but rather is associated with lowered youth use rates and access, increased tax revenue, and fewer arrests of otherwise law abiding American citizens. The truth is that legalization is working as voters have intended and that the new US Attorney General’s opinions are reckless, irresponsible, and outright false.

These statements are not only out of touch with reality and public sentiment, but they also go against President Trump’s promise on the campaign trail to leave marijuana policy to the states. If you support legalization now is not the time to be silent. Now is the time to stand up and fight back.

The only way to ensure our progress continues in light of this proposed push back is to pass federal legislation that makes certain that the Attorney General can’t intervene in states that have enacted adult use regulatory laws. We need to pass the Respect State Marijuana Laws Act of 2017. This legislation would prevent the federal government from attack state approved legalization and medical marijuana laws.

Click here to write your elected officials in support of this legislation

This is a true test of our movement. Stand with is against these threats because together we are unstoppable. Together we will legalize marijuana nationwide.

Are you with us?

NORML Blog, Marijuana Law Reform

Categories: Hemp History | Tags: Alternative, Causes, Fact, marijuana, Violence | Leave a comment

California: Support Legislation to Protect Marijuana Laws From Federal Interference

Posted on February 27, 2017 by ushempmuseum

Legislation is pending, Assembly Bill 1578, to try and limit potential federal interference in the state’s marijuana regulatory laws.

The bill states, “This bill would prohibit a state or local agency, as defined, from taking certain actions without a court order signed by a judge, including using agency money, facilities, property, equipment, or personnel to assist a federal agency to investigate, detain, detect, report, or arrest a person for commercial or noncommercial marijuana or medical cannabis activity that is authorized by law in the State of California and transferring an individual to federal law enforcement authorities for purposes of marijuana enforcement.”

The majority of Californians desire a legally regulated marijuana market. Passage of this act will limit state or local agencies from working with the federal government to undermine these regulations.

Please use the pre-written letter below to contact your elected officials in support of AB 1578. Additional information regarding pending legislation is available from California NORML.

National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws – Advocacy Campaigns

Categories: Industrial Hemp Legislation | Tags: California, Federal, From, Interference, laws, Legislation, marijuana, Protect, Support | Leave a comment

New Hampshire: Senate Legalization Bill Pending

Posted on February 26, 2017 by ushempmuseum

Update: Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee debated Senate Bill 233 on February 21.

Legislation is pending in the state Senate, SB 233, that seeks to legalize and regulate the adult possession, use, and cultivation of limited amounts of marijuana (up to three mature plants and the harvest yielded from them and/or one ounce).

The measure also would establish a commission to establish guidelines governing the eventual regulation of a commercial cannabis retail market.

You can read the full text of the bill here.

Please enter your information below to contact your state Senator and urge them to support this pending legislation.

National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws – Advocacy Campaigns

Categories: Industrial Hemp Legislation | Tags: Bill, Hampshire, legalization, Pending, Senate | Leave a comment

Arkansas: Oppose The Proposed Tax on Medical Marijuana

Posted on February 25, 2017 by ushempmuseum

House Bill 1580 imposes a special eight percent statewide tax upon medical marijuana sales. This tax would be in addition to the imposition of existing state and local taxes.

While NORML generally does not oppose the imposition of fair and reasonable sales taxes on the commercial sales of cannabis for recreational purposes, we do not support such excessive taxation on medical sales. Most other states that regulate medical cannabis sales do not impose such taxes and Arkansas patients should not be forced to pay these excessive costs.

Enter your information below to contact your elected officials and urge them to oppose this measure.

National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws – Advocacy Campaigns

Categories: Industrial Hemp Legislation | Tags: Arkansas, marijuana, medical, Oppose, Proposed | Leave a comment

Iowa: Bill Pending to Reduce Marijuana Possession Penalties

New Mexico: Marijuana Decriminalization Measure Gains Momentum

Federal Legislation Introduced To Exclude Cannabis From The Controlled Substances Act

Vermont: Legislation Pending to Tax and Regulate the Sale of Marijuana

Federal: Bill Introduced To End Federal Marijuana Prohibition

Alternative Fact: Marijuana Causes Violence

California: Support Legislation to Protect Marijuana Laws From Federal Interference

New Hampshire: Senate Legalization Bill Pending

Arkansas: Oppose The Proposed Tax on Medical Marijuana

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