Pennsylvania: Marijuana Legalization Legislation Introduced

Posted on November 11, 2016 by ushempmuseum

State lawmakers have introduced legislation, SB 528, to permit the adult possession and retail sale of marijuana.

The measure permits adults to privately possess marijuana without penalty and to cultivate up to six plants (no more than three mature) for non-commercial purposes. Not-for-profit transactions involving small quantities of marijuana are also permitted.

SB 528 also seeks to license the commercial production and retail sale of marijuana for those over the age of 21. You can read the full text of this measure here.

Enter your zip code below to contact your state lawmakers and urge them to support SB 528.

Additional information is available from our numerous Pennsylvania chapters. Click here to find the one nearest to you.

NORML will keep you updated as this legislation moves forward.

National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws – Advocacy Campaigns

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Maine Legalizes Recreational Marijuana

Posted on November 10, 2016 by ushempmuseum

According to polling information, voters in Maine will approve Question 1, the Marijuana Legalization Act. Politico currently has the measure leading 50.2 to 49.8 percent with 93.9 percent of the vote being counted.

“In 2013, over 70% of voters in the city of Portland decided it was time to reject the failed policy of marijuana prohibition and embrace legalization. Tonight, a majority of voters statewide agreed with that assessment. With the approval of Question 1, Maine has elected to take a sensible approach to marijuana and reject the flawed ideas of the past. Thanks to them, Maine will no longer arrest otherwise law abiding adults for choosing to consume a substance that is objectively safer than alcohol and tobacco and in the process generate tax revenue that will be used to greatly improve education and other vital state services.” said Erik Altieri, NORML’s new Executive Director.

Maine Legalized Marijuana

Question 1, the Marijuana Legalization Act, permits adults who are not participating in the state’s medical cannabis program to legally grow (up to six plants, including all of the harvest from those plants, and/or up to 12 immature plants) and to possess personal use quantities of cannabis (up to two and one-half ounces of herbal cannabis) while also licensing commercial cannabis production and retail sales. The law imposes a 10 percent tax on commercial marijuana sales. Under the law, localities have the authority to regulate, limit, or prohibit the operation of marijuana businesses. On site consumption is permitted under the law in establishments licensed for such activity.

The new law takes effect within 40 days. Regulations for marijuana-related businesses are scheduled to be in place by August 8, 2017. You can read the full text of Question 1 here.

“To those who allege that marijuana law reform is a west coast phenomenon, tonight’s votes tell a different story,” said NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano. “The majority of Americans throughout this country recognize that marijuana prohibition financially burdens taxpayers, encroaches upon civil liberties, engenders disrespect for the law, and disproportionately impacts young people and communities of color. That is voters are rejecting the failures of criminalization and embracing these sort of regulatory alternatives.”

NORML Blog, Marijuana Law Reform

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Federal: CARERS Act Gains Momentum in Senate

Posted on November 10, 2016 by ushempmuseum

Legislation, Senate Bill 683: The Compassionate Access, Research Expansion, and Respect States (CARERS) Act, is pending in the US Senate to strengthen statewide medical marijuana protections and impose various changes to federal law. The bill now has 15 cosponsors including high-ranking Democrat Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Democrat Elizabeth Warren (D-MA). Identical companion legislation, HR 1538, is also pending in the US House of Representatives. It has 16 co-sponsors, eight Democrats and eight Republicans.

Passage of these measures permits qualified patients, doctors, and businesses to engage in state-sanctioned behavior involving the production, sale, or use of medical cannabis without fear of federal prosecution. The proposals reschedule marijuana at the federal level and remove the compound cannabidiol (CBD) from the Controlled Substances Act. Additional provisions would allow opportunities for financial institutions to legally provide services to medical marijuana businesses, permit VA doctors to authorize medical cannabis, and would remove existing federal barriers to clinical trial research. You can read the full text of the measures here.

Enter your zip code below to easily contact your members of Congress and urge their support for these measures. NORML will keep you updated if and when these measures advance.

National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws – Advocacy Campaigns

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The Marijuana Revolution Continues

Posted on November 9, 2016 by ushempmuseum

Election Day dealt another body blow to our nation’s costly, failed, and discriminatory policy of marijuana prohibition. If anyone thought our victories in 2012 and 2014 were a passing fad, it is now clear that they were mistaken. With adult use meaures being approved in four states (CA, MA, ME, NV) and medical marijuana initiatives passing in another four (AR, FL, MT, ND), the era of marijuana legalization is upon us. By standing together and fighting for our shared beliefs, we spread the seeds of the cannabis revolution far and wide.

But now is not the time to become complacent. As we celebrate our recent successes, we must remind ourselves that legalization is not inevitable. It is dependent upon maintaining the fight. Our opponents are not going away. They remain well funded and ready for battle. So should we.

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From day one, NORML’s mission has been to shape public and political opinion so that the responsible use of cannabis by adults is no longer criminalized and stigmatized. NORML does so by standing up for the rights of the responsible cannabis consumer, and by presenting credible, evidence-based information about marijuana and marijuana policy reform to the general public, the mainstream media, pundits, and policymakers. And I firmly believe that nobody does it better.

That is why I’m honored be named NORML’s new Executive Director.

I’m no stranger to this cause or to NORML itself. From 2007 to 2015 I served as NORML’s Communications Director, PAC Manager, and chief lobbyist. Following a brief sabbatical, during which I fought to decrease the influence of big money in our political system, I am honored and excited to return to lead NORML during one of the most exciting and critical times in the group’s forty year history.

I urge you to stand with me, NORML’s staff, and with our nationwide network of chapters. We must capitalize on our newly minted successes and seize upon our growing public support. No one person or organization can win this fight alone. We must come together as advocates in a unified force so that we can make our desired policy reforms a reality.

Even with these victories, most Americans are still living under the specter of marijuana prohibition. Obviously, there is much more work that needs to be done. We need your help to finish the job.

NORML only exists and succeeds because of the support of passionate and dedicated individuals like you. With you standing shoulder to shoulder with us, we will continue to take our fight to city councils, state legislatures, and to Congress. Together, we are unstoppable. Together, we WILL legalize marijuana nationwide.

The revolution continues,

Erik Altieri
NORML Executive Director

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NORML Blog, Marijuana Law Reform

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Massachusetts Voters Approve The Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act

Posted on November 9, 2016 by ushempmuseum

According to the Associated Press, voters in Massachusetts will approve Question 4, legalizing the adult use of marijuana for adults. The AP has the measure leading by a vote of 53 percent to 47 percent and has called the race.

“Massachusetts voters historically have embraced progressive marijuana policies, having previously voted twice to amend various elements of marijuana prohibition,” said NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano. “It is hardly a surprise that they have done so again. Question 4 is a common sense alternative that comports with public and scientific consensus and that reflects marijuana’s rapidly changing cultural status.”

Massachusetts Legalized Marijuana

Question 4 permits adults who are not participating in the state’s medical cannabis program to legally grow (up to six plants, including all of the harvest from those plants) and to possess personal use quantities of cannabis (up to one ounce and/or up to 5 grams of concentrate; in addition, adults may legally possess up to ten ounces of marijuana flower in their home) while also licensing commercial cannabis production and retail sales. The law imposes a 3.75 percent excise tax on commercial marijuana sales. Under the law, localities have the authority to regulate, limit, or prohibit the operation of marijuana businesses.

The new law takes effect on December 15, 2016. Regulators are scheduled to begin accepting applications from marijuana-related businesses on October 1, 2017. You can read the full text of Question 4 here.

“In the face of inaction from elected officials, voters in the Bay State sent a resounding message this evening that it is time to move away from our failed, racist policy of marijuana prohibition and towards a safer, regulated industry,” said Erik Altieri, NORML’s new Executive Director. “By legalizing the adult use of marijuana, Massachusetts will shrink the illicit black market, generate millions in tax revenue, end the arrest of otherwise law abiding citizens, and better enable society to keep marijuana out of the hands of children.”

NORML Blog, Marijuana Law Reform

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Pennsylvania: Governor Signs Medical Marijuana Measure

Posted on November 8, 2016 by ushempmuseum
Governor Tom Wolf on Sunday, April 17, signed legislation, Senate Bill 3, to permit the production and use of medical marijuana products to qualified patients.

NORML would like to thank those of you who advocated on behalf of this effort for the past several years. NORML would especially like to acknowledge the diligent work of Philly NORML, who helped make this law reality.

Senate Bill 3 permits regulators to license up to 25 marijuana cultivators and processors, and up to 150 dispensary locations to provide cannabis products to qualified patients who possess a recommendation from select physicians. Qualifying conditions eligible to receive cannabis therapy are: cancer; HIV; AIDS; ALS; Parkinson’s disease; multiple sclerosis; damage to the nervous tissue of the spinal cord with objective neurological indication of intractable spasticity; epilepsy: inflammatory bowel disease; neuropathies; Huntington’s disease; Crohn’s disease; post-traumatic stress disorder; intractable seizures; glaucoma; sickle cell anemia; autism; neuropathic pain; or severe chronic or intractable pain that is untreatable. The measure permits for the dispensing of herbal cannabis via vaporization, as well as the use of marijuana-infused extracts or oils, but it does not permit smoking. (To date, only two other states — Minnesota and New York — impose similar restrictions regarding patients’ use of herbal cannabis.)

Pennsylvania is the 24th state to permit the use of physician-recommended cannabis and/or cannabis-formulated products. The state’s Medical Marijuana Program is expected to take between 18 and 24 months before it is operational.

National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws – Advocacy Campaigns

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Washington: Legislation to Permit Home Cultivation Fails To Garner Support

Posted on November 8, 2016 by ushempmuseum

Lawmakers have failed to consider legislation that would allow adults to legally cultivate personal use amounts of marijuana this legislative session.

House Bill 2629, the Adult Home Grow & Criminal Reduction Bill sought to permit adults to grow a limited number of marijuana plants for personal use. Members of the House Committee on Commerce and Gaming failed to bring the legislation to a vote.

“This bill is about consistency, congruency and especially, freedom” said Rep. Brian Blake, who is sponsoring the measure in the House. “Adults in our state can brew their own beer and make their own wine for personal consumption. Just like alcohol, marijuana can be used safely and responsibly, so it makes sense to allow adults to home grow their own if they want to.”

NORML would like to thank those of you who contacted your state representatives and urged their support for this common sense measure. 

For more information about these bills and other pending legislation, please contact Washington NORML .


National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws – Advocacy Campaigns

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New York: Fairness and Equity Act Tabled

Posted on November 7, 2016 by ushempmuseum

Legislation was tabled in the Assembly (A. 6218A) and Senate (S. 137A) to eliminate loopholes in the state’s existing decriminalization law.

The “Fairness and Equity Act” (“FEA”), was a comprehensive piece of legislation that would have expanded the decriminalization of cannabis in New York State. Enacting the FEA would have not only put an end to the racially biased practice of arresting mostly young men of color for criminal possession of cannabis, it also would have established a procedure for people previously convicted of certain cannabis crimes to vacate their judgments. 

New York State leads the nation in minor marijuana possession arrests despite lawmakers having decriminalized the offenses decades ago. However, separate penal law (NY State Penal Law 221.10) classifies marijuana possession in a manner that is ‘open to public view’ as an arrestable offense. Police often use this provision as a means to make criminal arrests for activity that would otherwise warrant only a ticket.

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

National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws – Advocacy Campaigns

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Wisconsin: Lawmakers Fail To Act On Legislation To Regulate Marijuana

Posted on November 7, 2016 by ushempmuseum

Lawmakers have failed to act on legislation, Assembly Bill 224, to legalize and regulate the adult possession and use of marijuana in Wisconsin. Full text of the bill is here. 

Annually, state and local police make some 16,000 marijuana possession arrests. The state ranks 19th in the nation in per capita marijuana possession arrests. Under state law, first-time marijuana possession offenses are classified as a criminal misdemeanor punishable by up to six-months in jail and a $ 1,000 fine. Subsequent offenses are classified as felony offenses, punishable by up to 3.5 years in prison and a $ 10,000 fine. 

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

For more information on this and other state-specific reform activities, contact your regional NORML chapter here.

National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws – Advocacy Campaigns

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Wisconsin: Marijuana Decriminalization Measure Never Considered

Posted on November 6, 2016 by ushempmuseum

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 for manufacturing or for possessing with the intent to manufacture, distribute, or deliver if the amount of marijuana involved is no more than 25 grams or the number of plants involved is no more than two; and 3) the penalty for distributing or delivering marijuana if the amount of marijuana involved is no more than 25 grams or the number of plants involved is no more than two.” Its senate companion bill was SB 167.

The bills also sought to prohibit “establishing probable cause that a person is violating the prohibition against possessing more than 25 grams of marijuana by an odor of marijuana or by the possession of not more than 25 grams of marijuana.” 

Annually, state and local police make some 16,000 marijuana possession arrests. The state ranks 19th in the nation in per capita marijuana possession arrests. Under state law, first-time marijuana possession offenses are classified as a criminal misdemeanor punishable by up to six-months in jail and a $ 1,000 fine. Subsequent offenses are classified as felony offenses, punishable by up to 3.5 years in prison and a $ 10,000 fine. 

NORML would like to thank those of you who contacted your state lawmakers and urged their support for these common sense reforms. 

For more information on this and other state-specific reform activities, contact your regional NORML chapter here.

National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws – Advocacy Campaigns

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