Tagged With: Lawmakers
Urge Kentucky Lawmakers to Support Medical Cannabis Reform Today!
A medical cannabis bill has been filed in the Kentucky General Assembly every year since 2013. In that time around a dozen other states have passed medical bills, eight more have joined Colorado and Washington in full legalization. Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump have voiced support for state governments deciding their own policies. Nearly … Continue reading
Utah: Lawmakers Replace Voter-Initiated Medical Marijuana Law
Lawmakers voted in a special legislative session on Monday to replace the state’s voter-initiated medical cannabis access program. The former law, Proposition 2: The Utah Medical Cannabis Act – was approved by 53 percent of voters on November 6. NORML Executive Director Erik Altieri criticized lawmakers’ decision. “Lawmakers should have respected the will of the … Continue reading
New Jersey Lawmakers Advance Adult Use Marijuana Legislation
Senate and Assembly lawmakers voted on Monday, November 26, in favor of legislation that seeks to regulate the adult use marijuana market. Members of a 26-member joint committee decided to move forward the legislation: Senate Bill 2703 and Assembly Bill 4497: The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory and Expungement Aid Modernization Act. Lawmakers will engage in further … Continue reading
Colorado Lawmakers Explore Solutions for Opioid Epidemic
With six meetings scheduled before next year’s legislative session, members of Colorado’s Opioid and Other Substance Use Disorders Study Committee are working diligently to address an issue many local and state governments are currently struggling with across America. As the total number of opioid-related deaths continues to grow beyond the more than 40,000 deaths that … Continue reading
Canada: Lawmakers Reconcile and Pass Historic Marijuana Legalization Legislation
[UPDATE: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced that the new law will officially go into effect on October 17, 2018.] Members of the Canadian House and Senate have reconciled and given final approval to C-45, sweeping legislation amending the federal Controlled Drugs and Substances Act so that those over the age of 18 may legally … Continue reading
Arizona: Supreme Court Affirms That Lawmakers Cannot Ban Medical Cannabis Access on College Campuses
In a ruling issued today by the Arizona Supreme Court, justices upheld an appellate court decision striking down a 2012 law that sought to forbid medical cannabis access on college campuses. Lifetime NORML Legal Committee member Tom Dean represented the patient-defendant in the case pro bono, and called the decision a “victory for democracy.” Justices … Continue reading
Maine: Lawmakers Override Governor’s Veto, Amend Voter-Initiated Adult Use Measure
Maine lawmakers have voted overwhelmingly to override Republican Gov. Paul LePage’s veto of LD 1719; the enactment of the legislation establishes a framework for the retail sale of marijuana to adults, but also amends numerous provisions of the 2016 voter-approved measure — including those specific to home grow limits and taxation. Specifically, LD 1719 limits … Continue reading
Colorado Lawmakers Form Nation’s First Statewide Cannabis Caucus
With Colorado lawmakers well into their fifth legislative session since the retail sale of adult-use marijuana was enacted, the need to coordinate the various policy discussions around the issue has never been greater. Since Colorado voters approved the law change in 2012, there have been ongoing debates surrounding various aspects of the law and its … Continue reading
Oklahoma: Lawmakers Move Forward To Preemptively Quash Medical Marijuana Vote
Senate lawmakers this week passed legislation, Senate Bill 1120, that seeks to preemptively quash many of the provisions of State Question 788 — an expansive voter initiative that provides physicians the discretion to recommend medical marijuana to those patients for whom they believe it will therapeutically benefit. Oklahomans will be voting on the measure, which … Continue reading