Tagged With: marijuana
Massachusetts: Lawmakers Amend Voter-Initiated Marijuana Legalization Measure
With little debate, House and Senate lawmakers voted today to significantly amend Massachusetts’ voter-initiated marijuana law. The vote sets the stage to delay the establishment of state-licensed marijuana retail facilities from January 1, 2018 to July 1, 2018. Governor Charlie Baker, who campaigned against the initiative, must still sign off on the law change. Separate … Continue reading
Missouri: Multiple Medical Marijuana Bills Pending
Two separate legislative proposals are pending to allow qualified patients to obtain and legally consume marijuana. The preferable of the two bills, Senate Bill 56, permits the state’s Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) to “grant licenses for the cultivation, manufacture, distribution, and sale of marijuana for medical use.” Importantly, it authorizes qualified patients … Continue reading
Study: Medical Marijuana Laws Associated With Fewer Traffic Fatalities
The passage of medical marijuana legalization is associated with reduced traffic fatalities among younger drivers, according to data published online ahead of print in the American Journal of Public Health. Investigators from Columbia University in New York and the University of California at Davis analyzed traffic fatality data from the years 1985 to 2014. They … Continue reading
NORML Releases Open Letter to Vice President-Elect Mike Pence on Marijuana Policy
National NORML, Michigan NORML and dozens of other state and local chapters have released an open letter to Vice President-Elect Pence seeking clarity and common sense from the incoming administration regarding marijuana policy. During the campaign, President-Elect Trump, on multiple occasions, has voiced support for allowing states to move forward with medical and recreational marijuana … Continue reading
Maine: Gov. Asks “Why Do We Need Medical Marijuana?” Here’s Why
Governor Paul LePage recently suggested abolishing Maine’s medical marijuana program – a program that was approved by a majority of voters on two separate occasions. In a December 15 radio interview, Gov. LePage said that he sees “no need” to continue to implement a separate medical cannabis program in Maine when adult use becomes legally … Continue reading
Marijuana Use Continues Rapid Decline Among Younger Teens
Self-reported marijuana use continues to fall among younger teens, according to federally commissioned, nationwide survey data compiled by the University of Michigan. Results from the 2016 edition of the Monitoring the Future survey find that marijuana use by 8th-graders and 10th-graders is declining year by year. Further, a greater percentage of younger teens now say … Continue reading
Join the Marijuana Union!
With just a few weeks left in 2016, NORML is gearing up for what will be, without a doubt, one of the most eventful and important years in the history marijuana law reform. In order to be able to advocate and lobby in as many states as possible in 2017, we need the funding to … Continue reading
Federal Marijuana Protections Extended Through April, But Face an Uncertain Future
Members of Congress have re-authorized a federal provision prohibiting the Justice Department from interfering in state-authorized medical cannabis programs. The provision, known as the Rohrabacher-Farr amendment, was included in short-term spending legislation, House Resolution 2028, and will expire on April 28, 2017. NORML is encouraging you to tell the incoming Congress that these pivotal patient … Continue reading
Canadian Government’s Legal Marijuana Task Force Releases Recommendations
This morning in Ottawa, a government task force assigned to study legalizing and regulating the adult use of marijuana in Canada released their recommendations. The task force recommended that sales should be restricted to those over the age of 18 with a personal possession limit of 30 grams. Their recommended model of legalization would put … Continue reading
President-Elect Trump: Will You Support State Marijuana Laws?
Over the last several weeks, we have received dozens of calls from journalists with the same question: “What does NORML think that President-Elect Trump and his Attorney General nominee Jefferson Sessions will do in regards to marijuana once in office?” However, the best public indicators we have to go on give mixed messages. Additionally, in … Continue reading