Tagged With: marijuana
Georgia: House Lawmakers Fail To Act On Medical Marijuana Bill
Efforts to expand the state’s current medical cannabis program stalled just before the legislative session came to a close. House lawmakers tried to resurrect language from House Bill 722 by attaching it to a separate, already approved bill but lawmakers did not approve of the addition. House lawmakers had previously approved HB 722 but the … Continue reading
Virginia: Lawmakers Table Marijuana Decriminalization Measures
House and Senate lawmakers have set aside legislation that sought to eliminates criminal penalties for marijuana possession offenses, replacing them with civil fine-only penalties — no arrest and no criminal record. On February 3rd, Senate Bill 104, was passed by indefinitely by the Courts of Justice Committee in an 11-4 vote. The committee failed to take … Continue reading
Maryland: Marijuana Paraphernalia Is Decriminalized
On January 21st, members of the Maryland House and Senate voted to override a 2015 veto and to decriminalize the possession of marijuana paraphernalia. Members of the House decided 86 to 55 in favor of overriding the Governor’s veto of Senate Bill 517. Members of the Senate decided 29 to 17 to enact the legislation. Senate … Continue reading
Utah: Lawmakers Adjourn Without Moving Medical Marijuana Plans
Lawmakers have adjourned for 2016 without taking action to expand medical cannabis access to seriously ill patients. Members of the House Health and Human Services Committee voted 8-4 on Monday, March 7, against the passage of Senate Bill 73, the Medical Cannabis Act, which sought to permit for the production and possession of non-herbal formulations … Continue reading
Kansas: Governor Signs Marijuana Sentencing Reform Measure
Governor Brownback signed House Bill 2462 into law on Friday, May 13th 2016 to amend marijuana possession penalties. The law reduces criminal penalties for first-time marijuana possession offenses from a Class A misdemeanor (punishable by up to one year incarceration and a $ 2,500 fine) to a Class B misdemeanor (punishable by no more than … Continue reading
Georgia: Lawmakers Fail To Act on Senate Resolution That Would Have Placed Marijuana Question Before Voters
Senate lawmakers failed to act on Senate Resolution 6, which sought to place a constitutional amendment on the November 2016 ballot to regulate adult marijuana use, prior to a legislative deadline – thus tabling it for this session. NORML would like to thank those of you who took time to contact your state Senator and … Continue reading
Hawaii: Lawmakers Fail To Act On Marijuana Legalization Measure
Members of the House Judiciary Committee failed to act on legislation to permit adults to legally possess and cultivate personal use amounts of marijuana before the 2016 legislative session came to a close. Senate Bill 873 sought to amend the criminal code to remove criminal penalties specific to the possession and cultivation of marijuana for … Continue reading
Tennessee: Cities Move To Reduce Marijuana Possession Penalties
Members of the Nashville metro council and the Memphis city council have given final approval to municipal legislation providing police the discretion to cite rather than arrest minor marijuana offenders. Nashville city council members voted 35 to 3 in late September in favor of the new ordinance. It provides police the option of issuing $ … Continue reading
Study: Medical Marijuana Laws Associated With Greater Workforce Participation Among Older Americans
The enactment of statewide medicinal cannabis programs is associated with greater participation in the workforce by adults age 50 and older, according to the findings of a working paper published by the National Bureau of Economic Research, a non-partisan think-tank. Researchers at the John Hopkins School of Public Health in Baltimore and Temple University in … Continue reading
Marijuana Smoking Up, Marijuana Arrests Down
It’s a great time to be alive if you are a marijuana smoker. We are finally working our way out of the shadows of prohibition and into the mainstream. Following the reign of terror that resulted in more than 25 million Americans being arrested on marijuana charges since 1937, the country is at last looking … Continue reading