Virginia is moving toward decriminalizing simple possession of marijuana.
The state House on Monday passed HB 972, a decriminalization bill, with bipartisan support. Delegates voted 64-34 for the measure, with a number of Republicans joining Democrats in favor.
The state Senate is expected to pass its own version shortly.
Gov. Ralph Northam has signaled his support for the measure.
As the Legislature reaches the halfway point of the 2020 session, no committee has yet to hear any of the wide range of bills filed to address a list of issues in Florida’s medical marijuana program.
Marijuana advocates are frustrated and people in the industry are left scratching their heads.
According to a 2018 NBC News story, more than 77 tons of weed is consumed in New York City per year, making New York City and the Greater New York area among the biggest cannabis markets in the world — this is despite not having legal retail outlets.
Drug laws in the United States are increasingly becoming a labyrinthine system of contradictions between federal and state law. Multiple Democratic presidential candidates have ventured their own plans to reform laws, lessen restrictions, and even end the War on Drugs.
Gov. Ned Lamont made it clear in his budget address Wednesday that he believes the time has come for Connecticut to join the growing list of states to legalize recreational marijuana.
In his annual address to the General Assembly, Lamont made legalizing recreational marijuana a priority for this session even though he pushed sales off until 2022. Lamont’s budget funds positions in the state Department of Consumer Protection to prepare for legal marijuana sales, but does not include any revenue from those sales.
Massachusetts House lawmakers approved a bill Wednesday that would tighten oversight of payments made by marijuana companies to the cities and towns that host them.
The bill, which passed by a 121-33 vote, would give the state’s Cannabis Control Commission the power to review, regulate and enforce host community agreements following criticism that some local officials have used the contracts to demand more money from companies than is allowed under state law.
Two bills that aim to fix “glitches” in the state hemp program passed their first committee stops unanimously Tuesday.
The bills allow licensed hemp growers to use any seeds deemed safe by the USDA, clarify that hemp products must be properly packaged and labeled and require that licensees who break rules while distributing or selling hemp extract complete corrective action plans.
Marijuana legalization is getting attention again as the 2020 presidential election gets closer. The Iowa caucuses took place on Monday. During the event, Democratic and Republican voters decided on the candidates for the US presidential election. As a result, the candidates took some bold stances regarding marijuana legalization.
As US support for marijuana legalization continues to grow during a portentous election year, it’s important for voters to know where their lawmakers stand on the issue.
That’s why the cannabis reform group NORML sees fit to release an annual scorecard ranking America’s governors based on their track record of supporting cannabis reform efforts.
The coalition of more than 30 national and state cannabis industry organisations sent the letter to Senate Banking Committee Chair Mike Crapo, urging him to advance the House-approved version of a bill aimed at addressing the state-legal cannabis industry’s lack of access to banking and other financial services.
