Browsing Marijuana News

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Just a couple days after Washington DC’s City Council voted to decriminalize cannabis, the Maryland Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee approved a similar measure in an 8-3 vote Friday. Co-sponsored by Sen. Bobby Zirkin (D-Baltimore) and Sen. Allan Kittleman (R-Howard), Senate Bill 364 would remove criminal penalties for limited cannabis possession. Instead, such infractions will be subject to a $100 fine. “Criminalizing adults for marijuana possession will not make Maryland safer, but this legislation will,” said Rachelle Yeung, legislative analyst for the Marijuana Policy Project. “Law enforcement officials should spend their time addressing …

CONCORD, NH — Just one day after cannabis was decriminalized in Washington, DC, the New Hampshire House of Representatives Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee voted 12-5 Tuesday in favor of passing similar legislation in The Granite State. “There is no good reason to continue criminalizing people for possessing marijuana.” – Matt Simon With bipartisan support from eight co-sponsors including Rep. Adam Schroadter (R-Newmarket) and Sen. Jeff Woodburn (D-Dalton), House Bill 1625 would remove criminal penalties for possessing small amounts of cannabis. “There is no good reason to continue criminalizing people for …

WASHINGTON, DC — As previously reported, a measure to decriminalize cannabis has been making significant progress in the nation’s capitol. In a 10-1 vote Tuesday, the Washington, D.C. City Council passed an initiative to remove criminal penalties for simple possession of cannabis. Proposed in 2013 by Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6), the initiative calls for fines in the case of simple cannabis possession. This is compared to the District’s current policy, under which possession of any amount of marijuana is a criminal offense punishable by up to six months in jail …

FRANKFORT, KY — In a 9-5 vote Thursday, the Kentucky House Health and Welfare Committee approved a measure that would allow medical marijuana for a short list of qualifying conditions. “This conversation needs to continue to give our state hope.” – Rep. Mary Lou Marzian This should come as no big surprise, seeing as Committee Chairman Tom Burch (D-Louisville) was among those who sponsored HB 350 – The Cannabis Compassion Act. Nonetheless, it brings the State of Kentucky one step closer to the legalization of medical marijuana. “I have seen the bags of medicine that are not working, …

SAN DIEGO, CA — After a highly publicized battle that has lasted over two years, the San Diego City Council voted 8-1 Tuesday to pass regulations for medical marijuana dispensaries in the city Similar regulations were passed in 2011, but they were rescinded when a group of activists gathered enough signatures to stall the initiative. The group felt the rules were too restrictive and pushed for an improvement. Whether they got what they wished for is up for debate, as the lack of rules led to the altogether illegality of storefront medical marijuana locations in San Diego for the past …

LANDOVER, MD — Furthering the conversation about cannabis policy reform in America, the Epilepsy Foundation released a statement Thursday calling for the increased availability of medical marijuana. Specifically, the foundation is urging the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to reschedule cannabis under the Controlled Substances Act, supporting the increased access to cannabis as a treatment for epilepsy at the state level, and calling for the pursuance of randomized clinical trials. The statement was written by Epilepsy Foundation CEO Philip M. Gattone and Chair Warren Lammert, and comes in response to …

CONCORD, NH — As New Hampshire awaits the implementation of their medical marijuana program, House Committee on Health, Human Services, and Elderly Affairs passed a measure Monday that would allow allow for more immediate access. The measure, which was introduced by Rep. Donald “Ted” Wright (R-Tuftonboro), passed through the committee in a 13-3 vote. House Committee Approves Home Cultivation In New Hampshire As written, House Bill 1622 would legalize the home cultivation of up to two plants and seedlings by qualifying patients or their designated caregivers. In order to do so they must first …

SPOKANE, WA — The Washington House of Representatives voted 67 to 29 Monday to approve a ban on medical marijuana collectives in the state, a move that would relegate patients to adult-use retail facilities when they open this year. As previously reported, H.B. 2149 would place much tighter restrictions on medical marijuana in Washington State as well. The measure was introduced by Representatives Eileen Cody (D) in January. Representatives Reuven Carlyle (D), Norm Johnson (R), Laurie Jinkins (D), Dawn Morrell (D), and Sharon Tomiko Santos (D) have …

ALBANY, NY — Just over a month after Governor Andrew Cuomo announced plans to implement a limited medical marijuana program, a recent poll from Quinnipiac University reveals that such legislation would be welcomed by New York residents. “Medical marijuana is a no-brainer for New York State voters, and they also would follow Colorado in legalizing marijuana for fun.” – Maurice Carrol According to the poll results, an overwhelming majority (88%) of New York voters would support medical marijuana legislation in the …

MEXICO CITY – Attitudes towards cannabis may be changing in Mexico. Bills were introduced Thursday at both the federal and state levels of government that would ease the restrictions on cannabis greatly. Lawmakers in Mexico City, the largest city in North America, introduced a bill that would decriminalize the possession of cannabis for personal consumption. The bill takes a similar approach to cocaine and methamphetamines, as incarceration would no longer be the first course of action in those cases either. Legislators Aim To Reform Marijuana Laws In Mexico As written, those caught with anywhere between 5 grams and 5 kilos …