Maryland won’t be legalizing the possession and use of cannabis for adults this legislative session, but there is still hope for a decriminalization bill currently winding it’s way through the state legislature as well as slim chance of a medical marijuana program reform bill eking through.
In the wake of yesterday’s developments, Minnesota’s medical marijuana push has gone off the rails. And with law enforcement officials showing no sign of softening their anti-pot stance — and Governor Dayton giving no indication he’ll reconsider his I’ll-only-support-it-if-cops-do position — the bill’s chief House backer, Rep. Carly Melin, D-Hibbing, is urging medical marijuana supporters to exert direct pressure on elected officials.
The family of a seizure-stricken little girl who became the face of medical marijuana in New Jersey has moved to Colorado after that state’s MMJ program completely failed them, the parents say.
Florida seems to be well on its way to getting medical marijuana legalized. Voters this November are going to be able to decide on their own whether weed should be made legal for folks with debilitating diseases, and a bill that would decriminalize the use of a strain of medical marijuana for kids with severe epilepsy has recently passed a Senate committee. On top of that, polls consistently show that the majority of Floridians support the legalization of medical marijuana. Some polls say that up to 70 percent are cool with medical weed.
The Kentucky state Senate yesterday gave final approval to a bill that would legalize cannabidiol (CBD) oil for minors in the state suffering from severe, chronic seizure disorders. The bill now moves on to the House, which is expected to pass the measure as well.
The New Hampshire House took a big step in the right direction last night, voting to approve a measure that will decriminalize up to an ounce of marijuana, with a maximum punishment of a fine of $100. Currently, possession of an ounce carries up to a year in jail and $2,000. The bill also makes the cultivation of up to six plants a misdemeanor charge instead of a felony charge.
The Uruguayan military has no doubt been involved in at least a few anti-marijuana operations in their history, which makes the choice to possibly grow marijuana on military land pretty awesome.
St. Louis city council members will hold a marijuana town-hall forum later this month at Harris-Stowe State University to discuss the possibility of decriminalizing cannabis.
Council members say they are concerned about the disproportionate number of arrests of blacks and Hispanic citizens for marijuana possession compared to arrests of white St. Louisans.
Three city Aldermen will meet discuss the pros and cons of decriminalizing and even taxing and selling cannabis along with a panel of cannabis supporters and opposition.
The meeting is set for March 24.
While the bill has a slim chance of actually passing, the Missouri House Monday night discussed the legalization of limited amounts of cannabis for adults 21 and up. Rep. Chris Kelly, a former county judge, said he bought into the war on drugs for too long and that his time serving as a judge showed him that there needs to be a different approach to cannabis.
“I saw too many young people whose lives were ruined by using small amounts of marijuana,” Kelly told the Kansas City Star.
| Washington D.C. |
The Washington D.C. Board of Elections Tuesday approved a ballot measure that would legalize the possession and cultivation of limited amounts of cannabis for adults 21 and up. Supporters now have to have to finalize the language on the measure in the next 20 days and will begin collecting signatures after that to get the proposal on the November ballot.
The moves comes despite warnings from the Washington D.C. city attorney general that passing such a bill would force a confrontation with the U.S. Congress which must give final approval to any changes to D.C. law. Congress could block the law with approval from the president.