Legislation

New Hampshire House Passes Medical Marijuana Bill

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on March 16, 2011 Legislation, Medical

The New Hampshire House of Representatives, which has a nearly 3:1 Republican supermajority, overwhelmingly passed a bill Wednesday that would allow residents to use marijuana for medical purposes.

H.B. 442, which would create a narrow exception in New Hampshire law for people with certain qualifying conditions to use marijuana to treat their ailments with doctors’ recommendations, will now move on to the Senate.

The bill passed 221-96, or by 69.7 percent, doing better than similar medical marijuana bills have done in previous Democrat-controlled sessions, proving that this an issue that both parties can support. The bill was introduced by Rep. Evalyn Merrick (D-Coos), a cancer survivor, and is sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Jim Forsythe (R-Strafford).

Marijuana Reform Hearings At R.I. State House Wednesday

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on March 15, 2011 Legislation, News

Photo: Zazzle

Hearings will take place at the Rhode Island State House, Wednesday, March 16, on two bills that would reform marijuana laws in the state. One bill would make marijuana possession similar to a traffic violation, and the other would legalize, tax and regulate cannabis.

H 5031 would remove criminal penalties for possession of up to an ounce of marijuana and replace them with a civil penalty carrying a fine of $150. The bill, sponsored by Rep. John G. Edwards (D-Tiverton) and others, would allow people who are convicted of simple, nonviolent cannabis possession charges to avoid the lifelong stigma of a criminal record.

The measure would also save the state millions of dollars on police and court time.

Montana Senate Turns Away Medical Marijuana Repeal

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on March 14, 2011 Legislation, Medical

Graphic: KTVQ

A Montana Senate committee has deadlocked on a tie vote, failing to endorse a bill that would have repealed the state’s medical marijuana law.

The Senate Judiciary Committee locked up 6-6 on a motion to pass House Bill 161, by House Speaker Mike Milburn (R-Cascade), to repeal the law passed by 62 percent of voters in 2004, reports The Missoulian. The repeal bill, which removes safe access to cannabis for thousands of seriously ill patients in Montana, passed the House earlier this session.

CT Lawmakers Look At Medical Marijuana And Decrim

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on March 14, 2011 Legislation, Medical, News

With a recent Quinnipiac University poll showing overwhelming 79 percent support for medical marijuana, the Legislature and governor appear poised to reform cannabis laws in Connecticut.

A hearing began on Monday to discuss legalizing marijuana for people with serious medical problems and decriminalizing small amounts of it for recreational users, reports Jeff Stoecker at NBC Connecticut.

“Our state should not encourage illegal drug possession and use; however, possession of small amounts of illicit substances and related paraphernalia for personal use should not leave a person with a life-long criminal record,” said Senate Majority Leader Martin Looney, a Democrat who represents New Haven and Hamden, of the decrim bill.

Maine: Marijuana Decrim Expansion Hearing Set For Thursday

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on March 14, 2011 Legislation, News

Graphic: Reality Catcher

Maine lawmakers have introduced a pair of bills, LD 754 and LD 750, to expand the state’s existing marijuana decriminalization law.

Under present law, adult possession of up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana is a non-criminal offense punishable by a fine only.

LD 754 would change existing law so that adult possession of more than 2.5 but less than five ounces is classified as a civil violation.

LD 750 would change existing law so that the cultivation of up to six marijuana plants by an adult is also classified as a civil violation.

Both measures have been referred to the Joint Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety, which has scheduled a hearing on both bills for Thursday, March 17.

The hearing will begin at 1 p.m. in Room 436 of the State House on State Street in Augusta.

Every Maine resident has the right to testify at this hearing.

You don’t need to be an expert or an experienced pubic speaker — just come and speak your mind.

Poll: 79% Of Connecticut Voters Support Medical Marijuana

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on March 11, 2011 Legislation, Medical, News

Graphic: Menopausal Stoners

Medical marijuana has the support of a whopping 79 percent of Connecticut voters, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released on Thursday. The poll, which also showed strong support for cannabis decriminalization, comes as state legislators consider medical marijuana and decrim bills.

Support for medical marijuana was above 70 percent in every demographic, with even 72 percent of Republicans favoring it, reports Phillip S. Smith at AlterNet.

“There is a near consensus on the medical marijuana law with about eight in 10 voters supporting it,” said Dr. Douglas Schwartz, Quinnipiac poll director. “it’s rare to see such a level of support for any issue.”

Colorado Bill Limits Blood THC; Targets Pot Smoking Drivers

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on March 11, 2011 Legislation, News

Photo: News By The Second

A bill cracking down on driving while high on marijuana cleared its first hurdle at the Colorado state Capitol on Thursday.

House Bill 1261 would set a limit of five nanograms per milliliter of blood, above which a person would be considered too stoned to legally drive, reports John Ingold at The Denver Post. Bill supporters tried to equate the five-nanogram THC limit to the 0.08 percent blood-alcohol level that determines driving when drunk.

“If you test above that limit, you would be guilty of the misdemeanor driving under the influence of drugs,” said Rep. Claire Levy (D-Boulder), who is one of the bill’s sponsors.

Medical Marijuana Bill Passes N.H. House Committee In 14-3 Vote

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on March 9, 2011 Dispensaries, Legislation, Medical

Graphic: Cafe Press

A New Hampshire House committee on Wednesday brought seriously ill Granite Staters closer to relief with a 14-3 “ought to pass” vote on a bill to allow the medical use of marijuana.

The House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee endorsed House Bill 442, which creates a narrow exception in New Hampshire law for people with certain qualifying medical conditions to use marijuana medicinally with a doctor’s recommendation.

HB 442 now moves on to the full House for a vote.

Introduced by Rep. Evalyn Merrick (D), herself a cancer survivor, the bill has five Republican cosponsors, including the chair of the Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee, Rep. John Reagan (R-Deerfield).

No Medical Marijuana Repeal This Year In New Mexico

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on March 8, 2011 Legislation, Medical

Graphic: Santa Fe Reporter

N.M. Gov. Susanna Martinez: “I do not support distributing marijuana for any purposes”

A bill to repeal New Mexico’s medical marijuana law — supported by the state’s new Republican governor — will not receive a vote this year, as the sponsor of the bill has reportedly pulled the legislation.

A secretary in the office of freshman state Rep. James Smith (R-Sandia Park), who initially sponsored a bill that would kill the state’s medical marijuana program, confirmed that attempts to dissolve the program have been aborted, reports Alexa Schirtzinger at the Santa Fe Reporter.

Florida Could Let Voters Decide On Medical Marijuana In 2012

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on March 8, 2011 Legislation, Medical

Graphic: THC Finder

Voters in the Sunshine State could get a chance to decide for themselves about medical marijuana — if the Republican-controlled Legislature will let them.

Florida voters could get a chance to decide for themselves about medical marijuana next year — if the Republican-controlled Legislature will let them.

Rep. Jeff Clemens (D-Lake Worth) has filed a joint resolution that, if passed by the Legislature, would let Floridians vote on a state constitutional amendment legalizing medical marijuana.

Just last week, a Republican pollster found high support in The Sunshine State for medicinal cannabis, with 57 percent — almost enough to pass a state constitutional amendment, which would require 60 percent.

So, Florida. Are you going to insist on a chance to decide for yourselves about medical marijuana? Or are you going to stand idly by while your Republican-controlled Legislature ignores you for yet another year?

A “Legislative Action on Medical Marijuana” press conference has been scheduled for Thursday, March 10 at 11 a.m. at Florida’s Capitol in Tallahassee.

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