Legislation

Browsing: Legislation

N.J. Patients Have To Wait For Medical Marijuana

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on June 16, 2010 Legislation, Medical

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has been asking for more time to implement the state’s new medical marijuana law, and now it appears the bill’s chief sponsor, state Senator Nicholas Scutari, is going to give it to him.

Back in January, New Jersey became the 14th state to legalize marijuana for medical uses. A last-minute change to the legislation — as part of a deal which made the law more restrictive in terms of who qualifies for medical marijuana, and how much they can get each month — speeded up the timeline for implementation from one year to six months after it was signed into law, reports Jonathan Valania at the Philadelphia Weekly.

As passed, the law directs the state Health Department to devise rules by July 1 that would control the cultivation and distribution of medical marijuana. After a 60-day comment period, the state would then have until November to open the first six nonprofit marijuana dispensaries.

CA Bill Urging New Federal Marijuana Policy Close To Adoption

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on June 15, 2010 Legislation, News

Photo: My Life, My Muse

Californians protest a DEA medical marijuana dispensary raid

California may soon urge the federal government to end medicinal cannabis raids and to “create a comprehensive federal medical marijuana policy that ensures safe and legal access to any patient that would benefit from it.”

The California State Assembly Committee on Health voted 10-3 Tuesday to pass the resolution, which urges the federal government to change its pot policy. The full state Senate already passed the measure in August 2009 by a vote of 23-15.

Medical Pot Backer To Petition Iowa Board Of Pharmacy

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on June 15, 2010 Legislation, Medical

Photo: StopTheDrugWar.org

Patient advocate Carl Olsen: “That creates an obligation on the part of the state to move forward and do something about it”

A Des Moines man involved in the effort to legalize medical marijuana in Iowa said he plans to petition the Iowa Board of Pharmacy to write rules allowing the use of the herb medicinally. Carl Olsen’s comments followed House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy’s Monday announcement the Legislature has dropped plans to have a committee study the issue.

McCarthy said it appears that according to the Iowa Code, it is the board’s duty, not that of the Legislature, to write the medical marijuana rules. According to Olsen, the matter could wind up in the courts, reports Pat Curtis at Radio Iowa.

“The question in the judicial review would be whether (the pharmacy board) has a duty to make the rules,” Olsen said. “McCarthy seems to be saying they do and he’s an attorney.”

Medical Marijuana Bill 420 Introduced In Guam — At 4:20

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on June 15, 2010 Dispensaries, Global, Legislation

Photo: KUAM

Senator Rory Respicio of Guam introduced Bill 420, the Compassionate Healthcare Act of 2010, to legalize the medicinal use of marijuana on the island. The bill was introduced at 4:20 Monday afternoon.

“We want to file this at 4:20 p.m. to tie in with the symbolism and the whole meaning behind 420,” Respicio, a veteran Democrat lawmaker, said, reports Nick Delgado of KUAM.

While Senator Respicio introduced his bill at the traditional time for recreational pot smoking, he said his bill only allows for medical use of marijuana.

Montana Group Claims Medical Marijuana ‘Breeds Lawlessness’

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on June 14, 2010 Legislation, Medical

Graphic: The Weed Blog

A group which claims medical marijuana “breeds lawlessness” is trying to repeal Montana’s law legalizing medicinal cannabis. The group received their approved petition Friday afternoon, and can now begin collecting signatures to place the misguided initiative on the November ballot.

The so-called “Safe Community Safe Kids” proposal needs to collect at least 24,337 signatures by 5 p.m. on Friday, June 18, reports KVTQ News.

“It’s perfectly clear,” said attorney and state Senator Jim Shockley (R-Victor), who helped rewrite the statement. “You are either for the current medical marijuana act or you’re against it, and that’s the choice the voter gets.”

The proposal calls for repealing the initiative legalizing medical marijuana, which was passed by an overwhelming 62 percent of Montana voters in 2004.

Voters Say No To Pot Dispensary Moratorium In Maine Town

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on June 14, 2010 Dispensaries, Legislation

Photo: Shroomery.org

The people of Eliot, Maine, have just said “yes” to dispensaries by saying “no” to a moratorium on the pot shops.

Organizers behind an effort to open a nonprofit medical marijuana dispensary in Eliot cleared a big hurdle Saturday when voters at a town meeting turned down a proposed moratorium that would have stopped the pot shop until local elected officials had “more time to study the issue.”

After a “substantial” debate on the topic, a simple hand vote saw the proposed moratorium failing to pass, with some voters saying they didn’t want to support a “temporary” ban that seemed too open-ended. One resident argued the moratorium would let selectmen study the issue “in perpetuity,” reports Geoff Cunningham Jr at Foster’s Daily Democrat.

About 100 Town Meeting voters were gathered at Marshwood Middle School on Saturday to vote on 40-plus articles. The most heavily debated and discussed item was the proposed marijuana dispensary moratorium, which was a reaction to inquiries from organizers looking to establish a pot shop in Eliot.

Medical Marijuana Bill Stalled In Illinois; May Depend On Election

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on June 14, 2010 Legislation, Medical

Photo: David Banks

Medical marijuana stands a better chance of passage in Illinois if Gov. Pat Quinn is reelected, according to activists

Lawmakers in the Illinois House likely will not pass a medical marijuana bill until next legislative session.

Although the state Senate passed the Compassionate Use of Medicinal Cannabis Pilot Program Act last month and sent it to the House, the powerful Rules Committee is still mulling it over instead of sending it to the Governor’s desk or back to the Senate, reports Ivanna Hampton of NBC Chicago.

“That’s because it’s an election year and politicians are afraid to do what’s right,” said Dan Linn, executive director of the Illinois Cannabis Patients Association.

Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie), who sponsored the bill, said it doesn’t have enough support to pass. Lang doesn’t expect a vote on it until at least January 2011.

OR Supreme Court: No Warrant Needed For School Drug Searches

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on June 11, 2010 Legislation, News

Photo: NewsOn6.com

High school students can be searched for illegal drugs without a warrant, if school officials have a “reasonable suspicion” based on specific facts, the Oregon Supreme Court ruled Thursday.

According to the court, schools are not held to the higher standards of requiring probably cause for a search if officials think there is an “immediate risk of harm” from possession of illegal drugs on school property, reports William McCall at the Statesman Journal.

WA Patients Now Have Better Access To Medical Marijuana

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on June 10, 2010 Legislation, Medical

Photo: World of Work

Starting Thursday, June 10, Washington residents with terminal or debilitating medical conditions will have better access to getting authorized to use medical marijuana, a prominent Democratic legislator has announced.

Washington’s newest improvement on the medical marijuana program expands the number of health care providers who are legally allowed to recommend medical marijuana to patients, according to its sponsor, state Senator Jeanne Kohl-Welles (D-Seattle).

Until now, only medical doctors could legally authorize patients to use cannabis medicinally in Washington State. Senate Bill 5798, Kohl-Welles, now extends the ability to authorize the medical use of marijuana to other licensed health professionals who are authorized to prescribe controlled substances.

Professionals who may now authorize medical marijuana use include naturopathic doctors, advanced registered nurse practitioners, physician assistants and osteopathic physician assistants.

“Many patients rely on medical professionals other than MDs and ODs,” Kohl-Welles said. “To remain committed to Washington voters’ long commitment to medical marijuana for qualifying patients, we must allow additional medical professionals to recommend medical marijuana.”

Vermont Gubernatorial Candidate Calls For Pot Decrim

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on June 10, 2010 Legislation, News

Photo: Straight Talk On Marriage

Peter Shumlin: “We need to have an honest conversation with Vermonters”

A Vermont gubernatorial candidate on Tuesday said the state should decriminalize marijuana to help free up prison space and better spend money on education and other social needs.

“We need to have an honest conversation with Vermonters about changing laws that are diverting resources and attention from real problems, and filling our prisons up with folks that shouldn’t be there,” said Vermont State Senate President Pro Tempore Peter Shumlin (D-Putney), who is running for the Democratic nomination for governor.

“I believe it is a mistake to be sending young people on second, third, fourth offenses to prison on marijuana-related charges,” said Shumlin, who has previously sponsored a decriminalization bill. “That’s where we could make a difference.”

None of the other four candidates in a Tuesday forum with Shumlin called for marijuana decriminalization, which was also opposed by outgoing Republican Gov. James Douglas, reports John P. Gregg of the Rutland Herald.

Previous 1 … 137 138 139 140 141 … 172 Next