In a move that somehow attracted very little media attention last week, a Washington state appeals court upheld a previous decision allowing the County of Kent to ban all medical marijuana-related collective cannabis gardens and growing operations.
In doing so, they may very well have driven the final nail into the coffin of true, legal medical marijuana in the same state that joined Colorado in 2012 as becoming the first two in the country to legalize recreational weed smoking.
| Show me medical marijuana legalization. |
Despite some setbacks earlier this year, marijuana-reform advocates say that a medical-marijuana bill is off to a good start in the legislative process and might have a chance of getting on the November ballot.
SB 951, which was introduced by Senator Jason Holsman, would legalize marijuana solely for medicinal purposes. People suffering from certain conditions would be allowed up to four ounces of their medicine and sales on it would be taxed at a rate of 8 percent.
The New Hampshire House pulled an about-face last night, axing a bill they crafted that would have legalized limited amounts of cannabis possession, sales and cultivation for adults 21 and up.
South Carolina is the latest state to move forward with legislation that would allow children to access high-CBD oils to help control major seizure disorders. Or, at least that’s what lawmakers would like their constituents to believe. The reality is that they are wasting their time on a bill that won’t help anyone and gives false hope to suffering South Carolina families.
| New Jersey state Sen. Nicholas Scutari. |
New Jersey is wasting millions of dollars on the enforcement marijuana laws and blowing millions in tax revenue that could be generated if the plant was taxed and regulated. Because of that, New Jersey state Sen. Nicholas Scutari says that New Jersey should follow the lead of Colorado and legalize the use, sales and cultivation of limited amounts of cannabis for adults 21 and up.
Of course, as long as Chris “Tollbooth” Christie is in office, actually getting the measure passed and signed into law is a very long shot.
All signs point toward Floridians approving a medical marijuana proposal on November’s ballot, but the legislature could ease the Sunshine State toward some legalized pot all on their own during this month’s session.
One measure, which would kick start research funding into medical marijuana and legalize a non-euphoric strain for epilepsy patients, passed through a House committee with no opposition last week.
Miami New Times has the full story.
Last Thursday, the Colorado Court of Appeals ruled that Colorado’s Amendment 64 applies retroactively to defendants whose actions would have been legal under the measure and were appealing convictions when it became law. A64 co-author Brian Vicente has called the decision a huge victory, while Colorado Attorney General John Suthers suggests that it is largely inconsequential, although he’ll probably appeal it anyhow. Who’s right? One pot advocate sides with Suthers but wishes a pox on both his and Vicente’s houses.
Dozens of state-legal marijuana business owners and representatives from all over the country converged on Washington D.C. yesterday to pitch The Small Business Tax Equity Act to members of the U.S. House and Senate.
The bill – a brief, single page addendum to current tax laws – fixes current tax laws in the United States to allow for medical marijuana businesses to take the same deductions as other legal businesses are allowed to take on their federal returns. Currently, they are stuck paying the entire bill, which some say nearly doubles what they should really owe the government.
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.