Contact your elected representatives and urge them to 'Stop Arresting Marijuana Smokers'. NORML Blog
Paul Armentano
Connecticut Lawmakers Moving Forward With Medical Marijuana Legislation
Urge Your Lawmakers To Support Governor’s Bill 1015
Legislation to Allow for Medical Use of Cannabis Reintroduced in Pennsylvania Senate
Tell Your State Senator to Support SB 1003
Washington House and Senate Pass Legislation To Expand States Medical Cannabis Law
Lawmakers in both chambers have approved Senate Bill 5073, which seeks to provide state licensing to medical marijuana producers and dispensaries in order to assure that qualified patients “will have access to an adequate, safe, consistent, and secure source of medical quality cannabis.”
The proposed law does not amend patients’ existing rights to possess up to 24 ounces of marijuana for medical purposes and cultivate up to 15 cannabis plants.
Nevada Lawmakers Introduce Measure to Establish Medical Marijuana Dispensaries
Urge Your Represenative to Support AB 438
Bill to Tax and Regulate Marijuana Introduced in Maine Legislature
Urge Your Representative to Support LD 1453
North Carolina Legislature Considers Medical Marijuana Measure
Urge Your Representative to Support HB 577
Washington House Lawmakers Refuse To Act On Bill To Regulate Adult Marijuana Production, Use, and Sales
Washington House members have refused to act on legislation that sought to legalize and regulate the “production, distribution, and sale” of marijuana to adults. By failing to advance the bill out of committee by last week’s legislative deadline, the measure, HB 1550, is dead for this year’s legislative session.
Maine Lawmakers Reject Bills To Expand Marijuana Decriminalization
Members of the Maine Joint Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety will not consider legislation this year that sought to expand the state’s existing marijuana decriminalization law.
Under present law, the adult possession of up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana is a non-criminal offense punishable by a fine only.
Maryland Lawmakers Amend Medical Marijuana Measure To An Affirmative Defense — Substitute Language Passes Senate
As introduced, SB 308 and its House companion bill, HB 291, sought to establish a program to provide qualified patients with legal access to state-licensed producers and distributors of medical cannabis. However, that effort suffered a serious setback earlier this month when the state’s Department of Health Secretary testified against it.
The Senate substitute measure would amend the state’s existing ‘affirmative defense’ law. Under present law, patients who successfully raise an ‘affirmative defense’ of medical necessity at trial still face a misdemeanor conviction (but no jail time) and a $100 fine. Under the Senate-approved measure, patients who successfully raise the defense will face no conviction or fine.
Kansas Lawmakers Fail to Act on Medical Marijuana Legislation
Kansas lawmakers will not debate House Bill 2330, the Kansas Cannabis Compassion & Care Act, this legislative session. The measure sought to enact legal protections for authorized medical marijuana patients and was similar to a proposal considered in the 2010 legislative session.