In some big news out of New Jersey, several marijuana reform bills have been voted out of their committees and are awaiting floor votes.
Category: ACTIVISM
Oregon NORML, In Partnership With The Oregon Justice League, Files “Legalization Justice Act of 2020”
The Oregon Justice League does not believe the State of Oregon has implemented Measure 91 in the spirit under which the law was passed. The OJL seeks to right these wrongs as well as provide a model for other states to implement a more just version of cannabis legalization.
New York: the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA)
A.1617, the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA), has been re-introduced this legislative session. The bill would legalize the adult possession, use, and regulated sale of marijuana. Over the past twenty years, many New Yorkers have been negatively affected by the harms of prohibition in New York. With people of color accounting for nearly 85% of those arrested annually, the MRTA directs the benefits of taxing and regulating marijuana to these communities. Because structural racism is ingrained in marijuana prohibition, it’s important that the MRTA both ends marijuana prohibition and promotes racial justice. Significant steps are taken in the amended MRTA to ensure racial justice and a small business-friendly industry, including: Creating a micro-licensing structure, similar to New York’s rapidly…
New Mexico: Lawmakers Approve Marijuana Decriminalization, Other Reform Bills
State lawmakers have approved a series of bills reducing penalties for marijuana possession offenses and strengthening and expanding legal protections for medical cannabis patients.
Weekly Legislative Roundup 3/15/18
Welcome to the latest edition of NORML’s Weekly Legislative Roundup!
Chicago NORML Goes To DC
Chicago NORML is very excited to participate in the Minority Cannabis Business Association (MCBA) summit in Washington D.C. and playing a leading role in drafting policy agendas to ensure participation of people of color in the cannabis industry.
Bipartisan Bill To Protect Employment Rights
The Fairness in Federal Drug Testing Under State Laws Act is bipartisan legislation introduced by Representatives Charlie Crist (D-FL) and Don Young (R-AK) to explicitly bar federal agencies from discriminating against workers solely because of their status as a cannabis consumer, or due to testing positive for marijuana use on a workplace drug test.
Florida: State Lawmakers Vote to Restore Patients’ Right To Smoke Medical Cannabis
Members of the Florida state House of Representatives voted 101 to 11 to approve legislation to re-legalize the inhalation of herbal cannabis formulations for medical purposes.
New York: State legislature signals support for adult-use cannabis legalization
In news that bodes well for the future of cannabis legalization in the state of New York, both chambers of the state legislature have included legalization language in their annual budget proposals. Both budget proposals also address the expedited expungement of certain marijuana-related convictions, implementing social equity programs in the state’s growing marijuana industry, and diverting tax money earned through the legal cannabis industry to benefit communities that have borne the brunt of the most brutal aspects of marijuana prohibition and the war on drugs in New York. Though Governor Cuomo’s budget proposal does not allow for the personal cultivation of marijuana plants, the NY General Assembly’s budget proposal does promote home cultivation upon the legalization of adult-use and retail…
New Jersey: Adult-use legalization is closer than ever
After months of negotiation, Governor Murphy and NJ state legislators have reached a deal on what will be included in upcoming legislation to legalize the adult-use and retail sale of marijuana in the state of New Jersey.