Denver Mayor Michael Hancock recently unveiled his plan to address the Mile High City’s opioid epidemic, but failed to acknowledge the role marijuana can play in combating prescription drug abuse. Several observational studies have established a correlation between the enactment of medical marijuana laws and a reduction in opioid-related use, drug spending, abuse, hospitalization, and mortality.
Category: municipal
Kentucky: Cannabis Activists Schedule Educational Forum in Henderson
Cannabis law reform groups organize educational forum to highlight the benefits of medical cannabis. A wide-range of experts are expected to provide information and speak on the topic. RSVP today!
NORML Chapter Newsletter
Everyday NORML Chapters from around the country invest countless hours in advocating for meaningful marijuana law reforms on the local, state and federal level! Here’s a brief rundown of some of their most recent accomplishments. Get involved today!
Marijuana Arrests Soar in Allentown and Bethlehem as Both Cities Consider Marijuana Decriminalization
Police in the Pennsylvania cities of Allentown and Bethlehem continue to arrest hundreds of residents for less than 30 grams of cannabis while opiate and cocaine arrests seem to be going down.
New Orleans: Marijuana Possession Arrests Plunge Following Enactment Of Decriminalization Ordinance
Minor marijuana possession arrests have plunged in the city of New Orleans following the adoption of a municipal ordinance one year ago that called for fining rather than arresting low-level offenders.
Philadelphia: District Attorney To Cease Prosecuting Marijuana Possession Offenders
Philadelphia officials announced today that they will no longer prosecute marijuana possession offenses.
Indigent Marijuana Defendants Will Be Covered Under Amended Contract Between Kansas City and Legal Aid of Western Missouri
Legal Aid of Western Missouri, an organization that provides free, comprehensive civil legal services to low-income people, can now offer free legal services to indigent defendants charged with marijuana possession.
Oakland’s Marijuana Equity Permit Program
In March of this year, Oakland City Council implemented the Equity Permit Program for marijuana businesses. This program is designed to address the past disparities in the cannabis industry by giving priority to the victims of the war on drugs and minimizing barriers of entry into the industry.
Pennsylavania Cities Continue to Embrace Decriminalization of Marijuana
After successfully working with local governments to pass marijuana decriminalization measures in Philadelphia, State College, Pittsburgh and Harrisburg, marijuana advocates in Pennsylvania have set their sights on the City of York and several other municipalities.
Atlanta City Council Considers Decriminalization of Marijuana
With a City Council vote scheduled next Monday, Atlanta could join a growing list of cities around the country that have adopted a more pragmatic approach for dealing with marijuana-related offenses on the local level. Kansas City, Houston, Memphis, Nashville, Tampa, Orlando, Milwaukee, Monona, Toledo, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and several others have decriminalized the possession of small amounts of marijuana.