Republican Gov. Kristi Noem has signed legislation (SB 24) into law preserving the ability of qualified patients to home cultivate limited quantities of cannabis. Voters in November 2020 overwhelmingly decided in favor of a ballot Measure (Measure 26) permitting qualified patients to possess, grow, and purchase medical cannabis — a measure which Gov. Noem opposed. Since that […]
Fifty years ago, the first and only blue-ribbon committee on marijuana policy formally recommended that Congress repeal federal penalties criminalizing the personal possession of marijuana. On March 22, 1972, the National Commission on Marihuana and Drug Abuse issued its report, Marijuana: A Signal of Misunderstanding, to Congress and to the Nixon Administration. Nine of the […]
Federal officials charged far fewer people with marijuana-related crimes in 2021 as compared to previous years, according to data compiled by the US Sentencing Commission in its 2021 Annual Report. Just under 1,000 people were charged federally with violating marijuana laws in 2021. They compromised less than six percent of those charged with violating federal […]
State regulators began formally accepting applications this week from those seeking licenses to engage in the retail sale of marijuana products. By 4 p.m. on Tuesday, 172 applications had already been filed with the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission, the agency reported in a statement. Under state rules, officials will give first priority to “equity […]
By Laura Sharer, Delaware NORML Dover, DE – Last week, Delaware’s House of Representatives missed another chance to legalize cannabis for adults 21 and older. HB 305 needed to clear a legislative hurdle requiring a three–fifths super majority, or 25 votes. The final tally on March 10th was 23-14-4. “We’re outraged that Delaware is maintaining […]
City officials have approved new municipal provisions suspending marijuana-specific pre-employment and random drug screenings for public employees in non-safety sensitive positions. The new rules, which were approved by members of the St. Louis City Council in a 4-3 vote, stipulate, “No person currently employed by St. Louis County or applying for employment by St. Louis […]
Legislation (HB 305) to regulate the adult-use cannabis market in Delaware failed today in the House of Representatives. Despite a majority of lawmakers who participated in the vote deciding in favor of the measure, it failed to garner the required 3/5 supermajority to advance to the Senate. (Because the measure also involves tax-related issues, it […]
Lawmakers have advanced legislation to the Governor’s desk protecting patients’ abilities to home cultivate limited amounts of medical cannabis. As amended, Senate Bill 24 allows qualified patients to home cultivate a total of four marijuana plants (two mature, two immature). NORML’s State Policies Manager Jax James said: “Permitting limited home cultivation provides patients with the […]
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has taken a progressive step forward with respect to their policies regarding athletes’ personal cannabis use. These updated rules follow similar changes enacted by the NBA, MLB, and NFL— all of which have relaxed their cannabis testing policies. Changes to the NCAA’s policy include increasing the threshold of THC […]
A supermajority of Americans support ending federal restrictions that discourage banks and other financial institutions from servicing licensed cannabis businesses, according to national survey data released today by the American Bankers Association. The polling, provided by Morning Consult, finds that 65 percent of respondents “support allowing cannabis businesses to access banking services (e.g., checking accounts, […]
