NORML, Author at Hemp Healthy

Montana: Oppose The Proposed Tax on Medical Marijuana

by: NORML | on March 15, 2017 | No Comments

Update: HB 529 was tabled in the House Taxation Committee on 3/31. However, separate legislation imposing new taxes on gross sales of medical cannabis, SB 333 awaits action from the Governor and is expected to be signed into law.
Update: HB 529 was tabled in the House Taxation Committee.
Update: Members of the House Taxation Committee heard testimony on the bill on March 15. Most witnesses testified against the bill.
House Bill 529 imposes a special six percent statewide tax upon medical marijuana sales. This tax would be in addition to the imposition of existing state and local taxes.

While NORML generally does not oppose the imposition of fair and reasonable sales taxes on the commercial sales of cannabis for recreational purposes, we do not support such excessive taxation on medical sales. Most other states that regulate medical cannabis sales do not impose such taxes and Montana patients should not be forced to pay these excessive costs.

Enter your information below to contact your elected officials and urge them to oppose this measure.

Federal: Demand That The New US Attorney’s Respect State Marijuana Laws

by: NORML | on March 13, 2017 | No Comments

On March 10, Attorney General Jeff Sessions called for the resignation of the 46 remaining US Attorneys who had been previously appointed under the Obama administration.

Members of the Senate will now be asked to consider new appointments. Please contact your Senator and urge him/her to consider those US Attorneys who will respect statewide marijuana laws.

With 29 states having established medical marijuana programs and eight states having enacted adult-use regulatory laws, it is vital that those appointed to this prestigious position respect the will of the electorate.

US Attorneys possess broad authority when both interpreting the laws and prioritizing their enforcement. Under the past administration, US Attorneys largely took a ‘hands off’ approach in jurisdictions that had legalized the use of marijuana, as directed by the 2013 “Cole Memo.” Incoming US Attorneys ought to take a similar approach.

Tell your Senator to defend the majority of voters who reside in legal cannabis states and to reject those nominees who will not support state marijuana laws.

Maryland: Measure Making It Easier To Expunge Criminal Marijuana Convictions Becomes Law

by: NORML | on March 13, 2017 | No Comments

Update: Senate Bill 949 became law absent the Governor’s signature on May 27.
Update: The Senate has passed enrolled SB 949 which means the bill was adopted with the House amendments. SB 949 has now been sent to the governor for approval.
Update: The Senate refuses to concur with the House amendments, so the Senate is requesting that the House recedes on the amendments for SB 949.
Update: A hearing for SB 949 was held in the House on 3/29 at 1:00 PM.
Update: HB 379 has passed the House of Delegates on March 20 and will now be reconciled with SB 949.
Update: The Senate passed SB 949 on March 15 and it now will be considered by the House.

House and Senate legislation is pending to allow those with past criminal marijuana convictions to have those records expunged.

House Bill 379 / Senate Bill 949 permit those who received a criminal marijuana possession conviction prior to October 1, 2014, to seek expungement of their records.

Maryland law was amended on that date so that the possession of up to ten grams of cannabis is no longer a criminal offense.

Please use the pre-written letter below to urge your elected officials to support this common sense legislation.

Further information regarding pending marijuana law reform legislation is available from Maryland NORML.

Oklahoma: Hemp Production Legislation Introduced

by: NORML | on March 13, 2017 | No Comments

Update: SB 704 was read for a second time and referred to committee.
Legislation has been introduced, Senate Bill 704, to provide for hemp cultivation and manufacturing.

The measure excludes industrial hemp from the state’s definition of marijuana and provides for its commercial cultivation and export.

The measure also expands the list of qualifying conditions eligible for CBD treatment under state law. Under this change, patients with chronic pain, post-traumatic stress, and anxiety would be eligible for medicinal cannabis products as long as those formulations are in liquid form and do not exceed 12 percent THC.

Please use the prewritten letter below to urge lawmakers to support this legislation.

Kansas: Legislation Pending To Permit Patients Access to Low-THC Cannabis

by: NORML | on March 11, 2017 | No Comments

Update: The Kansas legislature is adjourned and the bill will not recieve further consideration this year.
Update: Members of the House Health and Human Services Committee heard the bill on Wednesday, March 15 at 1:30pm, Room 546-S.
Legislation is pending, House Bill 2152, to permit qualified patients access to marijuana or extracts containing CBD and low levels of THC.

The measure would permit patients with Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, multiple sclerosis, post-traumatic stress disorder or a condition causing seizures, including those characteristic of epilepsy, to possess marijuana or extracts containing no more than three percent THC. The measure also seeks to establish rules governing the state-licensed cultivation of low-THC marijuana strains and the preparation of products derived from such strains.

While HB 2152 does not legalize medical marijuana outright, it is an important first step in the process of revisiting and revising Kansas’ marijuana laws.

You can write your lawmakers in support of this penalty reduction by entering your information below.

New Mexico: Tell Lawmakers to Override Governor’s Hemp Veto

by: NORML | on March 11, 2017 | No Comments

Update: Lawmakers have introduced a third hemp research bill, House Bill 530. This bill was passed by the House on March 14 by a vote of 65 to 1, and now awaits senate action.
Update: Governor Martinez has vetoed the second hemp bill on March 12th.
Governor Susana Martinez has vetoed House Bill 144, which sought to establish a hemp research program in compliance with provisions in the federal Farm Bill explicitly authorizing states to engage in licensed activity involving hemp absent federal reclassification of the plant. The Governor provided no public explanation for the veto.

The bill has previously passed the House and Senate by votes of 42 to 26 and 30 to 12 respectively.

New Mexico is one of the only states that fails to recognize hemp as an agricultural commodity rather than as a controlled substance.

A similar provision, Senate Bill 6, passed the House and Senate by votes of 58 to 8 and 37 to 2.

Please use the pre-written letter below to urge lawmakers to override the veto on SB 6.

New Hampshire: Patient Cultivation Bill Pending

by: NORML | on March 10, 2017 | No Comments

Update: HB 472 was re-referred for further study. Lawmakers will not take further action of the measure this session.
Update: A hearing for HB 472 was held on Tuesday 4/11 at 1:30 PM.
Update: HB 472 has been introduced to the Senate and referred to committee.
Update: Members of the House of Representatives have passed HB 472. It now awaits action by the Senate.

House legislation is pending, HB 472, to permit qualified patients to cultivate their own medicine.

Under present law, qualified patients must purchase cannabis from one of a handful of state-licensed dispensaries.

House Bill 472 allows patients to cultivate up to two mature plants and up to 12 seedlings at one time.

Permitting patients the ability to grow their own personal use of cannabis assures that they have an uninterrupted supply of medicine. Passage of this measure is extremely important for those patients who lack means to reliable transportation or who do not have an operating dispensary in their area.

Please use the pre-written letter below to contact your state elected officials and urging them to support this legislative effort.

Oregon: Governor Signs Legislation To Protect Consumer’s Privacy

by: NORML | on March 7, 2017 | No Comments

Update: Governor Kate Brown on April 17 signed SB 863 into law. The act took effect upon passage. You can read the full text here.
Update: Members of the House on 4/10 voted 53 to 5 in favor of SB 863. The measure now awaits action from Gov. Kate Brown.
Update: SB 863 will be heard by the House floor at 11am on Monday 4/3. If approved, the bill goes into effect immediately.
Update: SB 863 cleared the Senate and is now headed to the House.
Update: SB 863 was heard on Tuesday March 14.
Legislation is pending in the Senate, SB 863, to limit the federal government from acquiring data regarding adults and patients who legally purchase marijuana under state law.

The emergency legislation, which would take immediate effect, mandates that retailers and dispensaries do not maintain customers’ purchase and/or personal identification records beyond 48 hours.

Sponsors of the bipartisan measure say the privacy protections are in response to recent statements by the Trump administration with regard to a possible enforcement crackdown in adult use marijuana states.

“I could see where the federal government would come in and try to gather this information from businesses that have stockpiled it and retained it in their records,” said Sen. Floyd Prozanski, one of the bill’s sponsors. “I think we as legislators have a duty to protect our citizens.”

Please enter your information below to contact your elected officials regarding this measure.

Nevada: Legislation Pending To Permit Social Use

by: NORML | on March 7, 2017 | No Comments

Update: SB 236 passed the Senate by a margin of 21-12. It will now be sent to the house.
Update: SB 236 was amended in the Senate Judiciary Committee on 4/12 and it passed as amended.
Update: SB 236 was heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee on 4/3.
Senate legislation is pending, SB 236, to regulate the social use of cannabis.

The measure allows select businesses to apply for licensing to permit adult marijuana use on their premises. It would also allow event organizers to seek permits to allow adult use at specific events.

To date, private adult use of marijuana is permitted, but only in a private residence. Passage of SB 236 establishes a regulatory framework to permit adults the option to consume cannabis at specified public places or events.

Please enter your information below to contact your elected officials to urge them to support this measure.

DC: Legalization Measure Re-Introduced to City Council

by: NORML | on March 6, 2017 | No Comments

Councilman David Grosso has re-introduced the Marijuana Legalization and Regulation Act. First introduced in 2014, DC voters overwhelmingly approved the ballot measure.

The bill will legalize marijuana use for adults over the age of 21 and will allow the city to tax and regulate a commercial market. Due to DC’s unique charter in Congress, however, this provision of the law was gutted in 2014.

Grosso believes the city “has spoken when it comes to marijuana policy and it’s our obligation as the city’s elected leaders to carry out the will of the people.”

Even DC’s department of health favors the taxation and regulation of marijuana, as it is estimated to generate up to $130 million in sales by 2020. DC citizens’ rights have been trampled long enough. It is time to follow the will of the people and establish a commercial marijuana market.

Enter your information below to urge your elected officials to vote for the Marijuana Legalization and Regulation Act of 2017.
Find out more about DC NORML on their website and follow them on Facebook.