Washington: Governor Signs Legislation To Exclude Hemp as a Controlled Substance

Update: The Governor signed the law on April 27 and it will go into effect July 23, 2017
Update: The Senate passed HB 2064 48-0 on April 12. The bill will now go to the Governor for their signature or veto.
Update: Executive action was taken in the Senate Committee on Law & Justice on March 22 at 8:00 AM. Majority reported that it do pass.
Update: HB 2064 held a public hearing in the Senate Committee on Law & Justice on March 9 at 10:00 AM.
Update: HB 2064 has unanimously passed the House and awaits action in the Senate.

Legislation is before lawmakers, House Bill 2064, to amend state law so that industrial hemp is not longer classified under the state’s uniform controlled substances act. 

If passed, hemp plants will no longer be regulated as a controlled substance.

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

For more information about this bill and other pending legislation, please contact Washington NORML.

New Mexico: Marijuana Decriminalization Measure Gains Momentum

Update: Members of the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee passed SB 258 on March 14. It must still pass through one additional committee prior to receiving a House floor vote.
Update: A Senate substitute version of SB 258 was passed 33 to 9 by members of the Senate. The amended version of the bill now awaits action by the House.  

Legislation is pending, Senate Bill 258, to reduce penalties for minor marijuana possession offenses.

The measure eliminates criminal criminal penalties for the possession of up to one-half of one ounce of cannabis, reducing the offense to a $50 fine. Under present law, this offense is classified as a criminal misdemeanor punishable by up to 15 days in jail and criminal record.

Under current law, marijuana possession offenses over one ounce are punishable by up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Please enter your information below to contact your elected officials in support of this important measure.

Iowa: Bill Pending to Reduce Marijuana Possession Penalties

Update: Members of the Senate Judiciary subcommittee passed the measure to the full Committee on February 28.

Senate legislation is pending, SF 280, to reduce penalties involving the possession of five grams of marijuana or less.

If passed, the measure would classify first time offenses from a serious misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine, to a simple misdemeanor, punishable by no more than 30 days in jail and a $625 fine.

These changes would not apply to subsequent offenders. Senate File 280 does not decriminalize minor marijuana offenses, but it is an important first step in the process of revisiting and revising Iowa’s marijuana laws.

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

Missouri: Marijuana Legalization Bill Introduced

Update: The Missouri legislature is adjourned and the bill will not recieve further consideration this year.
Update: On May 12 HB 1095 was referred to the House Select Committee on Local, State, Federal Relations and Miscellaneous Business.

Legislation has been introduced in the House, HB 1095, to legalize the adult use of marijuana and to regulate the commercial cannabis market.

The measure permits adults to legally possess up to 35 grams (approximately 1 and 1/4 ounces) of marijuana and/or to cultivate up to six marijuana plants. Adults may legally possess the total yield from those plants.

Additional provisions establish a regulated market for the commercial production and retail sale of marijuana and industrial hemp.

Please urge your lawmakers to support this important legislative effort.

For more information about statewide marijuana law reform efforts, please follow Missouri NORML on Facebook here.

Federal: Bill Introduced To End Federal Marijuana Prohibition

The Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2017, HR 1227, eliminates federal criminal penalties for possessing and growing the plant. This legislation gives states the power and flexibility to establish their own marijuana policies free from federal interference. 
With the recent confirmation of militant marijuana prohibitionist Jeff Sessions to the position of US Attorney General, and with comments from the Trump administration warning of a coming federal crackdown in adult use states, passage of The Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act is necessary to ensure that marijuana consumers are protected from undue federal interference. 

Enter your information below to contact your lawmakers and urge them to support this pending legislation.

Vermont: Senate Approves Legislation to Tax and Regulate the Sale of Marijuana

Update: The House voted to pass S. 22 by vote of a 79 to 66 and the legislation will now go to Governor Phil Scott for his signature or veto. Call the Governors office at (802) 828-3333 and send him an email below. 
Update: The Senate has passed on May 5 an unrelated bill (S. 22) to include the provisions of H. 170. It maintains House approved language eliminating penalties for the possession and cultivation of personal use amounts of marijuana by July 2018, but also creates a new Marijuana Regulation Commission, to draft legislation by November 1, 2017 that “establishes a comprehensive regulatory and revenue system for an adult-use marijuana market that, when compared to the current illegal marijuana market, increases public safety and reduces harm to public health.” The commission’s bill would be ready for a vote by January 2018.

H. 170 will now have to be considered and passed as amended by the House before the legislative session ends Saturday or will not become law. 
Update: Members of the Senate voted 21 to 9 on April 21 in favor of an unrelated House bill, H. 167, which Senators had amended to include language to legalize the recreational marijuana market. Other Senate amendments in the bill mimic language in H. 170, which eliminates criminal and civil penalties specific to the possession or cultivation of personal use quantities of cannabis. The amended version of H. 167 now returns to the House for further action.
Update: H 490 has been read for the first time and referred to committee in the House.
Rep. Samuel Young has introduced H. 490 to regulate the commercial and retail marijuana market.
H. 490 establishes a regulated system whereby adults may legally obtain marijuana from state-licensed retail providers and sellers.
Statewide polling reports that a majority of Vermont voters support legalizing and regulating marijuana. According to a RAND Corporation study, regulating the commercial sale of cannabis in Vermont would generate $20 million to $75 million annually in new tax revenue.
Please enter your information below to urge Governor Scott to sign S. 22

North Carolina: Medical Marijuana Legislation Filed

Update: The bill will not recieve further consideration this year.
Update: SB 579 and SB 648 both passed their first readings and were referred to committees.
Update: A Senate version of the bill has been introduced, SB 579, by Senators Joel Ford and Erica Smith-Ingram on April 3 and identical bill, SB 648, by Senators Terry Van Duyn and Valerie Foushee on April 4.
Update: HB 185 passed the first reading and has been referred to committee.
Comprehensive legislation to legalize patients use of and access to medical marijuana has been filed by Representatives Kelly M. Alexander, Jr., Becky Carney, Pricey Harrison, and Rodney Moore. Co-sponsors include Representatives John Autry, John Ager, Mary Belk, Deb Butler, Carla Cunningham, Susan C. Fisher, Edward Hanes, Jr., Yvonne Lewis Holley, Howard J. Hunter, III, Philip Lehman, and Brian Turner. 
HB 185, the North Carolina Medical Cannabis Act, permits qualified patients to possess up to 24 ounces of cannabis or grow their own personal supply. Separate provisions in the Act license and regulate the dispensing of cannabis from state-licensed facilities.

Twenty-nine states and the District of Columbia have enacted statewide provisions allowing patients access to cannabis therapy. North Carolina patients deserve these same protections.

Contact North Carolina NORML to get involved in your area.

Enter your information below to urge your lawmakers to support the North Carolina Medical Cannabis Act.

Arkansas: Governor Signs Medical Marijuana Tax Measure

Update: An amended version of HB 1580 was signed into law and is now Act 1098. It states, “A cultivation facility, dispensary, or other marijuana business shall collect and remit a special privilege tax of four percent from the gross receipts or gross proceeds derived from each sale of usable marijuana.”
Update: The House concurred, and HB 1580 now awaits Governor Hutchinson’s signature.
Update: The Senate approved HB 1580 with a 31-1 vote. The bill already passed the House, but was sent back there for a concurrence vote after amendments were added in the Senate.
Update: HB 1580 was returned by committee, with recommendation that it Do Pass.
Update: HB 1580 was referred to committee in the Senate.
Update: HB 1580 was approved by House lawmakers in a 77 to 3 vote. It now awaits action by the Senate.
House Bill 1580 imposes a special eight 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 Arkansas 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.

Colorado: Legislation To Support Marijuana Social Clubs Introduced

Update: The House Second Reading for Sb 184 is being laid over daily.
Update: SB 184 passed the House Finance Committee on March 20 by a vote of 8 to 3.
Update: SB 184 passed the full Senate on Thursday, March 9, by a vote of 25-10 and will now be sent to the House. Gov. Hickenlooper has threatened a veto, saying he opposes any expansion of indoor smoking. 
Colorado State Senator Bob Gardner and Representative Dan Pabon have introduced legislation, SB 184, The Marijuana Membership Clubs and Public Use Bill, will provide Colorado municipalities with the regulatory framework needed to allow responsible adults the option to socially consume marijuana in a membership club away from the general public.
Last November, voters In California and Maine approved public marijuana consumption through Proposition 64 and Question 1, but haven’t settled on rules. This means Colorado could be first out of the gate with statewide regulations for pot clubs. 

Please enter your information below to contact your elected officials to urge them to support this measure. For more information about this bill and other pending legislation, please contact Denver NORML.

West Virginia: Governor Signs West Virginia Medical Cannabis Act

Update: Gov. Jim Justice signed SB 386 into law on April 19.
Update: The House and Senate concurred on an amended version of SB 386 on April 6. A summary of the amended bill is online here. The measure now goes to the Governor, who indicates that he intends to sign it.
Update: SB 386 passed the House with an amendment by Delegate John Shott, (R-Mercer) that would prohibit herbal marijuana, ban home grown, and charge $50,000 annual fees for growers and processors. 
Governor Jim Justice, in the past had clearly stated that he supports medical marijuana, so the last hurdle appears to be whether the Senate will agree to the onerous new amendment added by the House.
Update: SB 386 passed the Senate by a vote of 28-6 and will now head to the House.
A coalition of Senate lawmakers have introduced legislation, SB 386, which seeks to establish the West Virginia Medical Cannabis Act — a state-sponsored program that will permit qualified patients to obtain medical cannabis from licensed dispensaries. A House version of the bill, HB 2677, is also pending.

Passage of the bill establishes a commission tasked with developing “policies, procedures, guidelines, and regulations to implement programs to make medical cannabis available to qualifying patients in a safe and effective manner.”

Twenty-nine states and the District of Columbia have enacted statewide provisions allowing patients access to cannabis therapy. West Virginia patients deserve these same protections.

Please enter your information below to contact your state Senator and urge them to support this pending legislation.

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