Weekly Legislative Roundup 11/30/18

Welcome to the latest edition of NORML’s Weekly Legislative Roundup!

U.S. House and Senate lawmakers this week have agreed on final language for the 2018 Farm Bill, which includes provisions lifting the federal prohibition of industrial hemp. These provisions amend federal regulations to further expand and facilitate state-licensed hemp production, research, and commerce. The language also for the first time amends the federal Controlled Substances Act of 1970 so that industrial hemp plants containing no more than 0.3 percent THC are no longer classified as a schedule I controlled substance.

At the state level, Vermont’s marijuana legalization study committee will hold a series of public meetings to receive public input ahead of finalizing its report. Details can be found here.

Four New York Assembly committees will hold another joint hearing on marijuana legalization next Monday December 3 on Long Island. Details can be found here.

Alaska regulators will hold a public hearing and meetings from December 19-21 to consider on-site marijuana consumption and other cannabis issues. Details can be found here.

Michigan’s State Board of Canvassers certified election results on Monday, setting up marijuana legalization to go into effect next week on December 6. Separately, the legislature’s Joint Committee on Administrative Rules approved permanent medical marijuana licensing regulations which allow home delivery.

Connecticut Democratic lawmakers are including marijuana legalization in a list of so-called “Big Five” issues they plan to prioritize in 2019.

Minnesota Gov.-elect Tim Walz (D) says “the time is here” for legalizing marijuana, but state legislative leaders seem reluctant about rushing ahead with the issue.

Indiana lawmakers held a meeting to discuss marijuana reform legislation.

Georgia’s House Study Committee on Industrial Hemp held a meeting.

Illinois lawmakers overrode Gov. Bruce Rauner’s (R) veto of a bill that removes a requirement to fire state troopers and corrections officers who test positive for marijuana.

And medical cannabis products go on sale in Iowa starting on Saturday.

At a more local level, Calhoun County, Michigan and the city of Battle Creek, Michigan will no longer prosecute low-level marijuana offenses.

The Eau Claire, Wisconsin City Council approved a proposal to lower the fines for marijuana possession to $1.

San Antonio, Texas’s police chief said he is ready start a “cite and release” program that will allow people to avoid arrest for possessing small amounts of marijuana.

The Statesboro, Georgia City Council is expected to vote on a proposed marijuana decriminalization ordinance next week.

Following are the bills that we’ve tracked this week and as always, check http://norml.org/act for legislation pending in your state.

Don’t forget to sign up for our email list and we will keep you posted as these bills and more move through your home state legislature and at the federal level.

Your Highness,
Carly

Priority Alerts

Federal

Penalize States that Maintain Criminalization: The Marijuana Justice Act would (1) remove marijuana from the US Controlled Substances Act, thereby ending the federal criminalization of cannabis; (2) incentivize states to mitigate existing and ongoing racial disparities in state-level marijuana arrests; (3) expunge federal convictions specific to marijuana possession; (4) allow individuals currently serving time in federal prison for marijuana-related violations to petition the court for resentencing; (5) and create a community reinvestment fund to invest in communities most impacted by the failed War on Drugs.

Click here to email your federal lawmakers and urge them to support this important legislation

New Jersey

Senate Bill 2703 and Assembly Bill 4497: The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory and Expungement Aid Modernization Act seek to regulate the adult use marijuana market.

Update: S2703/A4497 were heard by the Joint Committee on Budget and Appropriations Committee on Monday 11/26, and then both measures were approved by the committee.

NJ resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of this effort

Legislation is pending, S 10, to expand the state’s medical cannabis program.

The measure facilitates the expansion of additional medical cannabis growers and providers, while also expanding the amount of cannabis a patient may legally purchase and possess. It further expands the pool of licensed health professional who may recommend medical cannabis, and shields registered patients from employment discrimination and the loss of child custody. It also phases out retail sales taxes on medical cannabis, amongst other changes.

Update: Members of the Senate Health Committee and the Senate Budget Appropriations Committee, along with members of the Assembly Appropriations Committee, voted on Monday 11/26 to advance the bill. Separate language contained in S2426 to permit physicians to recommend cannabis to any patient they believe will benefit has also been incorporated into S10.

NJ resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of medical expansion.

Legislation is pending, S2318, to permit those convicted of past marijuana convictions to seek expedited expungement in the event of decriminalization or legalization.

If passed, the bill would would allow individuals to file a petition with the court requesting expungement for any past marijuana violation that is no longer defined as a crime under state law, but only upon enactment of legislation legalizing or decriminalizing possession and use of marijuana.

A separate measure, S3205, is also pending. If signed into law, it would make more crimes eligible for expungement — including offenses involving controlled dangerous substances — and cut the wait time down to five years. It also includes a “clean slate” process that will wipe away all offenses at once for anyone who has a clean record for 10 years after their last offense. Many more serious crimes would not be eligible.

Update: S3205 was heard by the Joint Committee on Budget and Appropriations on 11/26, then approved by the committee.

NJ resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of expungement

Illinois

Rep. Kelly Cassidy plans to introduce legislation in 2019 to legalize marijuana for adults in Illinois.

IL resident? Click here to email your elected officials in support of legalization

Michigan

HB 6508 would allow those who are currently incarcerated for a violation “based on the use, possession, or distribution” of marijuana, to petition the parole board for release from prison. If the parole board denies a petitioner’s request for release, the petitioner would be permitted to appeal the decision to the Department of Corrections.

Another measure, SB 1200, would allow those convicted of certain marijuana-related offenses to file a petition with the court to “set aside” their records.

MI resident? Click here to email your elected officials in support of vacating past conviction records

SB 1243 seeks to amend the voter-initiated Proposition 1: The Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marihuana Act in a manner that would strip away language that currently permits adults to home cultivate cannabis, among other changes.

The measure removes provisions from the law that permit adults to home cultivate up to 12 marijuana plants on their private premises. NORML opposes this legislation.

MI resident? Click here to email your elected officials and tell them to vote NO on SB 1243

North Carolina

Lawmakers plan to reintroduce legislation in 2019 to decriminalize the possession of up to four ounces of marijuana.

NC resident? Click here to email your elected officials in support of decriminalization

Indiana

State Senator Karen Tallian plans to introduce a bill in 2019 to decriminalize the possession of less than 2 ounces of marijuana.

IN resident? Click here to email your elected officials in support of decriminalization

Sen. Tallian also plans to introduce a bill in 2019 that would allow qualified patients to use and possess physician-authorized medical marijuana.

IN resident? Click here to email your elected officials in support of medical marijuana access

Utah

A majority of Utah voters decided on election day in favor of Proposition 2, The Utah Medical Cannabis Act. However, politicians are threatening to significantly amend this Act during a special legislative session in December. Their proposed changes are likely to adversely impact patients’ medical cannabis access and unduly delay the law’s implementation.

Update: The Health and Human Services Interim Committee? held a public hearing? on the legislation, prior to the special session that will convene on Monday 12/3.

UT resident? Click here to email your elected officials in opposition to this effort

California

Legislation was reintroduced that would exempt compassionate care programs from paying state cannabis taxes when they are providing free medical cannabis to financially disadvantaged people living with serious health conditions. Last session, the measure was vetoed by Governor Brown.

CA resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of protecting compassionate care programs

That’s all for this week!

Source: http://blog.norml.org/2018/11/30/weekly-legislative-roundup-11-30-18/

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Eaze Delivers: California Firm Brings Cannabis to Your Doorstep

Eaze’s “Chief Cannabis Evangelist,” Jason Pinsky (Photo by Tommy Quicksilver)

If you’ve ever ordered a car from Uber or a book from Amazon, navigating your delivery of a pack of Lowell Smokes from Eaze is a no-brainer for anyone with a smartphone, as I found out recently.

Just go to Eaze.com, set up a user name and password, take a photo of your California driver’s license (or registered ID) to prove you’re 21, submit credit card information and you’re off to the races.

The Eaze menu is clean and uncluttered, with a wide variety of flower, pre-rolls, tinctures and oils, all from least expensive to most, left to right. Like any other commerce site, you add items to your cart, then check out. Any purchase over $50 has no delivery fee; anything less carries a charge of $5.

The prices are competitive with licensed brick-and-mortar dispensaries, though the addition of the required 9.5% sales and statewide 15% excise taxes pushes the total of my two Biscotti Singoli hash-infused pre-rolls ($40) and one LoudPack Kosher Kush preroll ($12) to $69.86 with the $17.86 surcharge.

EAZE’S JASON PINSKY: “If Amazon and Lyft were to smoke a joint and have a baby, it would be Eaze.”

The Eaze interface lets you know how long it’s going to take, with the steps to delivery checked off, in turn: “order received,” “order is being prepared,” “driver is on the way” and “order is arriving,” with the courier texting the progress along the way until they’re at your front door.

With the company’s boast of a 15- to 20-minute delivery, I was a little disheartened when it showed a wait time of 48 to 56 minutes, but I suppose that’s what you get when you order at 4:30 p.m. smack in the middle of L.A. rush hour. I imagine it’s a lot different in a Sacramento suburb on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Still, my Eaze courier arrived at precisely the moment the clock struck zero. I buzzed him up on my apartment intercom and had three pre-rolls in my hand in a compliant, child-proof package after signing my name on his iPhone. And while there was no room for a tip, I gave the guy $10 in cash. My deliverer seemed genuinely grateful.

Welcome to the Brave, New World of Pot Deliveries

California’s come a long way from the bicycle-riding pot delivery service depicted in HBO’s High Maintenance. Thanks to Eaze and other services, that dream is now a reality, at least in Cali. The San Francisco-based company was founded in 2014 by since-departed tech entrepreneur Keith McCarty, who used the money from selling start-up Yammer, a social media enterprise, to Microsoft for $1.2 billion.

McCarty, a Christian conservative from Orange County who doesn’t partake himself, was looking for a business for his on-demand technology. McCarty, who has since been replaced as CEO by his Yammer colleague Jim Patterson, was intent on getting medical marijuana patients—at the time, the only ones who could legally consume—their required medicine without any hassles.

Just use the Eaze app on your photo for canna-deliveries.

With adult use now legal in California and eight other states at press time, Eaze has grown exponentially, adding offices in Venice and San Diego and affiliations with 12 individual licensed dispensary warehouses in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento, Oakland, San Jose, Napa and Santa Rosa. Those individual distribution centers, most of them not connected to a dispensary, in turn employ upwards of 1,000 drivers (with W2s and on payroll) all connected by Eaze’s licensed software. Many of the cars are stocked with a variety of securely packaged, child-proof exit bags in complete compliance with regulations.

“If Amazon and Lyft were to smoke a joint and have a baby, it would be Eaze,” Jason Pinsky, a longtime hemp activist dubbed the company’s “Chief Cannabis Evangelist,” tells Freedom Leaf. His job, he explains, is to “create media that educates and inspires.”

Marijuana delivery services are nothing new. Companies like Postmates make cannabis deliveries, but they involve third-parties and often take more than an hour. Many dispensaries offer their own delivery, frequently with white-label (nonbranded) partners.

DR. DINA BROWNER: “One day soon we’ll have more cannabis delivery drivers on the road than Domino’s Pizza.” 

When Eaze tried to provide their back-end technology to local LA dispensaries, the company received mostly a cold shoulder. “Why should I share my customer base with them?” wonders one high-profile dispensary owner who preferred to be anonymous for this article. “I’m trying to brand my own store, plus they’re getting all my data.”

With more companies receiving licenses from the state for delivery, there’s been pushback. In October, several San Diego weed couriers were busted for not having proper licenses, including Leaf Life, with 50 pounds of product and $2,500 seized, and Fast Grass, where 30 pounds of weed was taken, along with four pounds of meth and $1,800 in cash. Since the beginning of the year through September in Los Angeles alone, 515 people were arrested, representing 101 illegal delivery services. There’s been a great deal of pressure from a coalition of police, city governments and retail dispensaries on the California Bureau of Cannabis Control to ban deliveries altogether.

Meanwhile, Eaze has taken a page from its founder’s idealism regarding cannabis’ effects on health and well-being. “This is a medicine,” says Eaze’s Director of Consumer Communications Sheena Shiravi, who joined the company three years ago. “We want patients to get it discretely, professionally and in a comfortable environment. It’s all about ‘Eaze’ of use.”

Eaze also offers clients—distributors and brands—the benefits of its expertise on compliance and the regulations for each local area. “We’re the policy-maker’s trusted credible friends,” Shiravi adds. “We work with them to offer safe access for consumers with the most seamless technology.” Distributors pay an annual licensing fee for Eaze’s technology based on their size and traffic.

There’s been a great deal of pressure from a coalition of police, city governments and retail dispensaries on the California Bureau of Cannabis Control to ban marijuana deliveries altogether.

Shiravi points to Eaze Insights—a database that provides valuable information on consumer behavior—and a three-pillar plan that addresses economic empowerment, social outreach and community sustainability in association with companies like The Hood Incubator and Success Center in the San Francisco Bay Area, which target those who’ve been most negatively impacted by the War on Drugs. The goal is to train people for entrepreneurial roles within the emerging cannabis economy.

EazeMD was launched to help patients secure medical cards by connecting them with doctors via an online video chat. Eaze has also been active in compassionate-care initiatives by calling on brands to donate products, as well as supporting local political agendas, including the expungement of criminal records for marijuana-related offenses.

An Eaze promo for its delivery service.

In California, cannabis delivery is here to stay. Whether Eaze will turn out to be the dominant player remains to be seen, but they’re the most high-profile entry so far, complete with $52 million raised from investors since its start-up, including Series A funding from the Snoop Dogg-backed Casa Verde Capital, as well as the likes of Bailey Capital, DCM Ventures, Kaya Ventures and FJ Labs. According to Forbes, Eaze is “the highest-funded start-up in the history of the cannabis industry, as well as the fastest-growing one,” with 300% growth in 2017 from the previous year. Last year, the company reported it had performed 120,000 deliveries per month to 250,000 users.

“One day soon we’ll have more cannabis delivery drivers on the road than Domino’s Pizza,” predicts dispensary owner Dr. Dina Browner, who owns Alternative Herbal Health Services in West Hollywood. Now if only they’d fix the potholes, too.

Related Articles

MJBizCon Las Vegas 2018 Photo Gallery

Freedom Leaf Dives into the Hemp-CBD Market

Freedom Leaf Interview: BioTrackTHC’s Patrick Vo

MJ Freeway’s Seed-to-Sale Dilemma

This article appears in Issue 34. Subscribe to the magazine here.

 

The post Eaze Delivers: California Firm Brings Cannabis to Your Doorstep appeared first on Freedom Leaf.

Source: https://www.freedomleaf.com/eaze-cannabis-deliveries-california/

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Reconciled Farm Bill Includes Provisions Lifting Federal Hemp Ban

Washington, DC: House and Senate lawmakers have agreed to a reconciled version of H.R. 2: The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (aka the 2018 Farm Bill), which includes provisions lifting the federal prohibition of industrial hemp.

“For the first time in nearly a hundred years, commercial hemp production will no longer be federally prohibited in the United States,” said NORML Political Director Justin Strekal. “This represents a significant and long overdue shift in US policy. Nonetheless, future regulatory efforts will still be required to address emerging consumer issues when it comes to the commercial sale and marketing of certain hemp-derived products, particularly so-called hemp-derived CBD extracts. For years, many of the producers of these products have navigated in a grey area of the law — manufacturing products of variable and sometimes questionable quality and safety. Now it is time for lawmakers to craft simple benchmark safety and quality standards for hemp-derived CBD in order to increase consumer satisfaction and confidence as this nascent industry transitions into a legal marketplace.”

The hemp-specific provisions – which Senate Majority Speaker Mitch McConnell (R-KY) included in the Senate version of the bill, but were absent from the House version – amend federal regulations to further expand and facilitate state-licensed hemp production, research, and commerce. The language also for the first time amends the federal Controlled Substances Act of 1970 so that industrial hemp plants containing no more than 0.3 percent THC are no longer classified as a schedule I controlled substance. (See page 1182, Section 12608: ‘Conforming changes to controlled substances act.’) Certain cannabinoid compounds extracted from the hemp plant would also be exempt from the CSA.

House and Senate lawmakers will need to vote on the engrossed version of the Act, and they are anticipated to do so before the end of the year. Passage of the bill would allow state governments, rather than the federal governments, to be the primary regulators of hemp and hempen products.

Senator McConnell previously shepherded hemp-related language (Section 7606) in the 2014 version of the Farm Bill, permitting states to establish hemp research and cultivation programs absent federal approval. A majority of states have now enacted legislation to permit such programs.

Source: http://blog.norml.org/2018/11/29/reconciled-farm-bill-includes-provisions-lifting-federal-hemp-ban/

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New Jersey Legalization Legislation Moves to Floor Debate After Historic Votes

The full New Jersey legislature will take up legalization of adult use of cannabis in the Garden State in the coming weeks after measures passed in two committees in a widely covered joint hearing of the House and Senate on Nov. 26.

While more work needs to be done, advocates took a breather from pondering the challenges ahead and issued upbeat statements. “This was a historic vote,” Kate Bell, general counsel of the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) tells Freedom Leaf. “It’s the first time it’s gotten this far in New Jersey.”

In a hearing attending by hundreds of spectators, the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee approved S-2703 (sponsored by Sen. Nicholas Scutari) by a 7-2 vote with four abstentions. The Assembly Appropriations Committee cleared A-4497 (sponsored by Assemblywoman Annette Quijano) cleared by a 6-1 vote with two abstentions.

New Jersey appears poised to become the first state legislature to allow retail sales of cannabis to adults.

The measures next go to the full chambers for debate and a vote. Lawmakers meet in their first full session on December 17, but it’s unclear whether the bills will come up for a vote then. Unlike other states, the New Jersey legislature meets year-round, which means the bill won’t languish for months before it gets taken up by lawmakers.

One closely watched component is expungements for people convicted of marijuana offenses. The Assembly bill lays out an accelerated process for those with records to clear their names.

The committee approvals caught the attention of cannabis activists around the country partly because New Jersey ranks as the 11th largest state in the country by population with nine million residents.

With the House, Senate and statehouse all in Democratic control, the legislation has a good chance of becoming law. Since Gov. Phil Murphy won election on a legalization platform last year, the winds have favored legalization in New Jersey.

Gov. Phil Murphy: “I’m very happy that this is moving.”

But, so far, the process has been relatively slow. Advocates who’d hoped for a vote as early as this past spring are now projecting a decision by the end of the year at the earliest. Still, New Jersey appears poised to become the first state legislature to allow retail sales of cannabis to adults.

As proposed, the legislation would permit adults to possess up to one ounce of flower, up to a pound in solid form and 72 ounces in liquid form of marijuana-infused products (edibles) and seven grams of marijuana extracts. It creates five categories of regulated marijuana businesses: growers, product manufacturers, wholesalers, testing facilities and retailers. Some retail sites could include consumption on premises in designated areas. Local municipalities would retain control over the number and types of cannabis enterprises in their jurisdictions and would have the right to enforce local licensing requirements. Some towns and cities have been holding hearings to get public input.

The legislation proposes treating anyone under 21 caught with cannabis in a similar manner as alcohol and erases the stricter criminal penalties currently on the books. It also establishes a five-member Cannabis Regulatory Commission to oversee adult use and existing medical program.

With the House, Senate and statehouse all in Democratic control, the legislation has a good chance of becoming law.

The measures recommend a 12% tax rate on the retail price, including the sales tax and a potential local tax of up to 2%, though Gov. Murphy prefers a rate closer to 25%. Asked by reporters whether he would sign the bill in its current form, Murphy stated at a press conference in Trenton, “We haven’t commented on specifics, but I’m very happy that this is moving.”

Another negative is the ban on home growing in both bills. Washington is the only legal state (there are 10) that doesn’t allow domestic cultivation.

One strong motivator for legalization in New Jersey is sorely needed revenues. The Assembly and Senate budgets include a projected $69 million from marijuana taxes, which is considered a conservative estimate. In most other legal states, tax revenues from cannabis have exceeded expectations.

“This will right several wrongs that have been perpetuated throughout the failed War on Drugs,” New Jersey CannaBusiness Association President Scott Rudder noted in a statement. “It will take cannabis out of the hands of drug dealers and the black market and place it in a well-regulated space that will allow small business owners to create jobs and pump money into our economy.”

Related Articles

New Jersey’s Path to Legalization

Recreational Cannabis Stores Finally Open in Massachusetts

Marijuana Legalization Initiatives Pass in Michigan, Missouri & Utah

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Utah: Make Your Voice Heard; Make Your Vote Count

Lawmakers are planning to convene a special session beginning on Monday, December 3 to debate replacing Proposition 2: The Utah Medical Cannabis Act.

Yet, the reason a majority of Utah voters decided in favor of Prop. 2 was precisely because many of these same lawmakers, year after year, failed to adequately address this issue in a manner that provided adequate access to those patients who could benefit from it. Do you trust them to do the right thing now?

Proposition 2 assures that those patients with qualified debilitating conditions who need medical cannabis have access to lab-tested products via a tightly regulated system of licensed, above-ground state-licensed facilities. Rather than amending this voter-initiated proposition – and removing many of its key provisions (such as enabling patients’ rights to home cultivation) – politicians should respect the will of the electorate and move swiftly to enact medical cannabis access in a manner that comports with both the spirit of the law and the letter of law.

Don’t let politicians rewrite Prop. 2 in a way that serves the best interest of bureaucrats rather than patients. Thirty-three states now regulate medical cannabis access, and many of these programs were similarly enacted via voter-initiated measures. Utah patients should not be forced to wait any longer for safe, above-ground medical cannabis access.

Click here to tell your state lawmakers to move expeditiously to enact Proposition 2 in the manner that voters intended

Source: http://blog.norml.org/2018/11/28/utah-make-your-voice-heard-make-your-vote-count/

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A #GivingTuesday Message from NORML Executive Director Erik Altieri

Thanks to all the work we have done together, our issue of ending marijuana prohibition is no longer a regional one confined to deep blue states on the West Coast or the Northeast, we have gone nationwide. Voters increasingly agree with us that legalization is an important issue of civil liberties, personal freedom, racial justice, and sound economics. We are winning this fight, but that is no reason to relent in our struggle, we must double down and end this war on cannabis once and for all.

This #GivingTuesday can you chip in to help us keep the fight going? We have ten states (plus DC) that have legalized marijuana for adult use and are looking at more potentially joining that list in 2019, but we need the resources to help get those states across the finish line.

Donate today through Facebook and Paypal/Facebook will match your donation, doubling your impact! (If you don’t use Facebook you can donate directly to NORML here)

Together, we have already accomplished so much. When we stand shoulder to shoulder and fight with one voice against these unjust laws, we will cross that final finish line. Together, we WILL legalize marijuana nationwide.

Thank you very much.

 

 

 

Erik Altieri
NORML Executive Director

Source: http://blog.norml.org/2018/11/27/a-givingtuesday-message-from-norml-executive-director-erik-altieri/

A #GivingTuesday Message from NORML Executive Director Erik Altieri was initially published on GigglesNDimples.com

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Growing Change on Giving Tuesday

Today’s the day to give!

We need your help to raise $25,000 that will make advancing common-sense federal marijuana legislation in 2019 possible.

The best referral we can get is from supporters like you. In addition to your donation today, could you also post this on your social pages? As the day goes on, we’ll keep you updated on the progress toward our goal and give special thanks to our supporters. Stay tuned!

It’s time to #LegalizeAmerica.

Source: http://blog.norml.org/2018/11/27/growing-change-on-giving-tuesday/

Growing Change on Giving Tuesday was first seen on The Giggles N Dimples Blog

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New Jersey Lawmakers Move Forward Adult Use Marijuana Legislation

Senate and Assembly lawmakers voted on Monday, November 26, in favor of legislation that seeks to regulate the adult use marijuana market.

Members of a 24-member joint committee decided to move forward the legislation: Senate Bill 2703 and Assembly Bill 4497: The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory and Expungement Aid Modernization Act. Lawmakers will engage in further debate on the measure prior to voting on the bill on the floor.

“Today’s Senate and Assembly votes are a victory for common sense and for sound public policy in New Jersey. We look forward to lawmakers on the Assembly and Senate floors acting swiftly to approve this legislation to send to Governor Murphy to sign into law.” said NORML Executive Director Erik Altieri, “New Jersey holds the dubious distinction of ranking second in the nation in per capita annual marijuana arrests. This policy disproportionately impacts young people of color, violates civil liberties, and is an egregious waste of public resources that can be reprioritized elsewhere. The people of New Jersey are ready to move forward. Their representatives should approve this legislation this year and replace the failed practice of prohibition with the sensible policy of legalization and regulation.”

Key provisions of the initial drafts of the legislation are available here.

Governor Phil Murphy campaigned on a platform that includes legalizing the adult use marijuana market in New Jersey, stating: “Decriminalization alone will not put the corner dealer out of business, it will not help us protect our kids, and it will not end the racial disparities we see. If these are our goals – as they must be – then the only sensible option is the careful legalization, regulation, and taxation of marijuana sales to adults.”

Fifty-eight percent of voters support “completely legalizing the possession and personal use of recreational marijuana,” and 79 percent support “allowing an individual to clear their record” of a past marijuana possession conviction,” according to an October 2018 Rutgers-Eagleton poll.

NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS: CLICK HERE TO CONTACT YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS IN SUPPORT OF THIS IMPORTANT LEGISLATION

Source: http://blog.norml.org/2018/11/26/new-jersey-lawmakers-move-forward-adult-use-marijuana-legislation/

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Recreational Cannabis Stores Finally Open in Massachusetts

Update: Two years after Massachusetts voters approved Question 4 legalizing the recreational use and sale of marijuana, two stores opened on Nov. 20 – Cultivate in Leicester and New England Treatment Access (NETA) in Northampton. At Cultivate, pot patrons paid from $19 to $420 for flower products.

In Northampton, Mayor David Narcewicz was first on line at NETA; he purchased an infused chocolate bar for $20. “It’s just a historic moment for the commonwealth and for the city,” he crowed. “I’m glad to be a part of it.”

Back in June, the Massachusetts’ Cannabis Control Commission (CCC), tasked by the legislature and governor to draft and implement the establishment of a retail cannabis industry, publicly indicated that their self-directed date to open non-medical cannabis retail outlets, July 1, would not be realized.

The Commission’s intent was to avoid mistake-laden employee background checks, consumer chaos and confusion and product inventory problems that occurred in the six previous states that created commercial cannabis markets (Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Nevada and California).

NORTHAMPTON MAYOR DAVID NARCEWICZ: “It’s just a historic moment for the commonwealth and for the city. I’m glad to be a part of it.”

At a meeting on June 15, the CCC acknowledged that nearly 1,100 applications for cannabis-related businesses had been received by the state since the application process officially began on June 1. However, only 53 applications had been fully completed at the time; most of the first 28 applicants were, predictably, retail medical cannabis companies already operating in Massachusetts.

CCC director Steve Hoffman said the Commission wanted to maximize efforts to have safe, compliant and uniformly regulated cannabis retail shops across the entire state. “We’re going to do this right,” he stated. “If that means we have few or no stores on July 1 and it takes a few more weeks, I hope and expect that everybody in the state believes that’s the right thing to do. We certainly believe that’s the right thing to do.”

To many observers of the state’s cannabis industry, the delay in issuing licenses was neither a surprise nor an unexpected burden as the CCC commissioners at their public hearings around the state for the last year consistently reminded the public that the July 1 date was more inspirational than a necessity.

“Other states that rushed to hit an arbitrary deadline ended up with no inventory in some cases, with no licenses in place and no background checks and online inventory being done,” Hoffman added. “We’re not going to do that.”

Related Articles

How Massachusetts Became a Leader in Regulating Marijuana  

Vermont’s Legalization Lite: No Model for Other States

New Jersey’s Path to Legalization

Maine Governor Vetoes Marijuana Regulations

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The post Recreational Cannabis Stores Finally Open in Massachusetts appeared first on Freedom Leaf.

Source: https://www.freedomleaf.com/massachusetts-cannabis-delay/

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Weekly Legislative Roundup 11/23/18

Welcome to the Thanksgiving edition of NORML’s Weekly Legislative Roundup! I hope everyone had a happy and festive Turkey Day!

In the U.S. Senate this week, it was announced that Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Chair of the Judiciary Committee and long-time prohibitionist, is stepping down from his position. As Chairmain, he refused to hold any hearings or votes on marijuana related legislation.

At the state level, Michigan’s new legalization law goes into effect on December 6, which is when adults can start legally possessing and growing marijuana for personal use.

Massachusetts’ recreational marijuana sales began this past Tuesday.

Connecticut Gov.-elect Ned Lamont (D) said that legalizing marijuana is one of his “priorities” in 2019. The Senate president said it would be “pointless” to keep cannabis illegal when neighboring states are ending prohibition. Lawmakers from both parties say legalization is likely in 2019.

Vermont’s Senate president said he expects a bill legalizing marijuana sales to be finalized by early January.

At a more local level, Washington, D.C.’s attorney general said he supports legalizing marijuana sales if a congressional block is removed.

The Jackson County, Missouri prosecutor announced that her office will stop prosecuting most marijuana possession cases. Kalamazoo County, Michigan’s prosecutor is also dismissing marijuana cases.

The Door County, Wisconsin Board of Supervisors rejected a proposal to place marijuana advisory questions on the April 2019 ballot.

Following are the bills that we’ve tracked this week and as always, check http://norml.org/act for legislation pending in your state.

Don’t forget to sign up for our email list and we will keep you posted as these bills and more move through your home state legislature and at the federal level.

Your Highness,
Carly

Priority Alerts

Federal

Penalize States that Maintain Criminalization: The Marijuana Justice Act would (1) remove marijuana from the US Controlled Substances Act, thereby ending the federal criminalization of cannabis; (2) incentivize states to mitigate existing and ongoing racial disparities in state-level marijuana arrests; (3) expunge federal convictions specific to marijuana possession; (4) allow individuals currently serving time in federal prison for marijuana-related violations to petition the court for resentencing; (5) and create a community reinvestment fund to invest in communities most impacted by the failed War on Drugs.

Click here to email your federal lawmakers and urge them to support this important legislation

New Jersey

S2703 seeks to legalize adult marijuana sales and further expand New Jersey’s medical marijuana program.

The legislation permits those age 21 and older to legally possess and/or purchase up to one ounce of cannabis. It also permits the licensing of 218 retail dispensaries — 120 of which would provide marijuana to adults while 98 would provide marijuana to authorized patients. At present, one half-a-dozen medical dispensaries are operating in the state.

Update: S2703 will be heard in the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee on Monday 11/26 at 10am.

NJ resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of this effort

Legislation is pending, S 10, to expand the state’s medical cannabis program.

The measure would increase the number of licenses the Department of Health can issue to new providers in order to meet New Jersey’s increased patient demand.

Update: S10 will be heard in the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee on Monday 11/26 at 10am.

NJ resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of medical expansion.

Legislation is pending, S2426 and A3740, to further expand the state’s medical marijuana law.

The measures provide doctors the discretion to recommend medical marijuana to any patient for whom they believe it will provide a benefit.

Update: S2426 will be heard in the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee on Monday 11/26 at 10am.

NJ resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of letting doctors, not politicians, decide what’s best for their patients

Source: http://blog.norml.org/2018/11/23/weekly-legislative-roundup-11-23-18/

The article Weekly Legislative Roundup 11/23/18 is courtesy of GigglesNDimples.com

source https://gigglesndimples.com/2018/11/23/weekly-legislative-roundup-11-23-18/

MJBizCon Las Vegas 2018 Photo Gallery

MJBizCon broke cannabis conference records last week with 27,600 attendees (up 51% from last year) and 1,027 companies (up 38% from last year) exhibiting on the Las Vegas Convention Center floor.

Freedom Leaf had a large booth that housed our affiliated companies: Hempology, Irie CBD, AccuVape, Plants to Paper and Leafceuitcals Europe.

Following the successful three-day event, the organizers announced that next year’s MJBizCon in Las Vegas will expand to five days and move to December 9-13. “The City of Las Vegas and Clark County have officially proclaimed the debut of ‘MJBizCon Week’ surrounding the annual MJBizCon Conference & Expo beginning in 2019,” they stated.

Like SXSW – the music, film and interactive festival in Austin in March – MJBizCon Vegas will become a weeklong event with many nightly parties worth attending. This year’s best parties included Willie’s Reserve, High Times Biz Bash (featuring a performance by 2 Chainz at Brooklyn Bowl), Grasslands and Cannabis Wonderland.

Click to view slideshow.

More 2018 Events

November-December Calendar

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Massachusetts Marijuana Sales Begin, Joe Kennedy Supports Legalization

Citizens of the Bay State have much to be thankful for this week.

On November 20th, just two days before Thanksgiving, adults over the age of 21 were able to legally purchase marijuana in the state of Massachusettes.

Massachusetts was the first state to implement anti-marijuana laws on April 29th, 1911.

“This signal to open retail marijuana establishments marks a major milestone for voters who approved legal, adult-use cannabis in our state,” Commission Chairman Steven J. Hoffman told Cannabis Now. “To get here, licensees underwent thorough background checks, passed multiple inspections and had their products tested, all to ensure public health and safety as this new industry gets up and running. As patrons look forward to visiting Massachusetts stores, we hope they will do their part by first familiarizing themselves with the law and understanding what is required of responsible consumers.”

On the very same day, Representative Joe Kennedy III, a longtime marijuana prohibitionist, published an essay that documented his evolution of thinking when it comes to cannabis and his new position of supporting reform.

Kennedy writes, “Given the rapid pace of state-level legalization and liberalization, I believe we must implement strong, clear, and fair federal guidelines. To do that requires us to remove marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) and legalize it at the federal level.”

Source: http://blog.norml.org/2018/11/20/massachusettes-marijuana-sales-begin-joe-kennedy-supports-legalization/

The following blog article Massachusetts Marijuana Sales Begin, Joe Kennedy Supports Legalization Find more on: gigglesndimples.com

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Happy Thanksgiving from the NORML family

We have much to be thankful for this year. Lawmakers in 22 states have passed legislation to advance cannabis reform, Vermont became the first state to end marijuana prohibition legislatively, the Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth became the first US territory to pass a regulated marijuana marketplace, and four states approved voter-initiated ballot measures that legalized adult use (Michigan) and medical marijuana (Oklahoma, Utah, and Missouri).

Additionally, polling data continues to show improved gains in public support for legalization nationwide, with most recent polls revealing that majorities of Democrats, Republicans, and independents support ending our failed prohibition.

This progress did not come out of nowhere, nor did it come overnight. Our successes are a result of years of diligent organizing and difficult conversations with our fellow citizens about the role of government, law enforcement, and civil liberties in our daily lives.

We need to make sure that we take every opportunity available to further advance the cannabis conversation. The upcoming holidays provide an ideal venue for these conversations.

Look, we know that political arguments are going to happen at the Thanksgiving dinner table, so why not make it about marijuana? While many Americans disagree about other key issues facing our country, there is so much common ground between those who identify as conservatives, liberals, independents, and everyone in-between when it comes to marijuana policy.

So use us as a resource – NORML.org has Factsheets, Talking Points, and you can even pass your phone or computer around the table to have your friends and family contact their lawmakers right then and there to support reform in our Action Center.

Having these tough conversations about the scope of the government’s right to stop, search, and incarcerate individuals for possessing a plant that is objectively safer than alcohol and tobacco, but it’s a hell of a lot more fun than hearing the same story for the millionth time from your cousin or the ranting of your whacky uncle (you know who we’re talking about, but he probably wants to legalize cannabis too).

Since our founding in 1970, NORML has worked to provide a voice in the public policy debate for those Americans who oppose marijuana prohibition and favor an end to the practice of arresting marijuana consumers. We rely on thousands of individuals to fund our movement to continue our critical work. Sign up to be a sustaining supporter or make a one-time Thanksgiving gift to continue our march to progress.

Together, we’re going to make 2019 the best year yet for reform. To make that a reality, we need you to use your voice at the dinner table this week.

Gratefully,

The NORML Family

Source: http://blog.norml.org/2018/11/19/happy-thanksgiving-from-the-norml-family/

Happy Thanksgiving from the NORML family is republished from https://gigglesndimples.com/

source https://gigglesndimples.com/2018/11/19/happy-thanksgiving-from-the-norml-family/

Missouri’s Largest County Stops Prosecuting Marijuana Possession

 

Two years after suing to keep medical marijuana off the ballot, on Tuesday, Jean Peters Baker, the Jackson County Prosecuting Attorney, announced that her office will stop prosecuting most marijuana possession cases. In June of this year, the St. Louis City Prosecuting Attorney, Kim Gardner, took similar action on simple possession cases of up to 100 grams.

This development follows the November 6 landslide victory of Amendment 2, a state Constitutional amendment, which legalized access to medical marijuana for Missouri patients in a form similar to laws already passed in 31 other states. Missouri voters supported this measure by 66% statewide. Amendment 2 received more yes votes than any of the other issues on that ballot and any candidates on that ballot.

Approximately 75% of the voters in Jackson County endorsed Amendment 2. In April of 2017, Kansas City voters overwhelmingly approved passage of a city ordinance reducing punishment for possession of marijuana to a $25 fine. That initiative, placed on the ballot by members of NORML KC, also received support from 75% of the voters, despite the campaign having almost no money and being opposed by The Kansas City Star and at least one former prosecuting attorney on the Kansas City Council.

The decision by Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker to cease prosecuting most marijuana possession cases is all the more interesting when one considers the fact that only two years ago, Ms. Peters Baker joined with a handful of other Missouri prosecuting attorneys to sue the Missouri Secretary of State to keep medical marijuana off the ballot! That lawsuit did not succeed in keeping the measure off the ballot, but it did create an additional hurdle and a distraction for the campaign. The 2016 effort ultimately failed because it fell short of the number of petition signatures required in one of Missouri’s eight Congressional districts.

Smart politicians around the state will surely soon recognize that a solid majority of Missouri voters favor progressive marijuana law reforms. NORML hopes to see this fact reflected in the actions of the Missouri General Assembly. Pre-filing of bills in the legislature begins December 1. The legislature convenes its 2019 session the first week of January. NORML calls on other Missouri Prosecutors to follow the example of the St. Louis City and Jackson County Prosecutors.

For More Information Contact Dan Viets, 573-819-2669 or DanViets@gmail.com

Keep up-to-date with marijuana law reform efforts in Missouri by following Missouri NORML on Facebook and become a member today!

Source: http://blog.norml.org/2018/11/17/missouris-largest-county-stops-prosecuting-marijuana-possession/

The article Missouri’s Largest County Stops Prosecuting Marijuana Possession Find more on: https://gigglesndimples.com

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US Senate: Leading Marijuana Prohibitionist Out As Senate Judiciary Chair

One of the US Senate’s leading marijuana prohibitionists, Iowa Republican Charles Grassley (IA), will no longer be heading the Senate Judiciary Committee in the 116th Congress.

Representative Grassley announced today that he is stepping down as Chair of the Committee. As Chair, Grassley refused to hold any hearings or votes on marijuana-related legislation, including bipartisan legislative efforts like the STATES Act. Virtually all Senate legislation specific to marijuana policy must pass through the Judiciary Committee.

Representative Grassley received a D- grade on NORML’s 2018 Congressional Scorecard.

Next in line to Chair the Committee is Republican Lindsay Graham (R-SC), who received a C grade from NORML.

“As the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Lindsey Graham will have to make a choice when it comes to marijuana,” NORML’s Political Director Justin Strekal said. “Will he continue to perpetuate the failed policy of federal criminalization which resulted in over 659,000 Americans being handcuffed in 2017 alone, or will he be open to reform in a way that reflects the rapidly evolving nature of cannabis policy in the majority of states?”

Representative Grassley’s decision to step down follows the retirement of House Judiciary Chair Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) and the failed re-election bid of House Rules Chair Pete Sessions (R-TX) – both of whom similarly used their powers as Chair to stifle any legislative debate on marijuana policy.

Source: http://blog.norml.org/2018/11/16/us-senate-leading-marijuana-prohibitionist-out-as-senate-judiciary-chair/

US Senate: Leading Marijuana Prohibitionist Out As Senate Judiciary Chair See more on: https://gigglesndimples.com/

source https://gigglesndimples.com/2018/11/16/us-senate-leading-marijuana-prohibitionist-out-as-senate-judiciary-chair/

No Spike in Cannabis-impaired Driving One Month After Legalization, Data Shows

Canadian police have not seen a spike in cannabis-impaired driving one month since legalization, but there needs to be more awareness of laws around storing marijuana in vehicles and passengers smoking weed, law enforcement officials say. The Canadian Press canvassed police forces and provincial and territorial Crowns across the country and while some said it was too early to provide data, others said initial numbers and anecdotal impressions suggest stoned driving isn’t on the rise.…

Source: https://www.cannabisculture.com/content/2018/11/16/no-spike-in-cannabis-impaired-driving-one-month-after-legalization-data-shows/

The following post No Spike in Cannabis-impaired Driving One Month After Legalization, Data Shows was first published to https://gigglesndimples.com/

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