Canadian Senate Passes Cannabis Bill, Paving Way for Legal Cannabis in 8 to 12 Weeks

"We've just witnessed a historic vote for Canada. The end of 90 years of prohibition," Sen. Tony Dean said.

June 20, 2018

Canada Legislation and regulation News Politics

Senators have voted to pass the federal government's bill legalizing recreational marijuana by a vote of 52-29, with two abstentions, paving the way for a fully legal cannabis market within eight to 12 weeks.

"I'm feeling just great," said Sen. Tony Dean, who sponsored the bill in the Senate. "We've just witnessed a historic vote for Canada. The end of 90 years of prohibition. Transformative social policy, I think. A brave move on the part of the government."

Dean said he thought the Senate functioned well throughout the process and he was proud of the work the Red Chamber did.

"Now we can start to tackle some of the harms of cannabis. We can start to be proactive in public education. We'll see the end of criminalization and we can start addressing Canada's $7-billion illegal market. These are good things for Canada."

Top photo courtesy of Adobe Stock

Adult-Use Legalization Bill

Canada Cannabis Legalization

Utah Officials Months Away from Medical Marijuana Rules

Utah officials say they are months away from finalizing regulations needed to implement the state's narrow new medical marijuana law.

June 19, 2018

Seattle Times

Legislation and regulation Medical Cannabis News State by State: Utah

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah officials say they are months away from finalizing regulations needed to implement the state’s narrow new medical marijuana law.

Before that process ends, however, voters will weigh in on a broader cannabis scheme that could send the regulators back to the drawing board.

Rules for growing and distributing medical marijuana for terminally ill patients and researchers are expected to be completed in March.

Department of Agriculture Deputy Commissioner Scott Ericson predicted the state will contract with two growers to produce the plants and will likely ask lawmakers to approve more than one dispensary in the state.

The Legislature passed laws on medical marijuana, cannabis oil extracts and industrial hemp during its 45-day session this spring.

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New York Looks to Expand Access to Medical Marijuana

Opioid use will be the newest addition to the list of qualifying conditions under the state’s medical marijuana program.

June 19, 2018

WXXI News

Legislation and regulation Medical Cannabis News State by State: New York

The New York State Health Department plans to make medical marijuana available to more New Yorkers. Opioid use will be the newest addition to the list of qualifying conditions under the state’s medical marijuana program.

The health department characterized the decision as a step toward curbing the opioid epidemic, saying that medical marijuana treats the pain that opioids are meant to address while also reducing the chance of addiction and eliminating the risk of a fatal overdose.

Overdose deaths statewide involving opioids almost tripled from 2010 to 2016, and 109 people died from opioid overdoses in Monroe County in the 12 months from September 2016 to August 2017, the most recent full year of data available from the state.

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Canadian Government Rep in Senate Makes Case for Accepting Marijuana Bill As-Is

“The Senate has done a thorough job of conducting sober second thought in reviewing this legislation," the rep said.

June 19, 2018

CTV News

Canada

OTTAWA -- The government representative in the Senate is imploring his colleagues to accept the federal Liberals’ rejection of several substantive amendments to the marijuana legalization legislation, arguing the Upper Chamber has done its due diligence.

“The Senate has done a thorough job of conducting sober second thought in reviewing this legislation… on a social change of such significance, the Senate has been on the thorough end of thorough,” Sen. Peter Harder told his colleagues in the Senate Tuesday night.

Harder’s speech and motion to accept the government’s position, came as the Senate began debating the government’s message about accepting some, but not all, of the Senate’s proposed amendments to Bill C-45.

Earlier Monday MPs voted 205 to 82 to send the Cannabis Act back to the Senate.

Top photo courtesy of Adobe Stock

Canada Cannabis Legalization

Michigan Bill Would Expunge Some Convictions if Recreational Marijuana is Legalized

State Rep. Sheldon Neeley introduced a bill that would make it easier for those convicted of misdemeanor marijuana crimes to have those records set aside.

June 19, 2018

WNEM

Legislation and regulation News State by State: Michigan

LANSING, MI (WNEM) - A local lawmaker is working to give hundreds of people a second chance if recreational marijuana is legalized come the November election.

Last week, State Rep. Sheldon Neeley introduced a bill that would make it easier for those convicted of misdemeanor marijuana crimes to have those records set aside.

“If marijuana becomes legal, I don’t believe that it should still be a burden on those individuals that have had these crimes placed on their permanent record,” Neeley said.

Neeley is working to pass new legislation that would remove non-violent misdemeanor marijuana charges from a person’s permanent record if voters make recreational marijuana legal in the November election.

“They should be expunged of that crime automatically, up on the legislation of marijuana,” Neeley said.

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