Updated Feb. 16, 2015
Editor's Note: Hats off to Leafly in putting together an update (below this note) of marijuana legalization and decriminalization efforts around the country–and even the globe. We'd like to add a few important state updates to Leafly's list:
- Arizona: Citizens and advocacy groups have protested the state's marijuana laws and called for legalization, and the Marijuana Policy Project–one of the most influential organizations in the country–has set up committees to ready a legalization ballot initiative for 2016.
- Florida: Florida's medical marijuana bill–Amendment 2–suffered what was, for many, a heart-breaking defeat in November 2014, despite 57.2% voting in favor of it. (60% is needed for a constitutional amendment.) The bill will be reintroduced for the 2016 ballot, but with a couple of conservative modifications.
- Georgia: Georgia residents have been plagued by a battle over CBD oil legalization. (CBD is the non-psychoactive compound in cannabis that’s been shown to reduce seizures, and it's in high-demand especially among parents of children with debilitating and often fatal seizure disorders.) The end result? Perplexing legislation providing legal “immunity” for Georgia residents who bring CBD oils in from other states (although it remains a Federal crime to cross state lines with a controlled substance). Bad news all around for parents and patients hoping and waiting for CBD oil to become legal–and available.
- Guam: Guam is in the process of getting its medical marijuana program, approved by voters in November 2014, up and running. Reports indicate that Guam officials are making progress and are modeling much of the program after Arizona's program, where medical marijuana has been legal since 2010. The U.S. territory has 8 more months to get regulations and other program details finalized.
- Illinois: Leafly covers Illinois medical marijuana program in its roundup, but two bills were just introduced, one pushing for decriminalization (possession penalties in the form of a fine vs. jail time) and the other pushing for legalization of possession and cultivation of small amounts of marijuana for adults (21 and older).
- Maine: Lawmakers are considering multiple medical marijuana bills, and Maine is consistently listed among the states next up to legalize recreational marijuana. Two Maine cities already have legalized possession of small amounts of marijuana.
- Maryland: A bill to regulate marijuana like alcohol has been introduced in the Maryland legislature.
- Massachusetts: The Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol in Massachusetts is determined to either see legislation pushed through or a ballot initiative in 2016 to legalize recreational marijuana.
- Pennsylvania: Support for a Pennsylvania medical marijuana initiative got a boost with the election of Governor Tom Wolf, among others, and a more liberal and comprehensive bill is anticipated.
- Washington, D.C.: In one of the most attention-grabbing debates around marijuana legalization, D.C. continues to battle for the right to implement the law that voters passed in November 2014, by a nearly 70-percent margin, legalizing possession of small amounts of marijuana by adults, home cultivation and the sale of related paraphernalia. The D.C. Council also has met to discuss the possibility of regulating and taxing marijuana like alcohol, as Colorado, Washington, Alaska and Oregon have done. Congress gets a say before any D.C. law can become official, however, and is trying to put the kibosh on the law. Obama's new budget proposal aims to put the law back in the hands of D.C. legislators, but the battle continues.
Here's Leafly's round-up:
Cannabis supporters all across the globe are continuing to fight the good fight towards legalization. Here's a roundup of the good, the bad, and the unexpected in cannabis legislation this week:
U.S. Updates
ALASKA
Alaska lawmakers are hoping to fast track a decriminalization bill, but the language seems to be causing a ruckus among legalization advocates. Technically, cannabis has already been decriminalized in Alaska for private, personal use for years. The language of the new bill provides a legal defense in court for those who may prosecuted for possession, but also creates penalties for minors, as well as an “open container” law pertaining to open containers of cannabis in the car while driving.
The Senate Judiciary Committee is hoping to pass this bill before February 24th (when retail legalization officially comes into effect), but itlooks to be on hold for a rewrite. But on the bright side, retail legalization in Alaska is less than a month away! That’s cause for celebration in my book!
