Vermont Moves Closer to Legalizing Recreational Marijuana for Adults

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Marijuana Policy Project | April 21, 2017

MONTPELIER, VT — The Vermont Senate approved a bill on Friday that would regulate the production and sale of marijuana and eliminate penalties for personal possession and cultivation by adults 21 and older.

The Senate amended H. 167, an unrelated House-approved bill, to replace it with a revised version of a marijuana regulation bill that passed last year in the Senate and failed in the House.

The Senate also amended H. 167 to include the same home cultivation…

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Illinois Marijuana Legalization Hearings Coming to Chicago Next Week

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(Flickr/Kristen Wall)

Marijuana Policy Project | April 12, 2017

CHICAGO, IL — Sponsors of a proposal to regulate and tax marijuana for adult use in Illinois announced Wednesday that lawmakers will hold the first hearing on the bill next week in Chicago.

The Senate and House Appropriations committees will hold a joint hearing on SB 316 and HB 2353 on Wednesday, April 19, in the Michael A. Bilandic Building, according to Senate Committee Chairwoman Heather Steans (D-Chicago) and Rep. Kelly Cassidy…

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Several Bills Filed in Congress to Create “Path to Marijuana Reform”

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The United States Capitol in Washington, DC (Wikimedia/David Maiolo)

Phillip Smith | March 30, 2017

The Congressional Cannabis Caucus flexed its muscles Thursday as members of Congress filed a package of bills aimed at creating a “path to marijuana reform” at the federal level and protecting and preserving marijuana laws in states where it is legal.

Two Oregon politicians, Sen. Ron Wyden (D) and Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D) led the charge, announcing a bipartisan package of three bills, including a marijuana…

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Joint Legislation: Federal Bills Would End Marijuana Prohibition in the United States

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NORML | March 30, 2017

WASHINGTON, DC — Senator Ron Wyden and Representatives Earl Blumenauer and Jared Polis have introduced legislation in the House and Senate — to permit states to establish their own marijuana regulatory policies free from federal interference.

In addition to removing marijuana from the United States Controlled Substances Act, this legislation also removes enforcement power from the US Drug Enforcement Administration in matter concerning marijuana possession, production, and sales —…

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Legalizing Marijuana in Rhode Island Would Yield Nearly $50 Million in New Annual Revenue

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PROVIDENCE, RI — Taxing and regulating the marijuana market in Rhode Island will generate nearly $50 million in new annual tax revenue, according to a report issued this week by the advocacy coalition Regulate Rhode Island.

According to the report, commercial sales of cannabis are estimated to reach $161 million by 2020.

Taxing this retail market at rates comparable to those in Colorado or Washington would yield $48.3 million per year.

Legislation (The Adult Use of Cannabis Act) is pending in the Rhode Island House and Senate to regulate…

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Vermont Marijuana Legalization Bill Advances; New Poll Shows Strong Public Support

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Marijuana Policy Project | March 22, 2017

MONTPELIER, VT — The Vermont House Judiciary Committee approved a bill 8-3 Wednesday that would make personal possession and cultivation of small amounts of marijuana legal for adults 21 and older.

“Today’s vote shows just how far this issue has advanced in just this past year,” said Matt Simon, New England political director for the Marijuana Policy Project. “Most Vermonters agree it makes no sense to continue punishing adults for consuming a…

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Illinois General Assembly to Consider Ending Marijuana Prohibition, Regulating and Taxing Marijuana for Adult Use

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Marijuana Policy Project | March 22, 2017

SPRINGFIELD, IL — State lawmakers introduced legislation Wednesday that would end marijuana prohibition in Illinois and establish a system in which marijuana is regulated and taxed for adult use.

The Senate bill, SB 316, is sponsored by Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Heather Steans (D-Chicago), while the House version, HB 2353, was presented by Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago). Each would make it legal for adults 21 and older to possess, grow, and purchase…

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Over 50 Vermont Attorneys Urge Legislature to End Marijuana Prohibition

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Matt Simon | February 8, 2017

MONTPELIER, VT — More than 50 Vermont attorneys have signed a letter urging the Legislature to “reform our state’s outdated and unjust policies towards cannabis by passing a bill to legalize and regulate its cultivation and sale for adult use in 2017.”

The letter will be presented to lawmakers at the House Judiciary Committee hearing on H. 170, which is scheduled for Thursday at 9 a.m. ET in Room 30 of the Vermont State House.

Hose Bill 170 is a bipartisan…

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New Hampshire Marijuana Bill Decriminalization Advances; Legalization Bill Killed

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Scott Gacek | February 8, 2017

CONCORD, NH — New Hampshire won’t be joining neighboring states of Maine and Massachusetts in legalizing marijuana, but the Granite State could soon follow the rest of their New England neighbors in treating marijuana possession as a violation, rather than a crime that carries a penalty including the possibility of jail time.

Lawmakers in the New Hampshire House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee voted 14 to 2 on Tuesday to advance a bill to decriminalize marijuana…

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Rhode Island Poll Finds Strong Support for Legalizing Marijuana

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“Welcome to Rhode Island sign” at Beach Pond, Hope Valley, RI (Flickr/Morrow Long)

Marijuana Policy Project | February 7, 2017

PROVIDENCE, RI — A new poll shows momentum is building behind the effort to end marijuana prohibition in Rhode Island.

Regulate Rhode Island director Jared Moffat held a news conference Tuesday at the State House to discuss the results. He was joined by Sen. Joshua Miller (D-Cranston) and Rep. Scott Slater (D-Providence), who recently introduced the Cannabis Regulation, Control, and…

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New Mexico Marijuana Legalization Bill Slowly Advancing

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TJ Baker | February 6, 2017

SANTA FE, NM — A proposal to legalize marijuana for adult use has advanced through the first of three committees it needs to clear before advancing to a floor vote.

House Bill 89, the Cannabis Revenue and Freedom Act, is sponsored by Reps.  Bill McCamley (D-Las Cruces) and Javier Martinez (D-Albuquerque).

The bill was approved in January by the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee, and is currently awaiting review by the House Business and Industry Committee.  It would…

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Vermont Marijuana Legalization Hearings Start Thursday

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TJ Baker | February 6, 2017

MONTPELIER, VT — Lawmakers will start legislative hearings on a proposal to legalize marijuana in Vermont on Thursday.

The Vermont House Committee on Judiciary is slated to hear testimony on House Bill 170, which would legalize limited marijuana possession and personal cultivation for adults 21 or older.  The bill being considered is sponsored by the committee’s chairman, vice-chair, and ranking Republican.

If passed, HB 170 would eliminate all civil and criminal penalties for…

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Vermont Bill Filed to Legalize Adult Possession, Cultivation of Marijuana

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TJ Baker | February 2, 2017

MONTPELIER, VT — Lawmakers in Vermont have filed a bill that would legalize marijuana possession for adults 21 or older.

House Bill 170, sponsored by Reps. Maxine Grad (D), Charles Conquest (D), and Thomas Burditt (R).

If passed, the bill would eliminate all civil and criminal penalties for possession of up to two ounces of marijuana and up to ten grams of concentrates by adults.

Adults would be allowed to grow up to two mature and seven immature cannabis plants in a…

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Wyoming: Joint Resolution 11 Would Legalize Marijuana for Adults

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TJ Baker | January 31, 2017

CHEYENNE, WY — Two lawmakers from opposite sides of the aisle have come together to co-sponsor a measure that would legalize marijuana for adults 21 and older.

House Joint Resolution 11 is co-sponsored by state Reps. James Byrd (D-Cheyenne) and Mark Baker (R-Sweetwater), the same two lawmakers who have co-sponsored a separate bill to decriminalize marijuana possession in Wyoming.

The resolution would legalize and regulate the commercial cultivation and retail sale of…

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Maryland Lawmakers to Consider Legalizing Marijuana

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Marijuana Policy Project | January 30, 2017

ANNAPOLIS, MD — State lawmakers are rolling out legislation Monday that would regulate and tax cannabis similarly to alcohol in Maryland.

The proposal consists of two bills — a regulation bill and a tax bill — that will each be filed in the Senate and the House.

The regulation bill, sponsored by Sen. Richard S. Madaleno Jr. (D-Montgomery) and Del. Curt Anderson (D-Baltimore City), would make possession and home cultivation of limited amounts of cannabis legal…

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New Hampshire Marijuana Legalization Bill to Receive Hearing Wednesday

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Scott Gacek | January 30, 2017

CONCORD, NH — Lawmakers in the New Hampshire House will hold a hearing on a Republican-backed bill to legalize, tax and regulate marijuana for adults 21 and older on Wednesday.

The bill, House Bill 656, is sponsored by Reps. Glen Aldrich, Caleb Dyer, Brandon Phinney, and Nick Zaricki, all Republicans.  The proposal is not related to a similar measure filed in the Senate by Senate Minority Leader Jeff Woodburn (D).

Members of the House Committee on Criminal Justice and Public…

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Maryland Marijuana Legalization Bills to be Introudced Monday

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HWN | January 27, 2017

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Lawmakers in the Maryland House of Delegates are expected to introduce a combination of bills Monday that would legalize marijuana for adults.

Two bills are expected to be introduced in each chamber.  One proposal would make marijuana legal for adults 21 and older and regulate its production and sale similarly to alcohol, according to the Washington, DC based Marijuana Policy Project.

The other bill would enact taxes on non-medical marijuana sold in…

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Lawmakers Try to Delay Enactment of Voter Approved Marijuana Laws

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Paul Armentano | January 18, 2017

Legislators in a number of states are pushing forward measures to delay the enactment of several voter-initiated marijuana laws.

In Arkansas, House lawmakers are moving forward with legislation, House Bill 1026, to postpone the deadline for establishing the state’s new medical marijuana program by 60 days. Fifty-three percent of voters approved Issue 6 on Election Day, which called on lawmakers to regulate the production and dispensing of medical cannabis within 120 days.

In…

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New Hampshire Marijuana Legalization Study Commission Proposed

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Scott Gacek | January 12, 2017

CONCORD, NH — A bi-partisan group of lawmakers in New Hampshire has filed a bill that would create a commission to study the legalization, taxation and regulation of marijuana in the Granite State.

House Bill 215 is sponsored in the House by Reps. Robert Cushing (D) and John O’Connor (R), and in the Senate by Sens. Dan Feltes (D) and John O’Connor (R).

If passed, the commission created by the legislation would “examine the possible impacts of changing state policy to treat…

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Rhode Island Lawmakers Start Push to Legalize Marijuana

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Welcome to Rhode Island sign at the Massachusetts/Rhode Island state line. (Flickr/Taber Andrew Bain)

Jared Moffat | January 11, 2017

PROVIDENCE, RI — As the Massachusetts government prepares to implement an initiative to regulate and tax marijuana that was approved by voters in November, lawmakers in Rhode Island are poised to introduce similar legislation.

State Sen. Joshua Miller (D-Cranston) and State Rep. Scott Slater (D-Providence) will discuss the proposal at a news conference at the Rhode Island State…

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Connecticut Senate Leader to File Marijuana Legalization Bill for 2017

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Scott Gacek | December 23, 2016

HARTFORD, CT — Governor Dannel Malloy may be on the fence when it comes to marijuana legalization, but one of the state’s most prominent lawmakers will push for Connecticut to join two nearby New England states in taxing and regulating sales of cannabis to adults.

Senate President Pro Tem Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven) pre-filed legislation for the upcoming 2017 legislative session to legalize, tax and regulate marijuana.

Senate President Pro Tem Martin M. Looney (D-New…

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Marijuana Legalization Bill Filed in Arizona for 2017

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Scott Gacek | December 22, 2016

PHOENIX, AZ — In November, Arizona’s Proposition 205 was the only marijuana-related statewide referendum that didn’t pass, being defeated by a slim 51% to 49% vote.

Now, just a little over a month later, State Representative Mark Cardenas (D-Louisville) has pre-filed a bill for the upcoming 2017 legislative session to give state lawmakers another chance at legalizing marijuana.  Cardenas filed a similar bill last year.

Cardenas’s bill, House Bill 2003, would legalize…

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New Hampshire Senate Minority Leader to File Marijuana Legalization Bill

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Scott Gacek | December 19, 2016

CONCORD, NH — With two neighboring states having just legalized marijuana, a high-profile member of the New Hampshire Senate — where marijuana bills usually go to die — will push for the Granite State to follow suit when the legislature convenes in January.

Senate Minority Leader Jeff Woodburn (D-Dalton) told the Concord Monitor on Friday that he intends to file a bill to legalize marijuana in New Hampshire, the only New England state where marijuana possession remains a…

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New Jersey: Two Marijuana Legalization Measures Now Pending Before Lawmakers

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New Jersey: Two Marijuana Legalization Measures Now Pending Before Lawmakers

TRENTON, NJ — New legislation has been introduced for the 2016/2017 legislative session that seeks to regulate the adult use and retail sale of marijuana.

Assembly Bill 4193 permits marijuana to be sold at convenience stores to adults aged 19 and older in unlimited amounts. The legislation also seeks to expunge the criminal records of past marijuana offenders.

Says the bill’s sponsor, Assembly member Michael Patrick Carroll:

“To me it’s just not a big deal. It’s already ubiquitous. Anybody who thinks this is somehow going to…

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Regulate Rhode Island Delivers Petition to Lawmakers Calling for Legalization Vote

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Regulate Rhode Island to Deliver Petition to General Assembly Leaders Signed by More Than 1,300 Rhode Islanders Who Want Them to Let Lawmakers Vote on Legislation That Would Legalize and Regulate Marijuana

PROVIDENCE, RI — Regulate Rhode Island will deliver a petition to General Assembly leaders on Thursday signed by more than 1,300 Rhode Islanders who want them to let lawmakers vote on pending legislation that would legalize and regulate marijuana for adult use.

The Change.org petition was launched just four weeks ago.

Coalition leaders…

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Vermont: House Members Turn Back Marijuana Reform Efforts

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Vermont: House Members Turn Back Marijuana Reform Efforts

MONTPELIER, VT — Members of the Vermont House spent over six hours this week debating various amendments to reform marijuana policy, but ultimately decided against enacting any significant changes in law.

House lawmakers voted 121 to 28 to reject Senate-approved language that sought to regulate the adult use, commercial production, and retail sale of marijuana. Although Gov. Peter Shumlin and Attorney General William Sorrell publicly supported the effort, House members expressed little interest in seriously considering the measure.

House…

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Election Year Legalization Politics in Massachusetts

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After years of ducking the issue of marijuana prohibition, it is encouraging to see the Massachusetts legislature at least starting to wake up.

It is heartening that Sen. Brownsberger and others on the Judiciary Committee are confronting the problems caused by prohibition.

Rep. Rogers and some colleagues have actually introduced a reasonable bill this session.Not that it is going anywhere. Most politicians are still too nervous when it comes to anything even slightly controversial.

Massachusetts citizens, however, have a marvelous remedy when…

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Vermont House Committee Approves Marijuana Legalization Bill, Restores Legalization Provision

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The version of S. 241 approved Friday by the House Ways and Means Committee still does not create a regulated marijuana market, but now allows adults to possess and grow small amounts of marijuana

MONTPELIER, VT — The House Ways and Means Committee approved Senate Bill 241 on Friday (6-3) after amending it to allow adults in Vermont to possess and grow small amounts of marijuana. The bill will now go to the House Appropriations Committee for consideration.

S. 241 still does not create a regulated system of marijuana cultivation and sales,…

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Vermont Governor Critical of Massachusetts Marijuana Legalization Initiative

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Vermont Governor Calls CRMLA’s Proposal a “Bad Pot Bill”

Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin, who has encouraged lawmakers in his own state to pass a bill to legalize recreational marijuana for adults, had some critical words about a proposed ballot initiative to do the same in a neighboring state.

In a blog post earlier this week, Shumlin says that now is the right time for Vermont to legalize marijuana, noting that if the House approves a legalization bill that has already passed in the Senate, the Green Mountain State could be the “first…

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Massachusetts to Hold Marijuana Legalization Hearing Monday

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Massachusetts to Hold Marijuana Legalization Hearing Monday

Backers of Initiative to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol in Massachusetts Urge Legislators to Approve House Bill 3932

BOSTON, MA — Lawmakers in Massachusetts will hold a legislative hearing Monday on a proposed ballot initiative to legalize marijuana in the Bay State.

If legislators fail to approve the measure, House Bill 3932, it will be placed before voters in November to decide.

The Joint Committee on the Judiciary is hosting the hearing on H.3932 because the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol (CRMLA), backed by the Washington,…

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Measure 2 Proponents Urge Legislators to Oppose Ban on Marijuana Businesses in Rural Alaska

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Measure 2 Proponents Urge Legislators to Oppose Ban on Marijuana Businesses in Rural Alaska

Leaders of the 2014 initiative to regulate marijuana like alcohol say an amendment that was snuck into an otherwise non-controversial marijuana rules clarification bill is unwarranted and defies the will of Alaska voters

ANCHORAGE, AK — Backers of the 2014 initiative to regulate marijuana like alcohol in Alaska are urging legislators to oppose a measure that would severely limit marijuana business locations and access to marijuana for adults in rural Alaska.

The amendment was recently snuck into House Bill 75, an otherwise non-controversial…

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Vermont Marijuana Legalization Bill Wins Final Approval in Senate, Heads to House

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House members will begin working on S. 241, which would end marijuana prohibition in Vermont, after they return from Town Meeting Week

MONTPELIER, VT — The Vermont Senate gave final approval to a bill Thursday (17-12) that would end marijuana prohibition in the state and regulate the cultivation and sale of marijuana for adult use.

Senate Bill 241 received initial Senate approval on Wednesday. It will now advance to the House of Representatives, which will begin working on it after members return from Town Meeting Week.

“We applaud the…

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Vermont Senate Passes Marijuana Legalization Bill

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MONTPELIER, VT — The Vermont state Senate voted 17-12 Thursday to approve a bill that would end pot prohibition in the state and replace it will system of taxation and regulation.

Thursday’s vote today was the second Senate vote this week to approve the bill, which will now go to the House for consideration.

The measure, Senate Bill 241, would allow people 21 and over to possess up to an ounce of pot, but not to grow it after some powerful lawmakers said that provision would be a deal-breaker.

Instead, the bill now contains a provision to…

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Vermont Senate Votes to Legalize Marijuana

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Vermont Senate Votes to Legalize Marijuana

The Senate must approve S. 241 a second time in order to send it over to the House of Representatives; a vote is expected sometime this week

MONTPELIER, VT — The Vermont Senate gave its initial approval to a bill Wednesday (16-15) that would end marijuana prohibition in the state and regulate the cultivation and sale of marijuana for adult use.

It must approve the measure a second time in order to send it over to the House of Representatives.  A second vote is expected sometime this week.

“Vermonters have been yearning for leadership on…

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Vermont Clergy Express Support for Marijuana Legalization Bill in Letter to Senators

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In a letter to state senators on Tuesday, a diverse group of more than a dozen local clergy and faith leaders from across Vermont said they have ‘a moral obligation to support change’ because the state’s current marijuana prohibition laws ‘have caused more harm than good for the people of Vermont’

MONTPELIER, VT — In a letter to state senators on Tuesday, a diverse group of more than a dozen local clergy and faith leaders from across Vermont expressed support for legislation that would end marijuana prohibition in the state and…

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Marijuana Legalization Bill Filed in Rhode Island Senate

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PROVIDENCE, RI — Bipartisan legislation to legalize marijuana for adults, including personal cultivation and retail sales, has been introduced in the Rhode Island Senate.

Senate Bill 2420, the “Marijuana Regulation, Control and Taxation Act,” is sponsored by state Senators Joshua Miller (D-Cranston), Michael McCaffrey (D-Warwick), Dominick Ruggerio (D-North Providence), Nicholas Kettle (R-West Greenwich),  and Harold Metts (D-Providence).

Companion legislation is expected to be introduced soon in the House by Rep. Scott Slater…

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Vermont Senate Could Vote This Week on Marijuana Legalization Bill

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Vermont Senate Could Vote This Week on Marijuana Legalization Bill

MONTPELIER, VT — The Vermont Senate could vote soon on a widely supported bill that could make Vermont the first state in the nation to legalize marijuana through the state legislature.

Supporters in the Senate hope the bill is called for a floor vote soon, so the House can have time to act on the measure during the 2015-2016 legislative session, which ends on May 16.

If passed, Senate Bill 241, which would make it legal for adults 21 years of age and older in Vermont to possess up to one ounce of marijuana. The bill would also establish…

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New Hampshire House Kills Two Marijuana Legalization Bills

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New Hampshire House Kills Two Marijuana Legalization Bills

CONCORD, NH — Last week, the New Hampshire House defeated two of the three proposed bills to legalize marijuana in the Granite State.

In a voice vote Wednesday, lawmakers defeated House Bill 1675, sponsored by Rep. Michael Brewster (R-Merrimack).  The proposal would have legalized the possession of up to 2.2 pounds of marijuana by adults 18 or older, as well as the personal cultivation of up to six cannabis plants (three of which may be mature).  Retail marijuana sales would have been authorized, with sales subject to a $30 per…

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New Mexico Senate Kills Effort to Send Marijuana Legalization to Voters

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New Mexico Senate Kills Effort to Send Marijuana Legalization to Voters

SANTA FE, NM — The New Mexico Senate has defeated a proposal that would have allowed voters to decide if the state should legalize, tax and regulate marijuana for adults.

In a 17-24 vote Sunday evening, the Senate voted against Senate Joint Resolution 5, sponsored by state Senator Gerald Ortiz y Pino (D-Albuquerque).

The bill would have placed the issue of marijuana legalization to a public vote this November, asking voters to amend the New Mexico constitution to allow adults 25 or older to lawfully possess and use marijuana for…

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New Mexico: Marijuana Legalization Heads to Senate Floor

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New Mexico: Marijuana Legalization Heads to Senate Floor

SANTA FE, NM — A proposal that would allow New Mexico voters to decide on legalizing marijuana in November is headed to the floor of the Senate after clearing two committees last week.

On Wednesday, members of the Senate Rules Committee voted 6-4 to send the bill to the Senate Judiciary committee without recommendation.  On Friday, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 5-4 in favor of the resolution, sending it to the Senate floor and setting up a possible floor vote in coming days as the state’s 2016 legislative session begins to wind…

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Rhode Island Marijuana Legalization Bill Expected This Week

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PROVIDENCE, RI — Once again, lawmakers in Rhode Island will be presented with a proposal to legalize, tax and regulate marijuana in the Ocean State this year.

Two Democrats plan on introducing the legislation this week.  Rep. Scott Slater (D-Providence) will file the bill in the House, while Joshua Miller (D-Cranston) will do the same in the Senate.

The bills are expected to mirror legislation filed last year by both lawmakers.

The proposed legislation would legalize marijuana possession for adults 21 and older, establish a system in which…

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Over 60% of New Mexicans Support Legal Marijuana Sales

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Over 60% of New Mexicans Support Legal Marijuana Sales

SANTA FE, NM — More than three out of five New Mexicans believe that state law ought to be amended to permit retails sales of marijuana to adults, according to statewide polling data provided by Research & Polling Inc. and commissioned by the Drug Policy Alliance.

Sixty-one percent of respondents said that they supported legislation to regulate and tax retail sales of marijuana to those age 21 and over. Respondents’ support rose to 69 percent when pollsters indicated that sales taxes would be used to fund health-related programs.

Majority…

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Marijuana Reform Advocates Launch Vermont Ad Campaign Featuring Former AG Kimberly Cheney

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Marijuana Reform Advocates Launch Vermont Ad Campaign Featuring Former AG Kimberly Cheney

In the ad, a former Vermont attorney general compares current marijuana prohibition laws to the ‘disaster’ of alcohol prohibition; he notes that ‘most Vermonters support a more sensible approach’ and urges them to contact their state senators — who are currently examining the issue— and tell them, ‘It’s time to end prohibition and start regulating marijuana in Vermont’

MONTPELIER, VT — A new television ad featuring Vermont’s former top law enforcement official speaking out in support of regulating marijuana will begin…

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Vermont Marijuana Legalization Hearings to be Held Tuesday

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Vermont Marijuana Legalization Hearings to be Held Tuesday

MONTPELIER, VT — Lawmakers in Vermont will hold a committee hearing on Tuesday to consider two bills that have been filed to legalize marijuana in the Green Mountain State.

Senate Bill 95, sponsored by Senator David Zuckerman (P/D-Chittenden), and Senate Bill 241, sponsored by Senator Jeanette White (D-Windham), will be heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, January 19th.

Both bills would legalize marijuana for adults 21 or older, with minors under 21 subject to civil fines — but not criminal charges — for possessing…

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Hearing on Legalizing Marijuana in New Hampshire Scheduled for Tuesday

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CONCORD, NH — A key committee in the New Hampshire House of Representatives will hold a legislative hearing next week on three proposals to legalize marijuana in the Granite State.

The House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee has scheduled public hearings for Tuesday, January 19 to consider House Bills 1610, 1675 and 1694.  The hearings begin at 10 am.

House Bill 1610, co-sponsored by Reps. Michael Sylvia (R-Belknap) and Robert Hull (R-Grafton), would allow adults 21 or older to possess up to two ounces of marijuana, grow…

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Ex Vermont Attorney General: Time to Regulate Marijuana

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Vermont’s Former Top Law Enforcement Official Backs Effort to End Marijuana Prohibition in 2016, Appears in Ads Highlighting the Benefits of Regulating Marijuana

MONTPELIER, VT — A former top state law enforcement official has thrown his support behind the effort to end marijuana prohibition in Vermont in 2016.

In a statement released Tuesday, former Vermont Attorney General Kimberly Cheney voiced his support for regulating marijuana in Vermont:

“As a former attorney general of Vermont, I am committed to bringing awareness to the…

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Vermont Governor Calls for Marijuana Legalization in State of the State Address

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It has long been speculated that Vermont could legalize marijuana in 2016, and become the first state in the country to do so through the state legislature.

The legalization of marijuana in Vermont took a huge step closer to reality Thursday, when Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin (D) called the War on Drugs a failure and called upon the state legislature to pass the “right bill” to legalize marijuana in Vermont.

“The outdated War on Drugs has also failed, and there is no greater example than our nation’s marijuana laws,” Shumlin…

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Vermont Governor Asks Legislature to End Marijuana Prohibition

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Gov. Shumlin Declares Drug War a Failure and Calls for Legalizing Marijuana in State of the State Address

MONTPELIER, VT — Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin called on lawmakers to pass legislation legalizing and regulating marijuana in his final State of the State address this week.

He also declared the drug war a failure and expressed desire to continue emphasizing a health-based approach to drug policy by expanding treatment and overdose prevention programs, as well as by removing the stigma associated with drug use and addiction.

“Pete…

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Massachusetts to Hold Hearing on Legalizing Marijuana Next Week

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BOSTON, MA — The Joint Committee on the Judiciary will hold a public hearing on a proposal to legalize marijuana in Massachusetts on Wednesday, January 13 at 1 pm at the State House.

The proposed legislation, House Bill 1561, is independent from a proposed ballot initiative that is expected to be presented to, and approved by, voters in November.

If passed, H1561, also known as the “Cannabis Regulation and Taxation Act of 2016,” would “repeal all laws punishing the cultivation of and commerce in cannabis” by adults 21 or older….

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Two Marijuana Legalization Proposals Filed in Missouri

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JEFFERSON CITY, MO — Proposals to legalize the possession and sale of marijuana have been filed in both chambers of the Missouri legislature.

Senate Bill 762, sponsored by Senator Maria Chappelle-Nadal (D-St. Louis), would allow adults 21 or older to purchase, possess and use up to one ounce of marijuana.  The bill does not contain a provision allowing home cultivation.

The bill would also establish a state regulated marijuana industry, with the state’s Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control overseeing the commercial production and…

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