NORML’s Weekly Legislative Round Up
February 13th, 2009 By: Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy DirectorShare this Article
Marijuana law reform bills are now pending in nearly two dozen states. Here is this week’s summary of pending state legislative activity and tips on how you can become involved in changing the marijuana laws in your area.
Montana: Lawmakers introduced a measure this week to make minor marijuana offenses a civil violation. House Bill 541 would amend state law so that the possession of up to 30 grams of marijuana is reduced from a criminal misdemeanor (punishable by up to six -months in jail) to a $50 fine. The proposal is now before the House Judiciary, which is expected to hear testimony in favor of the bill in March. You can show your support for HB 541 by going here. Similar pot decriminalization proposals are pending in Vermont, Washington, and Hawaii.
Update!!! Update!!! Update!!! In related Montana news, the Senate is now anticipated to vote on SB 326, and act to expand the state’s medical marijuana program, by the end of this week. For more information, please contact Montana Patients and Families United here.
Kentucky: Kentucky legislators are trying to misuse the state’s traffic safety laws to target adults who use marijuana responsibly in the privacy of their own home. It’s up to us to stop them. This week, Senators approved SB 5, which seeks to criminalize anyone who operates a motor vehicle with any detectable level of marijuana in their blood. Under the strict interpretation of this standard, responsible marijuana consumers who last used cannabis days earlier could still be potentially arrested and prosecuted for ‘drugged driving’ — even if they are completely sober. NORML recently testified against a similar proposal in New Hampshire, which legislators rightfully dismissed as improper and illogical. Please help us derail SB 5 in Kentucky by contacting the members House Judiciary Committee and urging them to vote ‘no’ on 5.
New Jersey: The Senate is expected to vote on Monday, February 23, on Senate Bill 119, the New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act. If passed, this measure would make New Jersey the fourteenth state to allow for the physician-supervised use of medicinal cannabis. Governor Jon Corzine backs the measure, as do many of the state’s largest newspapers. Residents in New Jersey are strongly encouraged to write or call their senators now and urge them to vote ‘yes’ on SB 119.
Washington: Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee heard testimony this week in favor of Senate Bill 565 — an act to reclassify the possession of forty grams or less of marijuana from a misdemeanor to a class 2 civil infraction. You can read about the hearing here, and urge the Committee to back the measure by going here.
To learn about additional pending legislation in Alabama, Connecticut, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia, please visit NORML’s Legislative Action Alerts page here.
Tags: decriminalize, DUID, Hawaii, Kentucky, legislation, medical marijuana, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Vermont, Washington
February 13th, 2009 at 6:17 pm
Just curious, how do you know NJ’s vote is expected for the 23rd? The Legislature’s website doesn’t have anything listed yet.
February 13th, 2009 at 6:21 pm
If only Louisiana was on that list
February 13th, 2009 at 6:38 pm
Let me reiterate. The Phelps bust raises new questions about Privacy in America. For years I have looked for a way to use roe vs wade to legalize weed .The Phelps matter is just right for such a Supreme Court challenge.
In furtherance of this I request that any all persons similarly afflicted ,to join me now and rid the earth of this anti marijuana scourge now .Contact lawyers ACLU etc. to work together to bring this action or similar class action petitions now to the Supreme Court
Im paul jensen
February 13th, 2009 at 10:53 pm
Nothing Going On In New York???
February 13th, 2009 at 10:56 pm
The WA. state legislation is SB 5615. It had a pretty fair hearing here is the link to the video,go to 1:32..
http://www.tvw.org/media/mediaplayer.cfm?evid=2009020104&TYPE=
V&CFID=2330515&CFTOKEN=19344260&bhcp=1
February 14th, 2009 at 12:44 am
looks like the feds are going to have a lot of weed after raiding medical stores in all these states. its good the states are starting to wake up !
February 14th, 2009 at 7:20 am
It is great to see so many States looking into reform…
but alas Florida still remains off that list…grrrrrrrr
February 14th, 2009 at 2:19 pm
I sent out a letter my my elected Officials! I hope House Bill 277 passes in Missouri.
February 14th, 2009 at 5:54 pm
Decriminalization is so wrong as it leaves marijuana sales in the hands of street drug dealers. If marijuana was sold in store as a legal product like tobacco it would have a lot less chance of being a gateway drug because you could buy it without being exposed to a Drug dealer trying to sale anything to make himself a few bucks!
Legalize it!!
“The War Against the People” must end!!!
February 14th, 2009 at 7:44 pm
here’s a link to a drug war article by By Steven Greenhut Senior Editorial Writer and Columnist for the OC Register: http://www.ocregister.com/articles/drug-mexican-war-2308232-americans-people
February 14th, 2009 at 11:46 pm
Michigan recently passed a medical marijuana law. After having read the law more than several times, I find it to be a sham. Frankly, it’s a laugh. They don’t, won’t or couldn’t provide means to allow a person, deemed fit by the State of Michigan, to obtain legal marijuana, seed stock or provide a source.
Gee, most Dr.s won’t sign the state form. If you can even get a Dr.’s signoff and jump thru all the hoops you better watch your ass very closely.
February 15th, 2009 at 8:06 pm
“I support Senate Bill 5615 and House Bill 1177.” – Sen. Eric Oemig State Senator Legislative District 45 Kirkland, WA.
February 16th, 2009 at 6:15 am
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February 16th, 2009 at 9:49 am
I sent out a letter to my officials and I am blogging about it.
February 16th, 2009 at 9:49 am
I also got my g/f to send out the same letter
February 16th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
I sure would like to hear something about Wisconsin legislation. Things have been real quiet around here lately, so I have to wonder what’s going on.
I know that a bill put in place last session never even got LOOKED at, which is really depressing, frustrating and even infuriating. It’s shameful, really.
February 17th, 2009 at 1:40 pm
If , Michael Phelps was sending a bad message to kids then we need to put a stop to all those ” Amhaueser – Busch ” ads on TV and on billboards telling us how great it is to drink alcoholic beverages . Saw a big bottle of Bud light the other day on a Billboard while headed south out of , Eureka , Ca. NOW…. THAT”S REALLY SENDING A BAD MESSAGE TO KIDS ! Alcohol is also a gateway drug leading to harder drugs . Ask any heroin or meth user if they had gotten drunk before using other drugs and the answer is always…………..yes.
February 19th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
My first buzz was with beer that’s the gate way drug i am 45 now and i would rather use cannabis than drink beer i feel it’s much safer than drinking no hangovers.
February 20th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
New Jersey State Senate Votes on Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act…
New Jersey state Senate will vote on a medical marijuana law this coming Monday! If you live in New Jersey, write or call your Senators!
……
February 23rd, 2009 at 10:56 am
I can’t find anything on the progress regarding NJ’s Bill 119. Where can I get the info on how the vote turned out?
February 23rd, 2009 at 5:17 pm
Virginia did not pass
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?091+lst+FAI+HB2225
February 23rd, 2009 at 5:18 pm
oops
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?091+lst+FAI+HB2339
at the bottom of the list
March 29th, 2009 at 3:38 pm
my God, i thought you were going to chip in with some critical insight at the end there, not leave it with ?we leave it to you to decide?.