NORML’s Weekly Legislative Round Up

Below is this week’s summary of pending state legislation and tips on how you can become involved in changing the marijuana laws in your state.

Washington: A dozen lawmakers introduced legislation (HB 1177) this week to reclassifying (read: decriminalize) the possession of up to forty grams of marijuana to a class 2 civil infraction. Passage of this bill would reduce the penalties on minor marijuana possession offenses from a criminal misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail and a $500 fine to a monetary penalty of no more than $100. According to data provided by the Washington State Institute for Public Policy, enacting this policy would save state taxpayers over $7.5 million annually. Residents in Washington are strongly encouraged to contact their House members in support of HB 1177 via NORML’s online advocacy system.

Montana: There has been a flurry of legislative activity this week pertaining to the medical use of marijuana. First the good news. House Bill 73, an act to revise the state’s medical marijuana law, has been referred to the House Human Services Committee. If passed, this proposal would benefit Montana patients by expanding the pool of health care providers who may legally recommend marijuana therapy under state law to include physician assistants and nurse practitioners.

Now the bad news. Senate Bill 212, an act to impose a lifetime ban on qualified medical cannabis patients who commit certain driving indiscretions, has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee. If passed, this proposal would sanction patients found to be operating a motor vehicle with even trace levels of THC (above 1 ng/ml) in their blood by disqualifying them for life from the state’s medical marijuana program.

Both measures will be heard by legislators next week. It is important that lawmakers hear from you. If you live in Montana, you can show your support HB 73 by going here. You can voice your opposition to SB 212 by going here. For more information on attending next week’s hearings, please contact: info@mtmjpatients.org.

New Jersey: In the coming weeks, the Senate is expected to vote on Senate Bill 119, the New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act, which seeks to 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 contact their senators in support of SB 119 via NORML’s online advocacy system.

Missouri: Ten lawmakers have introduced legislation (HB 277) to legalize the medical use of marijuana in Missouri. If passed, this measure would “give medical marijuana patients the same rights as other pharmaceutically medicated individuals.” You can learn more about the measure via NORML’s online advocacy system.

NORML’s Weekly Legislative Round Up

Below is this week’s summary of pending state legislation and tips to help you become involved in changing the laws in your state.

Missouri: Joplin NORML and Sensible Joplin turned in over 6,000 signatures this week in favor of a municipal ballot initiative to reduce minor marijuana possession penalties to a fine-only offense. (Under Missouri law, marijuana possession is punishable by up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine.) The bill’s proponents were required to collect approximately 4,600 signatures from registered voters to qualify for the November 2008 ballot. The city has 20 days to verify the signatures. To learn more about the initiative, click here.

Rhode Island: Legislators are contemplating whether to override Gov. Don Carcieri’s (R) recent veto of legislation that sought to study whether the state should establish state-licensed ‘Compassion Clubs’ to provide medicinal cannabis to authorized patients. In 2005 and 2007, Gov. Carcieri vetoed legislation to legalize the medical use of cannabis by state-authorized patients. Both vetoes were eventually overridden by the legislature. For more information, please visit the Rhode Island Patient Advocacy Coalition here here. To hear comments from RIPAC Executive Director Jesse Stout on NORML’s Daily Audio Stash, please click here.

Hawaii: Republican Governor Linda Lingle vetoed legislation (House Bill 2675) this week that sought to establish a legislative commission to study ways to better provide medical cannabis to state-qualified patients. In her veto message, Gov. Lingle said she opposed the bill because “the use of marijuana, even medical marijuana, is illegal under federal law,” and because she believes that there are alternative prescription drugs available besides cannabis. Although the Senate voted to override the Governor’s veto, the House chose not to. To hear comments from Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii Executive Director Pam Lichty on NORML’s Daily Audio Stash, please click here.

Oregon: Oregon NORML held a press conference this week to announce the launch of the Oregon Cannabis Tax Act (OCTA), which seeks to regulate the sale of cannabis in state liquor stores. Proponents of the measure must collect 83,000 signatures from registered voters to qualify the initiative for the November 2010 ballot. To view the press conference, click here. To read media coverage of the campaign launch, please visit here.

California: Via CBS News — “The Berkeley City Council has placed on the Nov. 4 ballot [a measure that] would eliminate limits on the amount of medical marijuana that could be legally processed by patients or caregivers, establish peer review for medical marijuana collectives to police themselves and allow medical marijuana dispensaries to locate where permitted without a public hearing. The initiative failed by only 191 votes in 2004 but a judge nullified the results, ruling that Alameda County election officials mishandled a recount and ordering that the measure be placed back on the ballot in November.”

NORML’s Weekly Legislative Round Up

Marijuana law reform legislation is pending is several states. Below is a summary of this week’s legislative activity and tips to help you become involved in changing the laws in your state. (more…)