Welcome to the latest edition of NORML’s Weekly Legislative Roundup!
This week, the US Food and Drug Administration is taking in-person public testimony with regard to the “manufacturing, product quality, marketing, labeling, and sale” of CBD-infused retail products.
Governor Jared Polis (D) of Colorado signed multiple cannabis reform bills into law that regulate cannabis delivery services and social consumption spaces, and reduce criminal penalties for the possession of large quantities of cannabis.
Governor Steve Sisolak (D) of Nevada signed legislation into law this week to allow individuals to get their records vacated for offenses that are no longer a crime in the state.
Members of the New Hampshire Senate voted to delay consideration of a House-passed legalization bill until later this year.
Following are the bills that we’ve tracked this week and as always, check NORML’s Action Center for legislation pending in your state.
Don’t forget to sign up for our email list, and we will keep you posted as these bills and more move through your home state legislature and U.S. Congress. Another great way to stay up to date is Marijuana Moment’s daily newsletter, which you can subscribe to HERE.
Your Highness,
Carly
Actions to Take
Federal
The Marijuana Freedom and Opportunity Act would remove marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act and to provide funding for the expungement of criminal records for those with past marijuana convictions.
Send a message to your federal lawmakers in support of this important legislation
Alabama
Legislation is pending, Senate Bill 236, to allow qualifying patients with certain debilitating conditions to use and safely access medical cannabis.
Update: A substitute version of SB 236 that would create a commission to study the use of medical CBD was approved by the House of Representatives on 5/29/19. The bill now heads to the governor’s desk.
AL resident? Click here to email your governor in support of medical cannabis access
Legislation is pending, Senate Bill 225, to amend the state’s existing industrial hemp law to be in compliance with the new federal hemp regulations.
Update: SB 225 was approved by the House of Representatives on 5/29/19, and now heads to the governor’s desk.
AL resident? Click here to email your governor in support of industrial hemp production
Arizona
Legislation is pending, Senate Bill 1494, to require the Department of Human Services to establish standards related to testing medical cannabis products.
Update: SB 1494 was approved by the House and Senate on 5/27/19, and now heads to the governor’s desk.
AZ resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of testing standards
Legislation is pending, Senate Bill 1286, to expand patient access to medical cannabis in Arizona.
The measure would allow additional dispensaries to operate in unincorporated areas of the state that are not within 25 miles of an existing dispensary.
Update: SB 1286 was approved by the House of Representatives on 5/27/19, and now will go to a conference committee to reconcile amendments made to the bill.
AZ resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of expanded patient access
Illinois
Legislation is pending, The Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act, to regulate the use, possession, cultivation, and retail sale of adult use marijuana.
Update: The bill was approved by the Senate on 5/29/19, and the House of Representatives on 5/30. The bill now heads to the governor’s desk.
IL resident? Click here to email your governor in support of legalization
Legislation is pending, House Bill 2980 / Senate Bill 2023, to amend the Illinois Banking Act and the Illinois Credit Union Act in a manner that facilitates banks and other financial institutions to safely conduct transactions with licensed marijuana businesses.
Update: SB 2023 was approved by the House Judiciary Criminal Committee on 5/29/19.
IL resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of banking access
Louisiana
Legislation is pending, House Bill 138, to remove hemp and “cannabidiol when contained in a drug product approved by the FDA,” from the list of controlled substances.
Update: HB 138 was heard and approved by the Senate Committee on Judiciary on 5/28/19.
LA resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of descheduling hemp
Nevada
Legislation is pending, SB 430, that would expand the pool of individuals eligible for medical cannabis.
The measure would permit physicians to recommend cannabis therapy to those diagnosed with anxiety, autism, opioid addiction or dependence, anorexia nervosa, among others.
Update: SB 430 was approved by the Assembly on a concurrence vote on 5/28/19, and now heads to the governor’s desk.
NV resident? Click here to email your governor in support of medical expansion
Legislation is pending, AB 132, to protect cannabis consumers from employment discrimination.
This measure prohibits employers from arbitrarily discriminating against prospective employees who legally consume cannabis off-the-job in accordance with state law.
Update: AB 132 was approved by the Assembly on a concurrence vote on 5/28/19, and now heads to the governor’s desk.
NV resident? Click here to email your governor in support of employment protections
New Hampshire
Legislation is pending, House Bill 399, to permit those convicted of past marijuana offenses to seek an expungement of their criminal records.
Update: HB 335 was approved by the Senate on 5/30/19, and now heads to the governor.
NH resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of expungement
Legislation is pending, House Bill 335, to expand access to medical cannabis in New Hampshire.
The measure would allow the Department of Health and Human Services to authorize additional dispensary licenses in certain geographic areas of the state.
Update: HB 335 was approved by the Senate on 5/30/19, and now heads to the governor.
NH resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of medical expansion
New Jersey
Senate Bill 10 and Assembly Bill 10 would expand patients’ access to medical cannabis.
The measure facilitates the expansion of additional medical cannabis growers and providers, while also expanding the amount of cannabis a patient may legally purchase and possess. It further expands the pool of licensed health professional who may recommend medical cannabis, and shields registered patients from employment discrimination and the loss of child custody. It also phases out retail sales taxes on medical cannabis, amongst other changes.
Update: A10/S10 was approved by the Senate on 5/30/19, and now heads to the governor’s desk.
NJ resident? Click here to email your governor in support of medical expansion
North Carolina
Legislation is pending, Senate Bill 315, to amend the state’s existing industrial hemp law to be in compliance with the new federal hemp regulations.
Update: S. 3156 was heard by the Senate Agriculture/Environment/Natural Resources Committee on 5/30/19, and is scheduled for another hearing in the committee on 6/5.
NC resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of industrial hemp production
Oregon
Legislation is pending, Senate Bill 420, to expand upon Oregon’s expungement law.
The measure would direct the Department of Justice to automatically conduct a review of past misdemeanor cannabis convictions, and to “set aside” offenses that are no longer a crime under state law.
Update: SB 420 was approved by the House Judiciary Committee on 5/30/19.
OR resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of expungement
Legislation is pending, Senate Bill 970, to protect state-sanctioned medical cannabis patients, as well as those with prior or pending cannabis convictions, from housing discrimination.
Update: SB 970 was approved by the House of Representatives on 5/28/19, and now heads to the governor’s desk.
OR resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of housing protections
Rhode Island
Legislation is pending to facilitate equity among those licensed to operate in the medical cannabis industry.
H. 6069 would require the Department of Business Regulation to prioritize licensing applications submitted by those who live in communities disproportionately impacted by marijuana prohibition, and create an economic opportunity fund to provide loans to qualifying businesses.
H. 6073 and H. 6070 seek to implement policies that would ensure the equitable distribution of medical cannabis business licenses and create an economic opportunity fund to provide loans to qualifying businesses.
H. 5795 would create funds to offer technical assistance to economically disadvantaged individuals who wish to enter into the medical cannabis industry.
Update: All four bills were heard by the House Finance Committee on 5/29/19, and then held for further study, killing the bills for this session.