At the state level, Governor Doug Burgum of North Dakota signed a package of bills into law to expand the state’s medical cannabis access program. Among the changes are: allowing physicians assistants to recommend medical cannabis to their patients, adding several new qualifying conditions, and authorizing cancer patients to possess greater quantities of cannabis than typically allowed.
Republican leaders in Wisconsin’s state legislature said that Governor Evers’ medical cannabis and decriminalization budget proposals will not be passed through the legislature this session.
Maine regulators are finally moving forward with draft regulations to implement the state’s 2016 voter-approved initiative legalizing the commercial production and retail sale of marijuana.
After Governor Kristi Noem of South Dakota vetoed a bill to regulate industrial hemp production last month, the legislature is set to study the topic during the interim session.
At a more local level, the Jefferson County (population: 658,000) Sheriff’s Office announced that local law enforcement will begin citing, rather than arresting, low-level marijuana offenders. Days later, the Chief Deputy announced that the cite and release program will be put on hold, without further details.
Nassau County, New York voted to prohibit retail cannabis sales in the county once it becomes legal in New York state. A bill to remove certain restrictions on social cannabis consumption sites was killed in Denver, Colorado’s city council. Meanwhile, members of the Fairbanks, Alaska city council approved an ordinance to allow on-site cannabis consumption at licensed retail outlets.
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
End Prohibition: The Marijuana Justice Act would (1) remove marijuana from the US Controlled Substances Act, thereby ending the federal criminalization of cannabis; (2) incentivize states to mitigate existing and ongoing racial disparities in state-level marijuana arrests; (3) expunge federal convictions specific to marijuana possession; (4) allow individuals currently serving time in federal prison for marijuana-related violations to petition the court for resentencing; (5) and create a community reinvestment fund to invest in communities most impacted by the failed War on Drugs.
Send a message to your federal lawmakers in support of this important legislation
Alabama
Legislation is pending, House Bill 96 / Senate Bill 98, to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana.
The measure would reduce the penalty for the possession of one ounce of marijuana from a criminal misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in prison and a maximum fine of $6,000, to a non-criminal violation punishable by a maximum fine of $250.
Update: HB 96 is scheduled for a hearing in the House Committee on Judiciary on 5/1/19 at 1:30pm.
AL resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of decriminalization
House Bill 243, as well as Senate Bill 236, would provide registered patients with regulated access to medical cannabis via licensed providers.
Update: SB 236 was approved by the Senate Committee on Judiciary on 4/25/19.
AL resident? Click here to email your lawmakers 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 heard by the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry on 4/24/19.
AL resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of industrial hemp production
Arizona
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 Rules Committee on 4/25/19.
AZ resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of medical expansion
Legislation is pending, Senate Bill 1494, to require the Department of Human Services to establish standards related to testing medical cannabis products.
The measure would establish a licensing scheme for third party testing laboratories.
Update: SB 1494 was approved by the House Rules Committee on 4/25/19.
AZ resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of medical cannabis testing standards
California
Legislation is pending, AB 286, to temporarily reduce tax rates imposed on the retail sale and commercial cultivation of cannabis.
Update: AB 286 was heard by the Assembly Business And Professions Committee on 4/23/19.
CA resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of lower taxes
AB 1465 (Bloom) would allow licensing of cannabis consumption cafés and lounges in California.
Update: Ab 1465 was approved by the Assembly Business And Professions Committee on 4/23/19.
CA resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of social consumption lounges
SB 51 seeks to assist financial institutions in safely conducting transactions with licensed cannabis businesses.
Update: SB 51 was heard in the Senate Governance and Finance Committee on 4/24/19.
CA resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of banking access
Colorado
Legislation is pending, House Bill 19-1230, to allow the social consumption of cannabis by adults in licensed and regulated establishments.
The measure would establish a license permit process for hospitality spaces to allow cannabis products to be legally purchased and consumed on site.
Update: HB 19-1230 was approved by the Senate Finance Committee on 4/25/19.
CO resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of social consumption sites
Legislation is pending, House Bill 19-1234, to allow licensed marijuana businesses to deliver both medical and adult use marijuana to private residences.
The measure would establish a licensing system for such delivery services and also require training for delivery permit holders.
Update: HB 19-1234 was heard by the Senate Finance Committee on 4/25/19.
CO resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of cannabis delivery services
Legislation is pending, Senate Bill 19-220, to amend the state’s existing industrial hemp law to be in compliance with the new federal hemp regulations.
Update: SB 19-220 was approved by the House Committee on State, Veterans, & Military Affairs on 4/24/19, and was then approved by the House Committee on Appropriations on 4/25.
CO resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of industrial hemp production
Connecticut
Senate Bill 893 would establish a pilot program for the purpose of studying the growth, cultivation and marketing of industrial hemp.
Update: SB 893 was approved by the Senate on 4/2519, and will now be transmitted to the House.
CT resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of industrial hemp research
Florida
Legislation is pending, H. 333, to amend the state’s existing industrial hemp law to be in compliance with the new federal hemp regulations.
Separately, SB 1020 would also regulate industrial hemp production, and a third measure, SB 7102 would allow for the retail sale of hemp extracts.
Update: SB 1020 was approved by the Senate on 4/24/19, and now will be transmitted to the House.
FL resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of industrial hemp production
Iowa
Legislation is pending, HF 754 and SF 599, to establish an industrial hemp program to be in compliance with the new federal hemp regulations.
Update: HF 754 was approved by the House Appropriations Committee on 4/18/19, and SF 599 was approved by the House of Representatives on 4/23, and will now head back to the Senate for concurrence on House amendments.
IA resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of industrial hemp production
Louisiana
Legislation is pending, House Bill 358, to give qualified patients the option to inhale herbal cannabis for medical purposes.
Update: HB 358 is scheduled for a hearing in the House Committee on Health & Welfare on 5/1/19 at 9am.
LA resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of this effort
Legislation is pending, House Bill 138, to remove hemp and “cannabidiol when contained in a drug product approved by the FDA,” from the state’s list of controlled substances.
Update: HB 138 is scheduled for a hearing in the House Committee on Criminal Justice on 5/1/19 at 9am.
LA resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of descheduling hemp
House Bill 579 and House Bill 491 seek to regulate the production of industrial hemp in Louisiana, in compliance with new federal hemp regulations.
Update: HB 491 was approved by the House Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development on 4/25/19.
LA resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of industrial hemp production
Nevada
Legislation is pending, Assembly Bill 192, to allow individuals to get their records vacated for offenses that are no longer a crime in Nevada.
Update: AB 192 was approved by the Assembly on 4/23/19, and now heads to the Senate.
NV resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of vacating prior conviction records
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 4/23/19, and now heads to the Senate.
NV resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of employment protections
New Hampshire
Legislation is pending, House Bill 364, to permit qualifying patients to cultivate personal use quantities of cannabis for therapeutic purposes.
The measure would permit patients to grow up to three mature plants and 12 seedlings, and to possess up to two ounces of home-grown medical cannabis.
Update: HB 364 was approved by the Senate Health and Human Services Committee on 4/23/19.
NH resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of home cultivation
Oklahoma
Legislation is pending, Senate Bill 868 / House Bill 2628, to amend the state’s existing industrial hemp law to be in compliance with the new federal hemp regulations.
Update: HB 2628 was unanimously approved by the Senate on 4/15/19, and will now go back to the House for concurrence on Senate amendments.
OK 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 Senate Judiciary Committee on 4/23/19, and was then approved by the full Senate on 4/25. The bill now heads to the House.
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 is scheduled for a work session in the House Human Services and Housing Committee on 4/29/19.
OR resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of housing protections
Texas
House Bill 63 would reduce penalties for the possession of up to one ounce of marijuana from a class B misdemeanor punishable by a maximum fine of $2,000 and up to 180 days in jail to a civil offense punishable by a $250 fine only.
Update: HB 63 was debated on the floor of the House of Representatives on 4/25/19.
TX resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of decriminalization
House Bill 1325 is pending to establish a state-licensed industrial hemp program.
Update: HB 1325 was approved by the House of Representatives on 4/23/19, and now heads to the Senate.
TX resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of industrial hemp
Vermont
S. 54 is pending to establish a regulatory framework for the regulation of a commercial, adult use marijuana market.
Update: S. 54 was heard by the House Committees on Government Operations; Human Services; and Judiciary this week.
VT resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of regulation
Legislation is pending, Senate Bill 58, to amend the state’s existing industrial hemp law to be in compliance with the new federal hemp regulations.
Update: S. 58 was heard by the House Committee on Agriculture and Forestry each day the committee met this week.
VT resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of industrial hemp production
Washington
Legislation is pending, SB 5605 / HB 1500, to allow individuals with prior misdemeanor cannabis convictions to apply to the sentencing court to have their record vacated.
Update: SB 5605 was approved by the House and Senate on 4/26/19, and will now be transmitted to the governor.
WA resident? Click here to email your governor in support of expungement
Legislation is pending, House Bill 1095 / Senate Bill 5442, to allow medical cannabis to be administered to patients at school.
Update: HB 1095 was approved by the House on a concurrence vote on 4/19/19, and now heads to the Governor’s desk.
Legislation is pending, HB 1401 / SB 5719, and Senate Bill 5276, to amend the state’s existing industrial hemp law to be in compliance with the new federal hemp regulations.
Update: SB 5276 was approved by the House on 4/23/19 and the Senate for concurrence on 4/24. The bill will now be transmitted to the governor.
WA resident? Click here to email your governor in support of industrial hemp production
Wisconsin
Rep. Melissa Sargent (D-Madison) introduced LRB 0154, to regulate the use, growing, and distribution of marijuana for both medical and recreational purposes.
The measure permits adults to possess two ounces of cannabis and grow up to six cannabis plants. It also establishes regulations for the production and retail sale of marijuana to anyone over the age of 21, in addition to establishing a regulated system for medical marijuana production and sales for qualified patients.
The bill also prohibits employers from discriminating against employees because of their off-the-job use of cannabis, provides for the expungement of prior convictions, and allows insurance providers to provide coverage for patients’ use of medical marijuana.
WI resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of legalization