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Three years after Thailand became the first Asian nation to decriminalizecannabis , its groundbreaking policy may collapse under political turmoil. The recent exit of the pro-cannabis Bhumjaithai Party from the ruling coalition, has left prohibitionists in control. This marriage of convenience was doomed from the start.
"Texas voters, like most Americans, do not want cannabis consumers arrested or jailed. Unfortunately, Texas officials would rather cancel their own voters than abide by the will of the people and move forward with smart and sensible cannabispolicies."
In the US, the laws determining the status of cannabis use vary from state to state and continue to change over time. Texas has one such cannabis program in flux, with a new bill being introduced that may change the legality of recreational marijuana within the state. The Texas medical cannabis program allows for no more than 0.5%
When it comes to any hot-button issue like cannabis legalization, there are always two sides, often without much middle ground. Nixons War on Drugs The Nixon administration took the racially-charged propaganda behind cannabis prohibition even further by unofficially beginning the War on Drugs in 1971.
A coalition of fourteen Democratic lawmakers signed a letter sent to President Biden and Vice President Harris in November 2024 urging the current leaders to expedite expanding pardons for those charged with cannabis-related offenses, as well as putting into effect updated guidelines deprioritizing federal cannabis convictions and prosecutions.
Jared Shaw, a former Oklahoma State University basketball player, has been arrested for cannabis possession in Indonesia. On May 7, 2025, police raided the 34-year-old’s apartment just outside of Jakarta, seizing 132 pieces of cannabis candy that Shaw said he had planned to share with his teammates. Shaw is from Dallas, Texas.
On the other hand, April 20th—commonly known as 4/20—marks a different kind of celebration, one deeply tied to cannabis culture and the grassroots fight for legalization and acceptance. The Spirit of Reform: April 20th Now consider April 20th, a day globally recognized by cannabis users, advocates, and wellness communities.
Richmond, VA: Democratic Governor Ralph Northam has approved legislation ( Senate Bill 2 | House Bill 972 ) decriminalizing marijuana possession offenses. ” Governor Northam had previously gone on record in support of decriminalizing marijuana violations and expunging past convictions, as has Attorney General Mark Herring.
As currently written, the measure decriminalizes the possession and distribution of up to two ounces of marijuana by adults — making these activities punishable by a $50 fine. Twenty six additional states and the District of Columbia have either legalized or decriminalized the adult possession and use of marijuana.
Richmond, VA: Democratic Governor Ralph Northam has signed legislation ( Senate Bill 2 | House Bill 972 ) decriminalizing marijuana possession. ” Governor Northam had previously gone on record in support of decriminalizing marijuana violations and expunging past convictions, as has Attorney General Mark Herring.
Michelle Lujan Grisham signed legislation into law decriminalizing the possession of personal use amounts of cannabis. “This is a win for consumers and activists continuing to fight and reform the state’s marijuana laws,” says NORML State Policies Coordinator Carly Wolf. In April, Democratic Gov.
Today, the legislature approved HB 972 to decriminalize marijuana possession. Those in possession of up to one ounce of cannabis for personal use will no longer be subject to criminal prosecution and will instead face a maximum $25 civil penalty. Broad changes to marijuana laws swept through the 2020 Virginia General Assembly.
House and Senate lawmakers have finalized and passed legislation, House Bill 1383 , decriminalizing low-level marijuana possession offenses and vacating past convictions. The measure also establishes a task force to review cannabispolicy and to make recommendations to the legislature by 2021.
Today, even in jurisdictions where cannabis remains criminalized under state law, tens of millions of Americans reside in cities and counties where local laws either depenalizing or decriminalizingcannabis-related activities are in effect.
David Ige publicly stated this week that he does not intend to veto pending legislation to decriminalize low-level marijuana possession offenses. It also establishes a task force to review cannabispolicy and to make recommendations to the legislature by 2021. Democratic Gov. The new law will go into effect on January 11, 2020.
The new law reduces first-time penalties for the possession of up to one-half ounce of cannabis from a criminal misdemeanor — formerly punishable by up to 15 days in jail — to a ‘penalty assessment,’ punishable by a $50 fine. Lawmakers passed legislation in April to change the law.
Regardless of the policy you’re advocating for (e.g., adult-use, patient access, decriminalization etc.) Priority legislation includes: the Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act , the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment, and Expungement (MORE) Act , the VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act and more!
Municipal officials in various cities nationwide are moving away from policies requiring marijuana testing for public employees. “Now is the time for municipalities throughout the state to review and update their policies so they may better align with state law and public opinion.”
There has been some confusion and misinformation circulating about what New York’s latest expansion of marijuana decriminalization means and what impact it will have on criminal prosecutions going forward. PL 220 then imposes escalating grades of punishment depending on the weight of concentrated cannabis. Legal Provisions.
The post State Policy Weekly Update 2/7/2023 appeared first on NORML. Highlights include: DE, GA, HI, IA, MD, MN, MO, NB, NH, NY, NC, ND, OH, SD, TN, WA, and WV.
Tuesday, November 5, control of Virginia’s legislature shifted to democrats, opening the door for decriminalization , expungement, and establishing a clear path to legalizing responsible adult-use in the Commonwealth. Finally, Virginia has a path to implement evidence-based policies that reflect the attitudes of its constituents.”
The post State Policy Weekly Update 2/22/2023 appeared first on NORML. Highlights include: CA, CO, GA, HI, IL, MD, MN, MO, NC, ND, NH, NM, NY, OH, PA, SC, TN, UT, VT, and WA.
The post State Policy Weekly Update (1/10/23) appeared first on NORML. This week's update highlights legislative developments in Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah and Washington.
The enactment of adult-use marijuana legalization laws is not associated with any significant increase in cannabis-related activity in neighboring states and counties, according to a federally funded report published by the nonprofit Justice Research and Statistics Association and first reported by MarijuanaMoment.net.
The post State Policy Weekly Update 1/24/2023 appeared first on NORML. This week's update highlights legislative developments in Connecticut, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Utah.
The post State Policy Weekly Update 1/17/2023 appeared first on NORML. This week's update highlights legislative developments in Alaska, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, and South Dakota. .
In 2018 there were nearly 24,000 adults arrested for less than 30 grams of cannabis. cannabis arrest data since 2008. ” “Previously, there were steady annual increases in arrests for cannabis possession – thousands more every year – while other drug arrests had plateaued. .”
The post State Policy Update (1/14/2022) appeared first on NORML. Here is NORML’s weekly update on pending state legislation in Wisconsin, West Virginia, South Carolina, Mississippi, Kentucky, Indiana, Georgia, Florida, Delaware, Alaska.
Trenton, NJ – Garden State NORML and cannabis consumers across New Jersey are calling on legislators to find an immediate solution to stop arresting nearly 100 people every day for possessing small amounts of marijuana. Twenty-one states and over one hundred cities have enacted such provisions. “Enough is enough. .
FLORIDA Legislation has been filed… The post State Policy Update (1/7/2022) appeared first on NORML. Updates on filed and moving legislation over the last week.
The post State Policy Weekly Update 2/4/2022 appeared first on NORML. Here is NORML’s weekly update on state legislative activity in Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Mississippi, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Ohio.
Members of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security heard expert testimony today challenging the federal government’s failed policy of cannabis prohibition. State’s Attorney for Baltimore City, Dr. David Nathan of the group Doctors for Cannabis Regulation, Marilyn Mosby, Esq.,
Black Americans are being arrested for cannabis possession laws at a rate of nearly four times that of white Americans despite the fact that the groups consume cannabis at similar rates. Racial Disparity in Cannabis Arrests. Decriminalization: The Key to Equality. Additionally, Black Wisconsinites were 4.2 He states, “U.S
The post 1/21/22 – State Policy Update appeared first on NORML. Here is NORML’s weekly update on pending state legislation with helpful links to action alerts.
The post State Policy Weekly Update 1/28/2022 appeared first on NORML. Here is NORML’s weekly update on pending state legislation in Washington, Virginia, Utah, Tennessee, South Dakota, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kansas, Illinois, Hawaii, and Delaware.
Louis on Monday signed a bill to decriminalize marijuana possession and cultivation for adults, a local reform that comes as efforts to legalize cannabis statewide in Missouri are also gaining momentum. Louis Mayor Signs Bill To Decriminalize Marijuana Possession And Cultivation. The mayor of St. Read more at MM.
jurisdiction to decriminalize psilocybin-containing mushrooms. jurisdiction has actually approved of the decriminalization of psilocybin, and this could have major effects throughout the nation. Decriminalization is a very different concept. Decriminalization just will protect some users from facing jail time.
Newly sworn-in Democratic Governor Tony Evers announced Monday that he is taking Wisconsin cannabispolicy reform into his own hands by attaching proposals to his spending budget this year. Evers aims to legalize medical cannabis, decriminalize recreational possession and use, and expunge qualifying arrest records.
The US House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health will hold a legislative hearing entitled “CannabisPolicies for the New Decade.” ” This marks the first time that members of the Energy and Commerce Committee will hear and debate issues specific to marijuana policy reform. CO resident? FL resident?
Connecticut is weighing mushroom decriminalization, the NBA ended its cannabis testing protocol, and Missouri’s job market is booming thanks to cannabis. Last week, a legislative committee in Connecticut passed a bill to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of psilocybin mushrooms.
Kleiman , an academic expert on cannabispolicy who often shared and debated his well informed views on marijuana policy reform with those of us who were committed to advocating for a policy of adult use legalization. He further developed his views on cannabis and criminal justice as a professor of public policy at UCLA.
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