Izetta Enriquez спросил 1 год назад
More than a dozen state legislatures are thinking about medical or adult-use cannabis legalization bills this year as momentum develops following the 2020 election, which saw five states pass legalization procedures, and the U.S. House’s approval of the MORE Act, which would federally deschedule cannabis.
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«The Election Day legalization triumphes certainly added to the momentum for other states to pursue cannabis reform, especially in the Northeast, and legislators in a number of states have actually already taken action by introducing legislation to legalize cannabis,» Violet Cavendish, communications supervisor for The Marijuana Policy Project (MPP), informs Cannabis Business Times and Cannabis Dispensary.
MPP is focusing its efforts on advancing legislation to legislate and manage adult-use cannabis in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Rhode Island and Virginia this year, Cavendish says, including that New York and New Mexico are also key states to enjoy as state lawmakers consider legalization propositions.
On the medical cannabis front, MPP is actively dealing with client supporters this year to advance legislation in Kentucky and South Carolina.
«Legalization has actually proven to be a winning problem, and we expect to see continued development for state-level cannabis reforms this year,» Cavendish says.
NORML is also providing its support to a number of these policy reform efforts, and Deputy Director Paul Armentano states the company will be actively involved in adult-use legalization efforts in New Mexico, Virginia, New York and Connecticut this year, while likewise focusing on the execution of New Jersey’s adult-use cannabis program.
NORML will likewise lobby in favor of home growing in Washington State, along with expanded medical cannabis access and a decrease of criminal ownership penalties in Texas. The company is also seeking to advance medical cannabis legalization in South Carolina.
«In several other states, we are likewise supporting efforts to expand existing medical gain access to, facilitate the expungement of past records, and enforce workplace and other legal protections versus discrimination for those who use cannabis properly,» Armentano states.
NORML State Policies Coordinator Carly Wolf anticipates legalization legislation to advance faster in New Mexico and Virginia, which have brief legislative sessions, and is also paying especially attention to the Northeast this year.
«With the application of New Jersey’s voter-approved tally procedure expected in the coming months, I am carefully watching other states in the Northeast like New York, being just across the river, as well as Connecticut, and am optimistic about the chances of legalization succeeding in both of these states in 2021, particularly with even bigger Democratic bulks now than in previous years,» she says.
Here is a more detailed look at the states that are weighing cannabis policy reform this year.
Adult-Use Cannabis Legalization Efforts
Gov. Ned Lamont announced throughout his State of the State address in early January that adult-use cannabis legalization is a concern for him this year, and late last month, he presented a draft costs to make this goal a reality. Lamont’s administration is presently looking for feedback on the draft legislation, and it stays to be seen whether Lamont will integrate the proposition into his state spending plan, which is because of legislators in February.
Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith and Sen. Jeff Brandes have filed complementary bills this year to legislate adult-use cannabis in the Sunshine State. Smith’s H.B. 343 would legislate cannabis for adults 21 and older, while Brandes’ S.B. 710 would revise the state’s sales tax exemption for the sale of cannabis to use just to purchases made by competent patients or caretakers registered in the state’s medical cannabis program. The legislation would allow grownups to buy approximately 2.5 ounces of cannabis or items containing approximately 2 grams of THC, however cigarette smoking cannabis would stay unlawful.
Del. Jazz Lewis has actually introduced a detailed cannabis legalization expense, H.B. 32, which would legislate the individual possession and home growing of cannabis for grownups, as well as automatically expunge previous cannabis offenses, establish a social equity program and reinvest a portion of tax income to endowments to Maryland’s 4 traditionally black institution of higher learnings (HBCUs) and the communities most impacted by prohibition. The Maryland Cannabis Policy Coalition organized a virtual press conference Jan. 26 in support of Lewis’ costs, which is officially called The Cannabis Legalization and Regulation, Inclusion, Restoration, and Rehabilitation Act of 2021.
House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler has actually been spearheading adult-use cannabis legalization efforts in Minnesota, and is renewing his push for policy reform this year with plans to as soon as again sponsor adult-use legislation. Ahead of last year’s legal session, Minnesota legislators held a series of public discussions across the state to gather public input on legalization, and Winkler presented an adult-use legalization expense last spring that integrated feedback created from those conversations.
Democrats in New Mexico’s legislature are preparing a cannabis legalization proposal during this year’s 60-day legislative session, which began Jan. 19. Rep. Javier Martinez is leading the legalization effort this year and sees a course forward for policy reform after citizens did not reelect some more conservative legislators to the Democrat-controlled legislature in the 2020 election. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has actually also thrown her assistance behind adult-use cannabis legalization in the past.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo renewed his push for legalization this year throughout his Jan. 6 State of the State address, when he revealed strategies to introduce an adult-use legalization proposal. Since then, the legislature has actually presented its own legalization measure, and the conversation continues surrounding the best method to policy reform.
Rep. Jason Dockter has actually sponsored an adult-use legalization expense in the state legislature this year, despite his own opposition to legislating cannabis. According to The Dickinson Press, Dockter thinks legalization is inescapable as more states legislate and regulate cannabis, and he says lawmakers must prepare a legalization proposition rather of leaving the concern in the hands of a tally effort campaign. Legalize ND backed a 2020 project to get adult-use legalization in front of citizens last year, however ultimately refocused its efforts on the 2022 election after the COVID-19 pandemic largely thwarted its signature gathering efforts. In the meantime, Dockter’s H.B. 1420 would permit adults 21 and older to use, possess and carry as much as one ounce of cannabis or an equivalent amount of edible cannabis products, and the state Health Council would be charged with licensing and regulating growers and dispensaries.
State Sen. Roland Gutierrez pre-filed S.B. 140 in November to legalize adult-use cannabis in the state. The lawmaker approximated that legalization would develop 30,000 new tasks, along with produce more than $3 billion in income, according to an ABC13.com report.
In mid-January, Gov. Ralph Northam proposed an adult-use legalization bill that has actually given that been co-sponsored by Sens. Louise Lucas and Adam Ebbin. The legislation would allow adult-use sales to launch Jan. 1, 2023, and requires the licensing of farmers, processors, distributors/wholesalers, retailers and testing labs. The Senate Rehabilitation and Social Services Subcommittee voted Jan. 20 to advance the bill, sending it to the full Senate Rehabilitation and Social Services Committee for factor to consider. Virginia Del. Steve Heretick has actually reintroduced a separate legalization costs, which is also still pending in the state legislature.
Medical Cannabis Legalization Efforts
Alabama
Sen. Tim Melson prepares to reestablish a medical cannabis legalization bill this year after similar legislation passed the Alabama Senate throughout the 2020 legislative session prior to ultimately stalling in the House. Melson’s brand-new bill would create the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission to license and control the industry in the state, where only industrial hemp has been legislated.
Kansas
A group of lawmakers introduced a medical cannabis legalization proposal in mid-January with the support of the Kansas Cannabis Industry Association. The costs’s fans argue that a regulated medical cannabis market may help boost the state’s economy in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, and they are positive that the legislation has the support it needs in the legislature if it is phoned for a vote this year.
Kentucky
Sen. Steve West presented a medical cannabis legalization bill Jan. 8 in the kind of S.B. 92, which would legalize the growing, production, circulation, sale and delivery of cannabis items and permit practitioners to recommend medical cannabis to their clients. West’s proposition signs up with Rep. Jason Nemes’ H.B. 136, a separate medical cannabis legalization costs that was reestablished Jan. 6 after stalling during in 2015’s legal session.
Nebraska
Sen. Anna Wishart has introduced L.B. 474 to legalize medical cannabis in the state. Wishart assisted lead Nebraska’s 2020 medical cannabis ballot initiative, which was supported by Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana and eventually rejected by the Nebraska Supreme Court for violating the state’s single subject rule.
Tennessee
Janice Bowling has actually backed legislation to legislate medical cannabis in Tennessee for several years, and revealed plans in November to present a brand-new medical cannabis legalization costs during this year’s legislative session. Bowling told regional news outlet WREG that she hopes the current legalization of medical cannabis in neighboring Mississippi will produce more support for the expense, which would license medical cannabis use for clients with certifying conditions that consist of cancer, glaucoma and PTSD.
States Making a Run at Both Medical and Adult-Use Legalization
Indiana
Sen. Karen Tallian has actually introduced two pieces of legislation this year to legislate and control medical and adult-use cannabis, along with hemp. S.B. 87 would establish the Cannabis Compliance Commission to regulate cannabis and hemp in the state, while S.B. 223 would decriminalize the ownership of approximately two ounces of cannabis.
South Carolina
Lawmakers in the Palmetto State pre-filed costs in both your house and the Senate in December to legalize medical and adult-use cannabis. Legislators in both chambers are thinking about two pieces of medical cannabis legislation, both called the «South Carolina Compassionate Care Act,» which mirror a proposal that was thought about throughout 2019 legislative session, when the Senate eventually pushed a vote on the step to 2020. Although the legislation stopped working to resurface last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the conversation seems to be continuing this year, and legislators in your house and Senate have likewise pre-filed expenses to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of cannabis, along with legislation to legislate adult-use.
