Welcome to the latest edition of NORML’s Weekly Legislative Roundup!
The U.S. House Financial Services Committee has scheduled to convene a markup on The Safe Banking Act, HR 1595 on Tuesday, March 26th.
Activists in Oregon have filed a 2020 ballot initiative with the Secretary of State that, if approved, would allow social cannabis consumption sites and protect consumers from employment discrimination. Similarly, activists in Arizona are attempting to qualify a 2020 legalization ballot initiative.
Governor Ron DeSantis (R) of Florida signed legislation into law to restore patients’ right to smoke medical cannabis.
Governor Ralph Northam (D) of Virginia signed legislation into law that will allow medical cannabis oil to be administered to patients on school property.
Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) of New York announced that marijuana legalization language will no longer appear in his budget proposal.
At a more local level, city commissioners in Lawrence, Kansas voted 4 to 1 to reduce the city’s fine for cannabis possession to $1. And Steelton Borough, Pennsylvania passed an ordinance to decriminalize up to 30 grams of cannabis possession.
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
California
Senate Bill 34 would exempt compassionate care programs from paying state cannabis taxes when they are providing free medical cannabis to financially disadvantaged people living with serious health conditions.
Update: SB 34 was approved by the Senate Governance and Finance Committee on 3/20.
CA resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of compassionate care programs
Legislation is pending, Senate Bill 223, to allow medical cannabis to be administered to patients at school.
The measure permits a parent or guardian to administer medical cannabis to their child patient on school grounds in a non-smoking and non-vaping form.
Update: SB 223 is scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee on 3/26 at 1:30pm.
CA resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of allowing medical cannabis in schools
Colorado
House Bill 19-1028 would permit physicians to recommend cannabis therapy to those diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder.
Update: HB 19-1028 was approved by the Senate Committee on Health & Human Services on 3/14, and then was approved by the Senate on 3/20. The bill now heads to the governor’s desk.
CO resident? Click here to email your governor in support of medical expansion
Connecticut
Lawmakers in Connecticut have introduced a package of bills specific legalizing and regulating the use and sale of marijuana by adults, and facilitating equity in the industry.
Senate Bill 1085 permits those age 21 and over to purchase and possess up to one and one half ounces of marijuana. The measure would also allow those with past marijuana possession convictions to petition the court to have their record expunged.
Separately, House Bill 7371 would establish a regulatory framework for the licensed retail sale of adult use marijuana.
Update: SB 1085 was heard by the Senate Judiciary Committee on 3/22, and HB 7371 was heard by the House General Law Committee on 3/22.
CT resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of legalization
Delaware
Legislation is pending, Senate Bill 45, to amend certain marijuana penalties for juvenile offenders.
Under state law, adults face civil penalties for minor marijuana possession offenses. Senate Bill 45 would make this policy consistent for juvenile offenders.
DE resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of penalty reductions for juveniles
Legislation is pending, Senate Bill 59, to expand medical cannabis access.
The measure expands the pool of medical professionals who are eligible to recommend medical cannabis by permitting physician assistants and nurse practitioners to issue recommendations to their patients.
DE resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of medical expansion
Georgia
House Bill 324 seeks to establish a regulatory framework to permit the retail sale of medical CBD products to registered patients.
Update: HB 324 was heard by the Senate Regulated Industries & Utilities Committee on 3/21.
GA resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of medical CBD expansion
Hawaii
Legislation is pending, House Bill 1383, that would decriminalize certain marijuana possession offenses.
The bill would would impose a civil penalty for the possession of up to three grams of marijuana, punishable by a $30 fine.
Update: HB 1383 was heard and approved by the Committees on Judiciary and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs on 3/19. The bill was amended to lower the fine from $200 to $30.
HI resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of decriminalization
Legislation is pending, House Bill 673 / Senate Bill 1430, to expand medical cannabis access.
The measure would protect registered medical cannabis patients from employment discrimination by prohibiting employers from arbitrarily discriminating against employees who legally consume medical cannabis off-the-job in accordance with state law.
Update: HB 673 was heard and approved by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health on 3/21. The bill was amended to strip out provisions that would allow the sale of medical cannabis edible products and permit physician assistants to issue recommendations. But a provision to protect patients from employment discrimination was added.
HI resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of medical expansion
Senate Bill 1353 seeks to amend the state’s existing industrial hemp law to be in compliance with the new federal hemp regulations.
Update: SB 1352 was heard by the House Committee on Judiciary on 3/18.
HI resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of industrial hemp production
Illinois
House Bill 902 – The Cannabis Legalization Equity Act would regulate the use, possession, cultivation, and retail sale of adult use marijuana.
The measure would allow adults 21 and over to possess up to 224 grams of marijuana and cultivate up to 24 mature plants in their home.
Update: HB 902 was heard in the House Judiciary – Criminal Committee on 3/19.
IL resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of legalization
House Bill 2493 allows those convicted of possessing up to 30 grams of cannabis to petition the court to have their records automatically expunged.
House Bill 2734 would call for a review of past convictions and would establish a process to automatically expunge the records of individuals who were convicted of certain marijuana possession offenses.
House Bill 2621 would allow individuals to petition the court for expungement of marijuana possession convictions for activity that has since been decriminalized.
House Bill 3392 would automatically limit access to criminal records of individuals who have completed all court orders and have gone ten years without any additional felony or misdemeanor convictions.
Update: All four bills were heard in the House Judiciary – Criminal Committee on 3/19.
IL resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of expungement
House Bill 2980 / Senate Bill2023 would 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: HB 2980 was heard in the House Judiciary – Criminal Committee on 3/19. SB 2023 was approved by the Senate Financial Institutions Committee on 3/20.
IL resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of banking access
A majority of the members of Illinois’ House of Representatives have added their names as cosponsors to a resolution urging lawmakers hit the brakes on the marijuana legalization debate.
The resolution states, “Lawmakers should not rush irresponsible legislation purely for tax revenues but should consider the health and safety of Illinoisans as their first priority when considering the question of legalization.”
IL resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in opposition to stalling the legalization debate
Kansas
Legislation is pending, SB 233 / HB 2173, to establish an industrial hemp program to be in compliance with the new federal hemp regulations.
Update: HB 2173 was approved by the House Committee on Agriculture on 3/20.
KS resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of industrial hemp production
Maine
Legislation is pending, LD 942, to require health insurance companies to reimburse patients for their out-of-pocket medical marijuana related costs.
Update: LD 942 was heard in the Senate on 3/19.
ME resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of reimbursement for patients
Legislation is pending, LD 1374, to allow licensed dispensaries and caregivers to home deliver medical cannabis to select patients.
ME resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of medical cannabis delivery services
Maryland
Legislation is pending, HB 33 / SB 893, to permit physicians to recommend cannabis therapy to those struggling with opioid abuse or dependence.
Update: SB 893 was approved by the Senate on 3/15, and is scheduled for a hearing in the House Health and Government Operations Committee on 3/27 at 1:00pm..
MD resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of cannabis as an alternative to opioids
Legislation is pending, Senate Bill 857 / House Bill 17, to allow licensed dispensaries to sell edible medical cannabis products.
Update: SB 857 was unanimously approved by the Senate on 3/15, and is scheduled for a hearing in the House Health and Government Operations Committee on 3/27 at 1:00pm.
MD resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of medical cannabis edible products
Legislation is pending, Senate Bill 854, to mandate employers and/or their insurers to provide worker’s compensation for those who may require medical cannabis therapy as a result of an occupational injury.
Minnesota
Legislation is pending, HF 766 / SF 1070, to expand access to medical cannabis in the state.
The measure would:
- Authorize each dispensary to open four additional locations in specified areas throughout the state
- Allow specific formulations of medical cannabis to be administered to qualified patients on school grounds
Update: SF 1070 was heard by the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services Finance and Policy on 3/21.
MN resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of medical expansion
Nevada
Legislation is pending, Senate Bill 228, to expand Nevada’s medical cannabis access program.
The proposed changes:
- Allows wellness service providers such as massage therapists, reflexologists, and structural integration practitioners to recommend and administer cannabis and hemp infused products for therapeutic purposes;
- Prohibits a practitioner from refusing to prescribe a controlled substance to a patient solely because the patient uses marijuana; and
- Establishes a Cannabis Control Commission to oversee the state’s medical marijuana access program.
Update: SB 228 was heard by the Senate Health and Human Services Committee on 3/20.
NV resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of medical expansion
New Hampshire
Legislation is pending, House Bill 481, to allow for the use, possession, and retail sale of marijuana by adults.
Update: The House Ways and Means Committee will hold an executive session on HB 481 on 3/27.
NH resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of legalization
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 is scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee on 3/26/2019, Room 101, Legislative Office Building at 2:15 pm.
NH resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of home cultivation
Legislation is pending, HB 350, to expand medical cannabis access.
The measure expands the pool of medical professionals who are eligible to recommend medical cannabis by permitting physician assistants to issue recommendations to their patients.
Update: HB 364 is scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee on 3/26/2019, Room 101, Legislative Office Building at 1:15 pm.
NH resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of medical expansion
Legislation is pending, House Bill 459, to amend the state’s existing industrial hemp law to be in compliance with the new federal hemp regulations.
Update: HB 459 was approved by the House of Representatives on 3/19.
NH resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of industrial hemp production
New Jersey
Senate Bill 2703 and Assembly Bill 4497: The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory and Expungement Aid Modernization Act would regulate adult use marijuana sales and also provide for the expungement of certain past records.
Update: S. 2703 was heard and approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee on 3/18, and A. 4497 was heard and approved by the Assembly Appropriations Committee on 3/18. The bills are scheduled to be considered by the full chambers on Monday 3/25.
NJ resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of legalization
S. 3205 / A. 4498, would make more crimes eligible for expungement — including offenses involving controlled dangerous substances — and cut the wait time down to five years. It also includes a “clean slate” process that will wipe away all offenses at once for anyone who has a clean record for 10 years after their last offense. Many more serious crimes would not be eligible.
Update: S. 3205 was heard and approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee on 3/18, and A. 4498 was heard and approved the Assembly Appropriations Committee on 3/18. The bills are scheduled to be considered by the full chambers on Monday 3/25.
NJ resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of expungement
Senate Bill 10 and Assembly Bill 10 seek to 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: A. 10 was heard and approved by the Assembly Appropriations Committee on 3/18. The bills are scheduled to be considered by the full chambers on Monday 3/25.
NJ resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of medical expansion
New Mexico
Senate Bill 406:
- Allows medical practitioners to recommend medical cannabis for several new conditions, including PTSD, Parkinson’s, and severe chronic pain;
- Prohibits employers from taking adverse action on an employee due to a positive drug test result or their status as a patient
- Allows primary caregivers to obtain a license to grow medical cannabis;
- Removes medical cannabis use as a violation of probation or parole;
- Protects patients who require organ transplants
Update: SB 406 was approved by the House of Representatives on 3/16, and no heads to the governor’s desk.
NM resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of medical expansion
New York
Legislation is pending, S.4117, that would prohibit the eviction of tenants for using medical marijuana for a certified medical use.
Update: S. 4117 is scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Housing, Construction and Community Development Committee on 3/26 at 10:30am in Room 123 CAP.
NY resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of housing protections
North Carolina
Legislation is pending, Senate Bill 168, to expand the state’s medical CBD exemption law.
The measure expands the pool of individuals eligible for a medical CBD exemption to include those diagnosed with autism, multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, and Mitochondrial disease.
Update: S. 168 was heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee on 3/20.
NC resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of expanded medical CBD exemptions
North Dakota
House Bill 1417 allows physicians to explicitly authorize patients diagnosed with cancer to legally possess greater quantities of cannabis than are generally allowed under the law.
Separately, House Bill 1519 would permit providers to recommend medical cannabis to those diagnosed with 13 additional conditions, including anorexia nervosa, anxiety, opioid use disorder or withdrawal, and autism.
A third measure, House Bill 1283, would allow physicians assistants to recommend medical cannabis to their patients.
And a separate measure, House Bill 1364, would permit edible medical cannabis products, as long as they do not appeal to minors.
Update: HB 1417, 1519, and 1283 were all approved by the Senate Human Services Committee. HB 1364 was reported out of committee without a recommendation.
ND resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of medical expansion
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: SB 868 was unanimously approved by the Senate on 3/18, and will now be transmitted to the House.
OK resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of industrial hemp production
Oregon
Legislation is pending, House Bill 3169, which seeks to allow licensed cannabis businesses to safely conduct transactions with financial institutions.
If passed, this legislation would allow banking institutions and credit unions to organize as limited charter cannabis financial institutions.
Update: HB 3169 is scheduled for a hearing in the House Economic Development Committee on 3/25 at 1pm in room HR D.
OR resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of banking access
South Carolina
H. 3660 / S. 366: The South Carolina Compassionate Care Act, would regulate medical cannabis distribution and access, but it prohibits the inhalation or smoking of herbal medical cannabis.
Update: S. 366 was approved by the Senate Medical Affairs Subcommittee on 3/20, and will next be considered by the full committee.
SC resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of medical cannabis access
Legislation is pending, H 3449, to amend the state’s existing industrial hemp law to be in compliance with new federal hemp regulations.
Update: H 3449 was heard in the House Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee on 3/21.
SC resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of industrial hemp production
Tennessee
Legislation is pending, SB 256/HB 235, to decriminalize the possession small amounts of marijuana in Tennessee.
The measure would remove criminal penalties for the possession of up to one ounce of marijuana.
Update: HB 235 was placed on the calendar for a hearing in the Criminal Justice Subcommittee on 3/27.
TN resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of decriminalization
Legislation is pending, SB 260/HB 234, to allow out-of-state medical cannabis patients to legally possess their medicine while visiting Tennessee.
Under this measure, patients who are registered to use medical cannabis in those 33 jurisdictions that permit its therapeutic use may legally possess up to a half-ounce of cannabis while visiting Tennessee.
Update: HB 234 was placed on the calendar for a hearing in the Criminal Justice Subcommittee on 3/27.
TN resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of out-of-state protections
Legislation is pending, SB 357 / HB 844, to amend the state’s existing industrial hemp law to be in compliance with the new federal hemp regulations.
Update: HB 844 was heard by the House Rules Committee on 3/21, and will be considered by the full House on 3/25.
TN resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of industrial hemp production
Vermont
S. 54 would establish a regulatory framework for the regulation of a commercial, adult use marijuana market.
Update: S. 54 was heard by the House Committee on Government Operations on 3/20.
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 approved by the Senate Committees on Finance, Agriculture, and Appropriations on 3/22.
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 is scheduled for a hearing in the House Committee on Public Safety on 3/25 at 1:30pm.
WA resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of vacating past records
Legislation is pending, House Bill 1095 / Senate Bill 5442, to allow medical cannabis to be administered to patients at school.
Update: SB 1095 is scheduled for a hearing in he Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education on 3/27 at 1:30pm.
WA resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of allowing medical cannabis in schools
Legislation is pending, 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 is scheduled for an executive session in the House Committee on Commerce & Gaming.
WA resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of industrial hemp production
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