COLUMBUS, Ohio (June 14, 2018) – Last week, the Ohio Board of Pharmacy announced the location of dozens of new medical marijuana dispensaries, taking another important step toward getting its medical marijuana program up and running and further nullifying the federal government’s unconstitutional cannabis prohibition in effect. Medical marijuana became officially legal in Ohio in…
BATON ROUGE, La. (Jun. 13, 2018) – Earlier this month, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards signed two bills into law that expand the state’s medical marijuana program. This will further nullify federal cannabis prohibition in the Pelican State. Rep. Ted James (D-Baton Rouge) sponsored House Bill 579 (HB579). The new law expands access to medical marijuana…
TRENTON, N.J. (June 13, 2018) – On Monday, a second New Jersey Senate committee unanimously passed a bill that would impose strict reporting requirements for all asset forfeitures in the state. This legislation would take a first step that could lead to substantive reforms, including closing a federal loophole that allows police to bypass strict state asset…
DOVER, Del. (Jun. 12, 2018) – Last week, a Deleware Senate committee passed two bills that would expand the state’s medical marijuana program and its cannabis decriminalization laws, further nullifying federal prohibition of cannabis in effect. Rep. Peter Schwartzkopf (D-Rehoboth Beach) and 23 bipartisan co-sponsors introduced House Bill 374 (HB374) to add glaucoma, chronic debilitating…
RALEIGH, N.C. (Jun. 11, 2018) – A bill filed in the North Carolina Senate would decriminalize marijuana possession and expunge the records of certain marijuana offenders. Passage into law would take a step toward nullifying federal cannabis prohibition in effect in the state. Sen. Paul Lowe (D-Forsyth) introduced Senate Bill 791 (S791) with three co-sponsors on…
DENVER, Colo. (June 11, 2018) – Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper has signed a bill into law that will further mainstream the state’s industrial hemp industry. Implementation of this new law will likely pave the way for faster development of the state’s hemp market, and further nullify federal prohibition in practice and effect. A bipartisan coalition of two…
BURLINGTON, Vt. (June 8, 2018) – An attempt to make Vermont’s industrial hemp licensing program federally compliant failed this year, allowing farmers in the state to continue developing a viable hemp industry and nullifying federal prohibition in effect. The comprehensive farm bill (S276) passed by the Senate included provisions modifying the state’s industrial hemp licensing…
RICHMOND, Va. (June 6, 2018) – After refusing to do so for years, Republicans in Virginia helped Democrats expand Medicaid, and by extension Obamacare. The Republican-controlled Senate passed a budget bill including Medicaid expansion last week after four GOP senators joined ranks with the Democrats. Nineteen Republicans also voted in favor of the bill in…
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (June 6, 2018) – Last week, the California Senate passed a bill that would establish limited state-chartered banks to serve the cannabis industry. Final passage of this legislation would remove a major federal roadblock in front of the developing marijuana industry in the state and further nullify federal prohibition of cannabis. Sen. Bob…
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (June 6, 2018) – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam has signed a bill making changes to the state’s laws on drone surveillance. The new law tightens up some aspects of the current law, but relaxes provisions relating to data retention. Sen. Jack Johnson (R-Brentwood) sponsored Senate Bill 1993 (SB1993). The legislation revises the Freedom from…