TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (July 22, 2016) – Medical marijuana will become available in Florida for the first time next week. This represents yet another step forward in nullifying federal prohibition in effect. Trulieve announced Wednesday that it received final approval from the Florida Department of Health to begin selling a low-THC strain of medical marijuana used…
TRENTON, N.J. (June 22, 2016) – Last week a New Jersey Senate committee approved a measure that would expand the state’s medical marijuana law, further nullifying federal prohibition in practice. Sen. Nicholas Scutari (D) and Sen. Joseph Vitale (D) introduced Senate Bill 2345 (S2345) on June 9. The legislation would add post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)…
BATON ROUGE, La. (June 13, 2016) – Last week, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards signed a bill specifically exempting medical marijuana patients and caregivers from prosecution in the state. Along with another measure that was signed into law earlier this year, it gives Louisiana a basis for a functional medical marijuana program, setting the foundation…
COLUMBUS, Ohio (June 9, 2016) – On Wednesday, Ohio Gov. John Kasich signed a bill legalizing medical marijuana in the state. This takes a big step toward nullifying the unconstitutional federal prohibition on cannabis in practice. Rep. Stephen Huffman (R) introduced House Bill 523 (HB523) on April 14. The legislation sets in motion the creation of a…
Bills recently signed into law in two states expand medical marijuana access, further nullifying federal prohibition in practice. Last week, Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy signed House Bill 5450 (HB5450). The new law will effectively expand access to medical marijuana to hospitalized patients. NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano reported that the legislation will “protect nurses who…
BATON ROUGE, La. (May 23, 2016) – Last week, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards signed a bill into law that will serve to resurrect the state’s dormant medical marijuana program by making an important technical change to current statute. The move is an essential step for the state to reject the unconstitutional federal prohibition on cannabis in…
HARRISBURG, Pa. (May 19, 2016) – A new Pennsylvania law legalizing medical marijuana went into effect this week, but it will likely take up to a year before the system is up and running. Pennsylvania is the 24th state to reject the unconstitutional federal prohibition on cannabis in practice. The bill took a long, tough road to final…
State laws legalizing marijuana take a first step toward nullifying federal prohibition, but they don’t do the job alone. Effective marijuana reform policy requires everyday people to take action and remain vigilant. Federal marijuana prohibition relies on state and local enforcement. FBI statistics show that police make approximately 99 of 100 marijuana arrests under state,…
CONCORD, N.H. (May 16, 2016) – Three years after New Hampshire voted to legalize medical marijuana, the first dispensaries have finally opened in Plymouth despite federal prohibition. The first dispensary opened April 30. The state Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) announced last week that two more facilities will open this month. Qualifying patients…
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Apr. 29, 2016) – A Missouri bill that would have legalized medical marijuana was voted down by the Missouri House of Representatives last week. Had the bill been signed into law, it would have set the stage to nullify in practice the federal prohibition on marijuana. But the fight for medical marijuana…