Alabama Committee Passes Bill to Eliminate Marriage Licenses, Nullify Federal Control in Practice

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (April 20, 2017) – Yesterday, an Alabama House committee passed a bill that would abolish marriage licenses in the state, and effectively nullify in practice both major sides of the contentious national debate over government-sanctioned marriage. Sen. Greg Albritton (R-Bay Minette) filed Senate Bill 20 (SB20) in February. The legislation would abolish all…

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Alabama Senate Passes Constitutional Carry

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (April 20, 2017) – On Tuesday, the Alabama Senate passed a “Constitutional Carry” bill that would eliminate the requirement to obtain a permit in order to lawfully carry.  Passage into law would also foster an environment hostile to federal gun control. Sen. Gerald Allen (R-Tuscaloosa) introduced Senate Bill 24 (SB24) in February. The legislation would…

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Signed by the Governor: West Virginia Legalizes Medical Marijuana

CHARLESTON, W. Va. (April 20, 2017) – Yesterday, West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice signed a bill that creates a limited medical marijuana program. The new law takes a step toward nullifying federal marijuana prohibition in practice within the state. Sen. Richard Ojeda (D – Logan) sponsored Senate Bill 386 (SB386), along with 11 bipartisan co-sponsors. The new…

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Pennsylvania House Passes Right to Try Act to Reject Some FDA Restrictions on Terminal Patients

HARRISBURG, Pa. (April 19, 2017) – Yesterday, the Pennsylvania House unanimously passed a bill that would set the foundation to nullify in practice some Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rules that deny access to experimental treatments by terminally ill patients. Introduced by State Rep. Robert Godshall (R-Hatfield) and nearly 40 cosponsors, House Bill 45 (HB45)…

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To the Governor: Arizona Passes Bill to Prohibit Warrantless Stingray Spying

PHOENIX, Ariz. (April 19, 2017) – Today, the Arizona Senate gave final approval to a bill that would ban the use of “stingrays” to track the location of phones and sweep up electronic communications without a warrant in most situations. The proposed law would not only protect privacy in Arizona, but would also hinder one aspect…

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Iowa Senate Passes Bill to Legalize Medical Marijuana; Foundation to Nullify Federal Prohibition

DES MOINES, Iowa. (Apr. 19, 2017) – On Monday, the  Iowa Senate passed a bill that would legalize medical marijuana by a resounding margin. Passage of this bill would set the foundation to nullify the unconstitutional federal prohibition on cannabis in effect. Senate Bill 506 (SF506) was introduced by the Senate Appropriations Committee. The bill…

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Missouri Committee Passes Bill to Withdraw from Federal Asset Forfeiture Program in Most Situations

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (April 19, 2017) – Yesterday, a second Missouri House committee unanimously passed a bill that would close a loophole allowing state and local police to circumvent stringent state asset forfeiture laws by passing cases off to the feds. Rep. Shamed Dogan (R-St. Louis) filed House Bill 231 (HB231) in January. The legislation…

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California Assembly Committee Passes Bill to Ban Resources for Federal Marijuana Enforcement

SACRAMENTO (Apr. 18, 2017) – Today, an important California Assembly Committee passed a bill to withdraw state resources from federal marijuana prohibition enforcement.  Introduced by Asm. Reginald Jones-Sawyer (D-Los Angeles), Assembly Bill 1578 (AB1578) would ban the use of “agency money, facilities, property, equipment, or personnel to assist a federal agency to investigate, detain, detect, report, or arrest…

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Delaware Bill Takes on Asset Forfeiture, Closes Federal Loophole

DOVER, Del. (April 18, 2017) – A bill introduced in the Delaware Senate would reform the state’s asset forfeiture laws to prohibit the state from taking property without a criminal conviction. The legislation also takes on federal forfeiture programs by banning prosecutors from circumventing state laws by passing cases off to the feds in most…

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To the Governor’s Desk: Iowa Passes Right to Try Act to Reject Some FDA Restrictions on Terminal Patients

DES MOINES, Iowa (April 18, 2017) – Yesterday, the Iowa Senate gave final approval to a bill that would set the foundation to nullify in practice some Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rules that deny access to experimental treatments by terminally ill patients. The Senate Commerce Committee introduced Senate Bill 404 (SF404) on March 1.…

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