Marijuana law reform legislation is pending in over twenty states, and liberalization measures have been pre-filed in many more. Below is this week’s edition of NORML’s Weekly Legislative Round Up — activists’ one-stop guide to the latest statewide votes and happenings relevant to marijuana law reform.
For a listing of all of the pending marijuana law reform proposals that NORML is tracking, please visit NORML’s ‘Take Action Center’ here. (For a map of pending legislation, please visit here.)
Arizona: The Arizona Department of Health Services last week finalized rules for the Arizona Medical Marijuana Program. Patients may begin qualifying for the program next week, and dispensary applications will be accepted beginning June 1. Program rules, physician certification forms, and answers to frequently asked questions are all available online here. Arizona is the fifteenth state since 1996 to allow for the use of medical cannabis by qualified patients.
Connecticut: On Tuesday, members of the Joint Judiciary Committee overwhelmingly voted in favor Governor’s Bill No. 1015, which seeks to allow qualified patients to use and cultivate marijuana for medical purposes. The Committee is expected to act on separate decriminalization legislation (See NORML’s recent op/ed in favor here) imminently. You can support both proposals via NORML’s ‘Take Action Center’ here and here. You can get involved with Connecticut NORML here.
Delaware: On Thursday, March 30, members of the Delaware Senate voted 18 to 3 in favor of Senate Bill 17, The Delaware Medical Marijuana Act. The measure now awaits action from the House of Representatives. You can contact your House member in support of this effort via NORML’s ‘Take Action Center’ here.
Montana: Members of the Montana Senate last week resurrected and then passed House Bill 161, which repeals the state’s six-year-old, voter-approved medical marijuana law. Senate lawmakers voted 29 to 21 in favor of the GOP-backed measure, which had previously stalled in committee. The bill is now expected to go before Gov. Brian Schweitzer, a Democrat, who has voiced support for the state’s medical cannabis program. You can contact the Governor and urge him to veto this draconian legislation here. Additional information is available from our allies Montana NORML and Patients & Families United.
North Carolina: Legislation that seeks to legalize the physician-supervised use of medical marijuana has been reintroduced in the North Carolina legislature. House Bill 577 amends state law to “authorize an individual to use marijuana for medical purposes as directed by a physician.” HB 577 would allow patients both the ability to cultivate their own cannabis at home or to purchase it at state licensed distribution centers. This proposal has been referred to the House Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations, but has yet to be assigned a hearing. You can urge your lawmakers to support this proposal here.
Vermont: Senate lawmakers are expected to act this week on SB 17, which seeks to allow for state-licensed facilities to provide medical marijuana to authorized patients. Similar legislation is already in place in several states, including Colorado, Maine, New Mexico, and Rhode Island. You can contact your state Senator about SB 17 via NORML’s ‘Take Action Center’ here.
Arrr maties! Be sharp on ye toes, or I’ll throw ye bones the sharks – Arrr!
These “pot-phobic prohibs” are nothing more than “political privateers.” They ought to wear a bandana on their head, a patch over their eye, have a scar on their cheek, and a dagger between their teeth so we can identify them. Where’s the cops when we need them? Oh that’s right! – they’re screaming, sword waving robots. Well! – We’re on the frigate U.S.S. Constitution – so – let’s see who rules the high seas – 4-20 @ 4:20.
DON’T FORGET about Illinois House Bill 30, which just passed the last committee vote 6-5 last week and now awaits a full house vote! The companion Senate bill has already passed, so there truly is this final vote that will bring MMJ into Illinois: Governor Quinn already said he would sign the law if it was brought to him.
[Paul Armentano responds: Illinois NORML has been longtime advocates on the ground for medical marijuana reform in Illinois. You can get involved with them at: http://illinoisnorml.org/.%5D
P.S to Rebel
How prohibs ever got elected to office is one of life’s great mysteries.
It’s been said – “Past behavior is an indication of future behavior.‘ It’s also been said – “Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future.” With these two points in mind – it’s absolutely unimaginable how prohibitionists ever got elected to office. As a personal note – I would die defending my freedom from prohibitionists – but – that’s a personal choice – not to allow prohibs to run my life. Thank God – I still have a personal choice.
what is all this crap? all we want is to get stoned legally, PERIOD!!!!!
For all NC residents, write your legislators! http://www.ncleg.net
Follow “NC NORML of Raleigh” on facebook!
The High Seas and The Deep Waters, Obama wants another ‘chance, in some subterranean place, I will forget Obama, I will forget all those sound bites, the newts and the loud speakers under the lamp posts, Is there one man who will testify that Cannabis has not killed any man?
The next President of These United Free States must commit to dissolve the dea, the controlled substance act, here in the USA.
In that meantime while the new budget is forming, and the chance of shutting the government rests in the balance, as a sovereign citizen in The US, I say shut it down, no more money GOD BLESS YOU
In just about every state, you can google the terms “statename” and “campaign finance” and you’ll find a database of all the campaign finances to every elected official. Check out your state, and look for contributions from “alcohol” “beverage” “hospitality” “beer” “liquor” “wine” “spirits” (and other alcohol-related terms) and see who they’re giving money to. Or simply search for the politician’s name and see who the contributors are. Publicize the info! It’s amazing how many “safety” politicians are actually taking campaign contributions from the alcohol and prison industries. Check in your state and post what you find!
ONLY 13 DAYS UNTIL 4-20 @4:20
10 Conservative Christian – Thanks!
It’s our objective to search out these prohibs and simply reject them as representatives of the people.
http://www.facebook.com/#!/WhiteHouse?sk=wall&filter=1
Facebook Townhall Meeting on 4-20!!!!!!! IT IS TIME!
What about Washington State with I-1149 or HB 1550?
They seem to be the quiet ones.
[Paul Armentano responds: HB 1550 is dead for this year, after failing to make it out of committee by a legislative deadline. http://www.capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=39828501. I-1149 is in the signature gathering phase.]
Model Citizen – what a joke!
I’m a “blue blooded” American citizen – Semper Fi! There isn’t a damned thing model about me – except my Constitution and my God – which I am sworn to live my life by. If you’re a prohib puppet master [with or without strings attached] you best look elsewhere – because – all you will get here is my little wood foot up your little wood ass. So! let me make this perfectly clear to all prohibs – “You will never, ever, ever, never get my soul” – unless it’s the sole of my little wood foot. I will not attempt to make it any clearer than I already have.
North Carolina has sooooo much potential with House Bill 577! Hope the bible beaters will have enough compassion to help the sick. Maybe someone will lease the old Phillip Morris Plant and produce MMJ. Not only will this help sick patients, but it create jobs as well! Good Luck NC!!! You’ll need it!
No more money, shut it down, no more money, the well has gone dry, forget about Obama another lost soul, in this revolution to shut down the most powerful and modern machine like David, with only a little stone brought The Goliath down.
The Final Answer is what you bring through the Vale, The Mystery Beyond Where No Man has an answer, The Final Frontier
Stay In The Light
listen, I asm all for legalization, but name calling only pisses people off. Calling people “draconian” and other stupid names will not get you any closer to the real legislation being passed. Instead they will shoot you the finger and ban it ,just to piss you off some more. Remember al lthose people who said “If I am elected I will legalize it, back in the 70’s. Thjose same people who are now getting elected? Well, don’t elect their ass. Get rid of the bacon and fat in congress and elect those who KEEP their word. Obama Shmobama. Mrs Obama says ALL smokers are sub human. I think the Obama’s are sub human assholes and should keep their stupid mouth(s) shut, when it comes to calling names. I have a few names for them as well and NO I am not a smoker of tobacco, nor do I drink. That does NOT give me the right to call the ones that do, names, such as SUB HUMAN. I do respect the fact that Obama has kept his word and is at least TRYING to get Medical Marijuana in the mainstream. As for Mrs Obama, shut your mouth and get back in your kitchen ,or we will call you names you haven’t heard for years. You have already made an idiot of yourself. You are no Jackie Onassis and you never will be. You don’t have the couth, and you are butt ugly.
I agree, name calling is stupid.
Getting rid of those that are in congress, eating up our money, taxes, for stupid crap, is also a good idea.
The Obama’s have made it clear they have no agenda, except for themselves and their race. Starting wars to try and steal another country’s oil is also stupid.
Calling good people (who happen to smoke) SUB Human, is like the whites calling all black the “N” word, just because they are black. It just doesn’t hold water. Some black are actually educated, not edumacated. Substitute the N word for “redneck” in all of those jokes and it will be just as funny, but true, as in the case of rednecks.
Obama has never visted the Grave of the Unknown soldier, has kissed the hand of an Arabian prince, like he was a slave, and has NOT attended any religious ceremony since he has been in office.
Think about that the next time he says he is not muslim.
The ONLY thing he gets credit for is telling the DEA to “lay off” medical marijuana users, in states that have legislation for it’s use.
Otherwise, yes, he is a dumbass, and a liar.
Congress, on the other hand, continually lies about anything and everything, and yet we keep electing these idiots.
ONLY WE can make the changes neccessary to make this country great. Un-Elect those fat cats in congress who pass midnight laws giving themselves raises and then won’t even vote on real issues like the MMJ laws. They let their constituents suffer in pain and anguish, yet pad their pockets with more and more money, they give themselves, behind the american publics back.
Only WE have the power to make changes and send out a message to those fat cats.
It is time to make them get skinny, like they are forcing the rest of america to do.
Tax cuts don’t mean jack snot, when it is eaten up by rising prices of food, gas, etc.
The minute you stop electing and start un-electing these fat cat idiots, the changes the american people WANT will begin to be made.
Start by getting rid of “Homeland security”, which is just another synonym for Gestapo, Not the DEA who does have a job in keeping the illegal CHEMICALS out ofour country. Just trell the DEA that MMJ DOES have a place, whether they like it or not. Let THEM (or a loved one) get cancer, get sick every 5 minutes and see if THEY want some kind of relief. Maybe that will pull their head out of their ass.
Well! There’s certainly an abundance of passion going around. Right or wrong – passion is an agenda – so be careful it doesn’t get away from you. Passion is a good thing.
Obama was born in Kenya. He admits it, Michele admits it, the President of Kenya admits it, Obama’s grandmother admits it, and his Certificate of Live Birth [not a Birth Certificate] admits it. He also admits that he is a Muslim. What he doesn’t admit is that he is a George Soros stooge.
What happened to all that was to transpire in Maryland? I heard the medical initiative got thrown out of the House and the decrim bill is still in the Senate. I hope those of you who chose a “union” over a “confederacy” whos cornerstone was states rights are happy with yourselves.
Gee Mr. Brethren, Obama is a stooge of George Soros. Would that be the same George Soros who’s contributed very large sums to almost every marijuana legalization effort of the last 20 years. That explains so much. If only we can get the Republicans ( Kock brothers stooges, but who’s naming names )back in control of the White House and the Senate, I just know the first thing the’re gonna want to do is legalize Marijuana.
Obama is certainly nothing to brag about on the marijuana issue but remeber.
!. Some gains have been made with regards to marijuana over the last 2 years.
2. Any gains will be nullified as soon as a Republican is back in control.
I’ll say it again to all Legalizers out there,
To those who vote for Democrats, your never gonna get what you want by begging.
To those who vote for Republicans, maybe you need to make a choice, Marijuana or Republicans, you can’t have both.
I might be wrong,maybe the moderator would like to weigh in” Question: Who’s been a better friend to the Marijuana movement The Koch Brothers or George Soros
22. Anonymous
Let me ask you why you didn’t respond to those things that Obama and company admitted – that was the point. The point is – the greatest “deception” this country has ever experienced – even greater than the war on cannabis or the Federal Reserve Act. Now – what bothers me is that you – Mr.or Mrs. Anonymous – don’t have the “courage” to identify yourself – and – it sounds like you’re a George Shwartz groupie – and – that’s your cross to bear. But – I do like your street mentality – Well! what about you?”
I’m waiting for the day I’ve been dreaming of – the day when all the law enforcement against prohibition (LEAP) take a STRONG STAND against the DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY for busting CANCER PATIENTS for cannabis.
I’m waiting for the day the sherriffs and the local authorities start getting FED UP with the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT and DECLARE THEIR TENTH AMMENDMENT RIGHTS.
I’m waiting for the day! Because LEAP got the most attention during the last “ask the President” event on YOUTUBE. Police are tired of destroying lives over this plant, and 3/4ths of the nation wants to legalize it at least for medicinal purposes (for people with cancer at the very least!)
I’m waiting for the day when the sherriffs who’ve had to sadly endure losing their loved ones because of cancer take a stand when the DEA decides to raid cancer patients!!
I’m waiting for that day!
FOR LIBERTY!
I don’t give a shit where Obama was born, now he is in a powerful place, he inhaled, he caught a glimpse
25. Nic
????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
When you defile [corrupt/pollute] the process to become the leader of the free world – you defile the powerful place you have attained – and – you defile me, all American citizens, and God. By the way – who hasn’t caught a glimpse?
Mine eyes have seen The Glory
This citizen says too many taxes, regulations, too many fat Judges and idiot lawyers, here in this USA.
If Obama wants a second chance, what does he bring to The Table?
27 Nic
“If Obama wants a second chance, what does he bring to the table?”
Second chance???? “Once burned – twice cautious.” I, personally, hope he, and his band of merry extravagants, doesn’t bring anymore to the table than they have already brought – we simply can’t afford it. We’re not just broke – we’re upside down – just about 14,000,000,000,000 upside down. What Obama and company brings to the table, and leaves it there, like a mountain of steaming camel shit, is “crushing debt.” Any individual that has ever had to file bankruptcy knows what I’m saying. Nic – I don’t think you’re seeing the big picture here – but – you soon will. Now and in the very near days to come is when you’ll want God to answer your prayers of desperation. Your knees are going to be raw from all the kneeling in prayer. By the way – every citizen I know is with you on too damned many taxes, regulations, fat judges, and idiot lawyers. But Nic – “When you deal with human beings – you [have to] deal with human being problems.”
To; Manny ‘
I am back in the saddle again. These are great days we are living in and we have the honor of seeing cannabis legalized. The prohibs are dieing out(Thank God) and we are moving in. The time has come to take our country back. I have many ideas for the movement and I am true soldier of the faith as are you. Let’s get going! The time is now.
Bar-T Lake Co. Tn colony
29. Bar-T Lake Co. Tn. Colony.
T – hey ya’ll. Manny here! Don’t get no saddle sores my brother. I’m glad you’re saddled up. “Saddle up!” is exactly what we need to do – 3,141 Genesist Colonies saddled up and standing as one continually on April 20, 2011 @ 4:20 p.m., The 420 Invasion – only 7 days left. T – today’s CDXX Communion leads me to believe that the best way to serve the Faith is to serve its brethren – and – the best way to serve its brethren is to serve the truth. The best way to present the truth is to have Genesist conversations – presented to a candid world – to accept or reject by their “free choice.” T – I’m eager to hear [any] idea you have about the Faith and its congregation, and respect your allegiance to the Source of us all.
Have a great CDXX Communion.
Manny
San Diego Colony
Bar-T Lake, Tn. Colony.
Hey T,
You can reach me more candidly with your ideas at
genesisthefaith@earthlink.net
well,since all the states are broke and gas is @ about 4.00/gal;I hope to see alot less of those damn choppers. Anybody know how they spot you? infared or something? Anyway,here in draconian Md nothing has changed. Commercials tout how dangerous alcohol is yet it remains on the shelf.Counter-intuitive at best. As a former Marine,I fought for our right to pursue happiness in our own home. Screw all this medical stuff-some of us just want to use MJ. time to get militant and shed our passive persona. stay green!
in continuation of post#33, brute force as demonstrated by our formers of alcohol prohibition utilized machine guns and the like to get thier point across. i propose we follow suit. and for the DNR….watch where you step-i was trained by the best.
Am I the only one that thinks/believes that we need to learn from our anti-prohibitionist forefathers and take perhaps….dare I say it….a decidedly LESS passive approach to getting things done?