Advocates expressed hope that lawmakers may take up the issue in 2023 now that about a half million Nebraskans have signed petitions over the past few years in favor of it. “I hope the elected officials are paying attention. They have the power to do something.”
Today, marks the one year anniversary of legalization in Virginia, and multiple changes to marijuana laws will take effect.
“These legislative improvements will bring great relief to the thousands of Virginians waiting to access the medical cannabis program,” said JM Pedini, NORML’s Development Director and the Executive Director of Virginia NORML.
Representative Lynn Williams (D- HD 135) says, “Support for the issues around Maine’s medical marijuana program crosses many lines: Republicans, Democrats, Independents, Libertarians and Greens; Downeast, Southern and Northern Maine; rural and urban; twenty-somethings, retirees and all in-between. Medical marijuana is bringing Maine together even among those who have no involvement with it.”
With a vote of 59 to 34, members of the Kentucky House of Representatives have advanced House Bill 136 to the Senate for further consideration. The bill provides for the production and distribution of a limited variety of medical cannabis products to qualified patients, including those with PTSD, cancer, chronic pain, epilepsy or any other intractable seizure disorder; multiple sclerosis, muscle spasms, or spasticity; and nausea or vomiting.
Here is NORML’s weekly update on state legislative activity in Wisconsin, Washington, Tennessee, South Dakota, South Carolina, New York, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Iowa, Illinois, Hawaii, and Colorado.
“We are hopeful that Oklahomans will have the opportunity this fall to decide in favor of ending the failed policy of marijuana criminalization.If so, we are confident that they, like voters in other states have already done, will decide in favor of legalization,” said Jax James, NORML’s State Policy Manager.