Washington, DC: 2003 looks to be a significant year for state legislation seeking to liberalize marijuana laws. Legislation regarding the legalization of medical cannabis, the cultivation of industrial hemp, and the decriminalization of marijuana for personal use has already been introduced in numerous states. For a complete list of bills, or to sign up to receive legislative “action alerts” via e-mail, please visit: http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/.
Medical Marijuana
Bills to legalize the use of medicinal marijuana by qualified patients have been introduced in Connecticut, New Mexico, Vermont and Wyoming. Legislation remains pending in Maryland, Missouri, New York and Wisconsin, among other states. In Vermont, the Senate Health and Welfare Committee is expected to introduce a companion bill next week to legalize the use of medicinal cannabis by patients who have their doctor’s permission. In Maryland, newly appointed Governor Robert Ehrlich has publicly stated he will sign medical marijuana legislation into law. Several versions of medical marijuana legislation are now pending in that state’s legislature.
Decriminalization
A pair of House and Senate bills have been introduced in the Connecticut legislature to lessen the penalty for the possession of up to four ounces of marijuana from a criminal misdemeanor to an infraction punishable by a fine only. Similar decriminalization bills are also pending in Massachusetts.
Industrial Hemp
Legislation calling on the Maine Department of Agriculture to study the feasibility of industrial hemp is currently before the House Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. Similar research bills have been passed in Hawaii, North Dakota and Vermont, among other states.
For detailed information on these bills, or to send letters in support of any of the above legislation, please visit: http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/.