Marijuana Legalization

[jdaniele]

https://www.forbes.com/sites/javierhasse/2019/11/20/marijuana-legalization-judiciary-committee/#189020b2c35a

In a surprising turn of events, a key Congressional committee, the House Judiciary Committee, has voted to approve the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act of 2019, or H.R. 3884, which would effectively put an end to cannabis prohibition in the United States of America, on a federal level by removing it from the Controlled Substances Act.

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/11/20/house-committee-approves-bill-decriminalizing-marijuana-on-the-federal-level.html

[jdaniele]

Michigan joined the list

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/12/01/legal-weed-michigan-illinois-know-recreational-marijuana/4339486002

[jdaniele]

"Illinois becomes 11th state to legalize marijuana"

https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/476444-illinois-becomes-11th-state-to-legalize-marijuana?amp&__twitter_impression=true

[jdaniele]

At least 10 governors have gone so far as to put language ending marijuana prohibition in their annual budget requests, or used their State of the State speeches to pressure legislators to act on cannabis reform.

Some are proactively addressing the issue, while others appear to be mostly reacting to support that has already built up among lawmakers. But altogether, it’s clear that top state executives are now taking marijuana more seriously than ever before.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/tomangell/2020/02/11/governors-across-us-step-up-push-to-legalize-marijuana-in-their-states/amp/

[jdaniele]

Add Virginia to the list.. sorta

https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2020/4/13/21158103/virginia-marijuana-legalization-decriminalization

[jdaniele]

O’Fallon (town in Illinois) residents voted to allow sales of legal marijuana. The city may ban it anyway.

https://www.bnd.com/news/local/community/ofallon-progress/article243551837.html

Speakers cited tax revenue for the city and questioned perceptions about “unfavorables” coming to the city, and that the businesses are highly regulated. Some argued alcohol was more of a societal problem than marijuana.

[jdaniele]

"N.J. lawmakers to vote on bill to decriminalize weed Thursday"

https://www.nj.com/marijuana/2020/06/nj-lawmakers-to-vote-on-bill-to-decriminalize-weed-thursday.html

State lawmakers are scheduled to vote Thursday on one of two proposals to decriminalize weed and curb arrests that disproportionately impact Black people.

[jdaniele]

Looks like this just passed

"N.J. lawmakers to vote on bill to decriminalize weed Thursday"

https://www.nj.com/marijuana/2020/06/nj-lawmakers-to-vote-on-bill-to-decriminalize-weed-thursday.html

State lawmakers are scheduled to vote Thursday on one of two proposals to decriminalize weed and curb arrests that disproportionately impact Black people.

"Bill to decriminalize marijuana just passed N.J. Assembly. Instead of arrest, a $50 fine."
https://www.nj.com/marijuana/2020/06/bill-to-decriminalize-marijuana-just-passed-nj-assembly-instead-of-arrest-a-50-fine.html

Lawmakers took a major step in halting arrests for weed Thursday, as they voted on a bill that would decriminalize possession of up to two ounces.

The state Assembly voted 63-10 with five members abstaining to pass the measure (A1897), one of two decriminalization bills currently proposed in the state Legislature. It seeks to replace arrests for possessing up to two ounces of weed with a civil fine of $50, and also lessens jail time and fines for possession of larger amounts of pot on a sliding scale.

The other bill, which would decriminalize up to one pound of weed, was introduced in the state Senate two weeks ago. Neither bill would legalize marijuana, meaning those found with pot on them would still likely have purchased it from a dealer selling illegally. Instead, voters must decide on the ballot in November if the Garden State will allow legal weed sales.

But the changes would mean fewer people facing jail time for nonviolent offenses and clear records of those with past weed convictions. Those arrest records are hurdles for people applying to jobs, loans and public housing.