Marijuana, Marijuana Everywhere
Marijuana, Marijuana Everywhere!
By Keith Mansur
Oregon Cannabis Connection
It seems the last election let the proverbial cat out of the bag. States across the U.S. Are scrambling to get legislation in place to deal with marijuana, it’s medical value, criminal penalties, and regulation of existing systems. Our friends at Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) put together a list of states and the bills in motion, grouped in 3 categories.
As MPP explains on their 2015 Marijuana Policy Reform Legislation page:
“With polls showing that a majority of Americans support making marijuana use legal, and with 86% support for allowing medical marijuana, lawmakers are increasingly realizing the public supports marijuana policy reforms. Dozens of states are expected to consider marijuana policy reform this
Click on the state name to take action and contact your state legislators through the MPP website. For the text of each bill, its sponsors, and its status, visit the “legislation” page after clicking on the state name.
Marijuana Taxation and Regulation – Total states with anticipated or introduced bills to regulate marijuana like alcohol: 18 + D.C.
Pre-filed or Introduced (8 states and D.C.)
Arizona (HB 2007, HB 2477)
Connecticut (HB 6473)
Hawaii (SB 873, SB 383, HB 717)
Missouri (HJR 15, proposes a constitutional amendment)
Nevada (The legislature must consider the Initiative to Tax and Regulate Marijuana, which has qualified for the 2016 ballot. The legislature can approve the measure during the first 40 days of its 2015 session.)
New Jersey (A 3094 and S 1896 carry over from 2014)
New Mexico (SJR 2, proposes a constitutional amendment)
New York (SB 1747)
Washington, D.C. (B21-0023)
Anticipated (10)
Marijuana Regulation Study Committee Bills
New Hampshire (HB 150)
Bills to Replace Possible Jail Time With a Fine for Simple Possession (“Decriminalization”) – Total states with anticipated or introduced bills to stop jailing those who possess small amounts of marijuana: 17
Introduce or Pre-Filed (12)
Arizona (HB 2006)
Delaware (HB 39)
Hawaii (SB 681, SB 879, SB 708)
Illinois (HB 218)
Kentucky (SB 79)
New Jersey (A 218, introduced in 2014, carried over to 2015)
New Mexico (SB 383)
South Carolina (H 3117)
Texas (HB 507)
Virginia (SB 686, died in committee)
Wyoming (HB 29, voted down on the floor)
Anticipated (5)
Effective Medical Marijuana Bills – Total states with anticipated or introduced bills to allow the medical use of marijuana: 18
Introduced or Pre-Filed (12)
Florida (SB 528)
Georgia (SB 7)
Indiana (SB 284, HB 1487)
Kansas (HB 2011, SB 9)
Kentucky (SB 40)
Mississippi (SB 2318)
Missouri (HB 490)
Nebraska (LB 643)
North Dakota (HB 1430)
Ohio (HB 153, introduced)
Pennsylvania (SB 3)
South Carolina (H 3140)
Anticipated (6)
Resource: Marijuana Policy Project www.mpp.org.
