Anthony Martinelli

Anthony Martinelli is Founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Marijuana Herald, a daily marijuana news and information website that launched in 2018. You can reach Anthony at [email protected].

Author's posts

Second California Committee Votes in Favor of Legalizing Marijuana Cafés

Legislation to legalize marijuana cafés in California has been passed by a second committee in the state’s Assembly. Assembly Bill 1775, filed by Rep. Matt Haney (D), was given approval yesterday by the Committee on Governmental Organization, with the vote being 13 to 2. The measure, which now heads to a third and final reading …

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US Congress: With 152, Marijuana Banking Act Has More Sponsors Than Any Marijuana Bill Ever

Bicameral and bipartisan legislation to allow marijuana banking now has over 150 sponsors, well more than any other marijuana-related bill filed in the US Congress. In the United States House of Representatives, the SAFE Banking Act has 116 sponsors, 106 more than when it was filed in April, 2023. In the Senate, the Safer Banking …

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Louisiana Legislature Approves Legislation to Extend Medical Marijuana Program to 2030

Louisiana legislation that would extend the sunset period for Louisiana’s medical marijuana pilot program by five and a half years has been passed by the state’s full legislature. Louisiana’s House of Representatives gave approval yesterday to Senate Bill 228, filed by Senator Patrick McMath. The measure was approved last month through the state’s Senate by …

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California Bill to Legalize Access to Multiple Psychedelics Approved by Second Senate Committee

A second committee in California’s Senate has given approval to a bill to legalize therapeutic access to a handful of psychedelic substances. By a vote of 3 to 2, the Senate Health Committee has voted to pass Senate Bill 1012 Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee voted 7 to 4 today to pass Senate …

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South Dakota Marijuana Legalization Campaign Has Collected Over 70% of Signatures Required to Make November Ballot

South Dakotans for Better Marijuana Laws has collected more than 12,500 signatures for their marijuana legalization campaign. In 2020 an initiative to legalize marijuana, also put forth by South Dakotans for Better Marijuana Laws, was approved by voters during the general election ballot. Due to a technicality, it was subsequently thrown out by the courts. …

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Maine Governor Signs Bill Allowing Marijuana Possession and Cultivation Charges to Be Sealed

Maine Governor Janet Mills has signed into law a bill to allow those with convictions for possessing or cultivating marijuana to have the charges sealed (completely hidden) from their criminal record. Governor Mills has signed House Bill 2236 into law, following a 90 to 57 vote in the House of Representatives and a 27 to …

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U.S. Congress: Bipartisan Coalition of Lawmakers Urges VA to Prepare for MDMA-Assisted Therapy.

A group of lawmakers led by Congressmembers Morgan Luttrell (R-TX) and Morgan McGarvey (D-KY) have sent a letter to Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Health Shereef Elnahal requesting the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to produce a strategic plan to implement MDMA therapy in-house if it’s approved by FDA. “The effects of emerging therapies …

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Hawaii Legislature Passes Marijuana Expungement Bill, While Rejecting Measure to Decriminalize One Ounce

Hawaii’s full legislature has given approval to legislation to facilitate marijuana expungements, sending it to Governor Josh Green. The House has given final approval to House Bill 1595, with the vote being 41 to 9. The measure has already been passed by the Senate, 24 to 1. Governor Green is expected to sign the measure …

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28 Organizations Endorse Legalizing Marijuana, Including National Education Association and National Nurses United

safe banking act

A coalition of 28 different organizations have endorsed a progressive agenda that includes legalizing marijuana. The coalition, which includes organization such as MoveOn and the National Immigrant Justice Center, has officially endorsed the “Progressive Proposition Agenda”, which was recently put forth by the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC). The agenda calls for lawmakers to pass laws …

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Congressional Caucus Says US Congress Can Legalize Marijuana if Democrats Keep Senate and Take Back House

The Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) released its Progressive Proposition Agenda, including a section in support of legalizing marijuana, which they say “can pass with congressional majorities” The CPC calls their new agenda “a vision for Congress to meet everyday Americans’ urgent needs and rebuild the American dream for the poor, working, and middle class.” The …

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