In a recent interview Vice President Kamala Harris touted moves made by the Biden-Harris Administration to pardon marijuana offenders, while clarifying her believe that no one should be jailed for using the plant.

“[W]e have done to pardon tens of thousands of people for simple marijuana possession under the federal law”, said Kamala in an interview with Gray DC. “Because, frankly, nobody should have to go to jail for smoking weed”.

Harris’ answer came in response to a question about how the administration is delivering policy promises to young and black voters.
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New Mexico’s full Senate has narrowly approved an amendment to continue allowing marijuana dispensaries to operate drive-thrus.

(Photo credit: KURE Cannabis Dispensary).

Senate Bill 6, filed by Senator Katy Duhigg (D), would make several changes to the state’s marijuana law, mostly technical. However, a substitute bill advanced by the Senate Judiciary Committee would have placed a ban on marijuana drive-thrus, which are currently allowed in the state.

By a vote of 21 to 20, the full Senate voted yesterday to approve an amendment that strips the bill of the drive-thru ban. The Senate then voted 25 to 15 to pass the bill in its entirety.
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Legislation filed today in Oklahoma’s Senate would prohibit anyone but  pharmacists licensed with the state from selling medical marijuana at a dispensary.

Senate Bill 1979 was filed today by Senator David Bullard (R), and referred to Senate Health and Human Services Committee.

According to its official summary, SB 1979 “requires any applicant for a medical marijuana dispensary license to show employment of a dispensary manager. A dispensary manager shall control and distribute the products, verify the caregiver’s or patient’s proof of identity, provide necessary education materials, and record information necessary by rule for the sale of each medical marijuana product.”
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A nonprofit in Denton, Texas is seeking to dismiss a lawsuit brought by the state’s attorney genera; who is attempting to thwart a voter-approved marijuana ordinance.

Last week Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton launched lawsuits against the cities of Austin, San Marcos, Killeen, Elgin, and Denton for adopting amnesty and non-prosecution policies for marijuana that he says “violate Texas laws concerning marijuana possession and distribution.” Now, the nonprofit organization Decriminalize Denton filed a petition of intervention today, making it a defendant in Paxton’s lawsuit against the city. The organization seeks to have Paxton’s lawsuit dismissed on the grounds that it has no legal standings, according to a Feb. 5 press release.

“Our goal in filing this Petition to Intervene is to get Paxton’s overreaching lawsuit dismissed on the grounds that it has no legal standing”, said Decriminalize Denton in a press release. “Because Denton’s City Manager & Police Chief have consistently refused to implement the ordinance since Day One, and because Denton City Council has consistently refused to make them, Paxton cannot show that the ordinance has harmed the state in any way, regardless of his erroneous claim that the ordinance violates state law.”
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A plan to allow hemp seed meal for feeding livestock is being recommended by the FDA, and it recently received committee approval.

The nonprofit Hemp Feed Coalition (HFC) announced in a recent press release “a landmark achievement with the tentative approval of Hemp Seed Meal (HSM) for Laying Hens at the recent Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) Mid-Year Meeting.”

The group says that with “the FDA-Center for Veterinary Medicine’s (FDA-CVM’s) recommendation for approval, the Ingredient Definition Committee approved the HSM tentative definition on Tuesday, January 23, 2024, with no opposition.”
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The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) announced they the state will soon roll out new digital Medicinal Cannabis Program patient cards, and they will be free of charge for qualifying patients.

“With the introduction of digital medical cannabis cards registration and renewal in the Medicinal Cannabis Program will be free”, says the CRC in a public announcement. “Additionally, with digital cards, patients can easily carry their authorization on their mobile devices, eliminating the risk of losing or damaging a physical card.”

The CRC says this “also enhances accessibility, ensuring patients can present their credentials whenever necessary.”
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A legislative committee in Hawaii has scheduled a public hearing on legislation that would decriminalize the possession of up to an ounce of marijuana.

The House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs has scheduled a hearing on House Bill 1596 for Tuesday, February 6 at 2pm in House conference room 325 via videoconference. This will give members of the public in addition to lawmakers not on the committee an opportunity to give public testimony in support or opposition of the bill.

The measure was filed last month by State Representative David Tarnas along with a coalition of 11 other lawmakers.

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Legislation that would increase the legal possession limit for marijuana-infused liquids has been advanced to a third and final reading by the Washington State Senate.

Filed by Senator King, Senate Bill 5340 has been “Placed on third reading by Rules Committee”. If passed through the third reading by the full Senate, it would need to pass the House of Representatives before it can be sent to Governor Jay Inslee.

Under current law those 21 and older can possess up to 72 ounces of marijuana-infused products in liquid form.
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