Apr 18 2024

United States Senator Files Marijuana Expungement Bill

Legislation to facilitate marijuana expungements including establishing a federal grant program for states and localities has been filed in the United States Senate.

The Harnessing Opportunity by Pursuing Expungement (HOPE) Act was filed today by Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV). The measure was filed roughly a year after the HOPE Act was filed in the House of Representatives by Congressmember Greg Murphy (R-NC) along with four bipartisan cosponsors.

“While cannabis has been regulated in our state since 2017, many Nevadans are still dealing with the effects of past low-level marijuana offenses”, says Senator Rosen. “Having a record for something that is now legal in our state threatens Nevadans’ ability to get a job, apply for housing, and contribute to our state’s economy.”
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Apr 18 2024

US Senate Committee Approves Resolution Calling for Release of American Jailed 14 Years in Russia for Medical Marijuana

A key committee in the United States Senate has given approval to a resolution calling for the immediate release of several Americans imprisoned in Russia.

Marc Fogel, an American citizen jailed in Russia for 14 years for possessing 17 grams of medical marijuana.

One of those individuals was Marc Fogel, a teacher from Pennsylvania who was sentenced to 14 years in prison for possessing a little over half an ounce of marijuana that was prescribed by his doctor.

Today the Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted to pass Senate Resolution 629 to the full Senate.
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Apr 17 2024

A Look at All 15 Marijuana-Related Bills Currently Active in US Congress

Here’s a look at every marijuana-related bill currently alive in the United States Congress.

Based on the rules of the US Congress, any marijuana-related bill filed prior to January, 2023 is no longer active, although lawmakers do have the opportunity to refile bills if they so choose. Currently there are 15 active marijuana-related bills, with some having garnered far more tractions than others up to this point.

With that in mind, here’s a look at all 15 marijuana-related bills currently active in Congress, in order of the most sponsors:
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Apr 17 2024

US Senate Resolution Calling for Release of American Jailed in Russia for Medical Marijuana Gains 22nd Sponsor

A resolution in the United States Senate calling for the immediate release of several Americans imprisoned in Russia, including one sentenced to 14 years for possessing medical marijuana, has gained its 22nd sponsor, representing nearly a fourth of the entire chamber.

Senator Alex Padilla has signed on as a cosponsor to Senate Resolution 629, days after it was introduced in the Senate by a coalition of 21 senators led by Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and John Fetterman (D-PA).

The resolution formally condemns the Russian government for their arrests of several American citizens and calling for their immediate and unconditioned release. One of those currently jailed in Russia is Marc Fogel, a school teacher who has been sentenced to 14 years simple for possessing a small amount of marijuana that was recommended by his physician.
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Apr 17 2024

Maryland: Nearly $100 Million in Marijuana Sold Legally in March

March marijuana sales in Maryland narrowly missed breaking the monthly record.

According to data compiled and released by the Maryland Cannabis Administration, there was $95,956,410 worth of marijuana and marijuana products sold legally in March, narrowly missing the previous monthly record of $96,473,978, set in December. Sales for March were roughly $6 million more than February and January (both months saw sales of around $88 million).

Roughly 2/3rds ($64 million) of the total marijuana sales in March were purchased by recreational consumers, with medical marijuana patients purchasing around $32 million worth.
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Apr 17 2024

20 Advocacy and Law Groups Send Letter to Biden Administration Urging Them to Support Descheduling Marijuana

A coalition of 20 advocacy groups, calling themselves the Marijuana Justice Coalition, has sent a letter to President Biden and Vice President Harris urging them to support fully descheduling, and not simply rescheduling, marijuana.

A collage of every group that’s part of the Marijuana Justice Coalition.

The letter is signed by a variety of reform groups, including the Center for American Progress, Doctors for Drug Policy Reform, Drug Policy Alliance, Immigrant Defense Project, Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC), National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, National Association of Social Workers, National Immigration Project, National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), Southern Poverty Law Center, Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) and many others.

“The Marijuana Justice Coalition (“MJC”) writes to thank you for your initial steps toward reforming federal marijuana policy, as you mentioned in your recent State of the Union address”, begins the letter. “In order to fulfill that pledge, the MJC urges you to publicly support the removal (“descheduling”) of marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). Only the descheduling of marijuana will truly decriminalize it at the federal level.”
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Apr 17 2024

US Senate Finance Chair Says “Marijuana Descheduling Ought to Be a Republican Dream”

The Chair of the United States Senate Finance Committee says that Democrats are “trying to recruit Republicans” to support descheduling marijuana, while saying that the move “ought to be a Republican Dream”.

At an event held today by the Last Prisoner Project, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR) said Senate Leader Chuck Schumer and other Democrats are “trying to recruit Republicans” to support their forthcoming Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act (CAOA), which would deschedule marijuana. The CAOA is being officially introduced on 4/20.

“I want you to hear what my message is”, says Senator Wyden.” I’m gonna say one word – Deschedule. Descheduling ought to be a Republican dream.”
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Apr 17 2024

US Senate Leader Says “Cannabis Legalization Has Proven Successful at the State Level”

In remarks made today, United States Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said that marijuana legalization has been proven successful at the state level, while reiterating his desire to see a change in federal marijuana laws.

Senator Chuck Schumer (photo credit: J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press).

At a speech today at the National Cannabis Policy Summit, Schumer said “My commitment to ending federal prohibition on cannabis remains as strong as ever. As many of you know, cannabis reform is an issue I’ve cared about and I’ve been working hard on, for years. And as many of you know, momentum is now in our favor.”

Schumer says “Here in Congress, we’re making some good progress”, while making note of the fact that a marijuana banking bill was approved by the Senate Finance Committee in September with bipartisan support.
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Apr 16 2024

President Biden vs Former President Trump: Comparing Their Marijuana Policy Positions and Accomplishments

Here’s a look at the marijuana-related differences, similarities and accomplishments of President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, both vying for the position of POTUS this November.

The debate over marijuana legalization in the United States has evolved significantly over the past decade, with an increasing number of states opting to legalize the substance for medical and recreational use. This shift in public sentiment has placed the issue at the forefront of national policy discussions, where contrasting approaches by President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump highlight the political divide.

With that in mind, here’s a breakdown of the policy positions and accomplishments of the two contenders:
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Apr 16 2024

A Breakdown of all 24 Legal Marijuana States

Despite there being exactly zero states with legal recreational marijuana at the start of 2012, that number has jumped rapidly to 24.

With at least four states still having a legitimate shot to legalize marijuana this year, it may not be long before the majority of the entire United States has legalized recreational marijuana. Just a decade ago, only two states had legalized marijuana; Washington and Colorado.

Among the 24 states that have legalized recreational marijuana, there is a notable variety in regulations and practices, despite many shared characteristics.
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