Apr 22 2024

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

A coalition of 28 different organizations have endorsed a progressive agenda that includes legalizing marijuana.

legal 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 tat “reduce criminalization and incarceration through sentencing reform, legalizing cannabis, expunging records, providing restorative justice, and an accelerated and reformed clemency process for people with marijuana-related convictions.”

The full list of endorsers includes the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, Bend the Arc: Jewish Action, Center for Biological Diversity, Center for Economic and Policy Research, Center for Popular Democracy, Demand Progress, Family Values @ Work, the Green New Deal Network, Indivisible, MoveOn, National Education Association, National Employment Law Project, National Immigrant Justice Center, National Nurses United, Native Organizers Alliance, Our Revolution, P Street, People’s Action, PolicyLink, Public Citizen, Public Money Action, Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Sierra Club, Social Security Works, Sunrise Movement, Take on Wall Street, United We Dream, and Working Families Party.
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Apr 22 2024

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 document presents “a comprehensive domestic policy legislative agenda that includes proactive, top-priority policies that lift up poor and working people.”

The agenda includes a section on  marijuana law reform, with the group saying they want to “reduce criminalization and incarceration through sentencing reform, legalizing cannabis, expunging records, providing restorative justice, and an accelerated and reformed clemency process for people with marijuana-related convictions.”
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Apr 22 2024

US House Bill to Allow Banks to Service Marijuana Businesses Gains New Sponsor

The SAFE Banking Act to allow marijuana banking nationwide has just garnered its 116th sponsor in the United States House of Representatives.

Congressmember Jahana Hayes (D-CT) has become the latest lawmaker to sponsor the SAFE Banking Act, a bipartisan measure that now has 116 sponsors, well more than any other marijuana-related bill in US history. A Senate version of the bill, the SAFER Banking Act, is sponsored by 36% of the entire Senate, with it passing the Senate Banking Committee in September.

The SAFE Banking Act was filed last April, with 10 original sponsors. In the 12 month since, the measure has garnered over 100 additional sponsors. Congressmember Hayes officially joined as a cosponsor on 4/20.
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Apr 22 2024

Nationwide Polls Find 66% of Americans Support Legalizing Marijuana, Most Say It’s Safer Than Alcohol and Tobacco

A large majority of adults in the United States support legalizing marijuana federally and most believe it to be safer than tobacco or alcohol, according to nationwide polling data released today.

According to survey data compiled by Data For Progress, two-thirds (66%) of likely voters support legalizing cannabis federally “for all adults over the age of 21.” This includes support from 75% of Democrats, 67% of Independents, and 54% of Republicans.

A majorities of Democrats, Independents, and Republicans also said that they supported the Biden Administration’s efforts to pardon those convicted of federal marijuana possession offenses and to move marijuana from its Schedule I prohibited status under the US Controlled Substances Act.
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Apr 20 2024

President Biden and Vice President Harris Both Post Pro-Marijuana Messages at exactly 4:20pm, on 4/20

In a not-so-subtle nod to the marijuana holiday 4/20, both President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris made pro-marijuana social media posts at exactly 4:20pm (ET) on 4/20.

“Sending people to prison just for possessing marijuana has upended too many lives and incarcerated people for conduct that many states no longer prohibit”, said President Biden in a post on the social media platform X. “It’s time that we right these wrongs.”

President Biden followed up these remarks with an image with the quote “No one should be jailed just for using or possessing marijuana.”
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Apr 20 2024

4/20, 2024: Top 5 Developments in Marijuana Law Reform Since the Previous 4/20

It’s officially 4/20, a day celebrated by many marijuana consumers and activists. Since the previous 4/20, there’s been some significant advancements in marijuana law reform at both the state and federal levels.

Here’s a list of the top five developments in marijuana law reform since the previous 4/20.

Minnesota Legalizes Recreational Marijuana

On May 27, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed into law legislation that legalized recreational marijuana for everyone 21 and older, allowing them to possess up to two ounces of marijuana, eight grams of marijuana concentrates and 800mg of marijuana edibles, while also allowing them to cultivate up to eight plants for personal use. The law took effect on August 1, with licensed marijuana stores expected to open sometime in 2025. Sales may begin even sooner, however, as the state’s House of Representatives approved a bill this week to speed up the process.
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Apr 19 2024

US Senate Bill to Legalize Marijuana, Expunge Past Offenses, Being Filed Tomorrow

Legislation to legalize marijuana will be filed tomorrow in the United States Senate.

The Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act (CAOA) will be filed tomorrow by a coalition of Senate Democrats, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden.

The CAOA would require the US attorney general to finalize rules removing marijuana as a controlled substance within 180 days of the bill’s passage, place a 5% federal excise tax on marijuana producers that would increase to 12.5% by the fifth year, and establish the Center for Cannabis Products within the FDA, tasked with regulating “the production, labeling, distribution, sales and other manufacturing and retail elements of the cannabis industry”.
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Apr 19 2024

US Secretary of Homeland Security Tells New Mexico Governor They Will Continue Seizing Legal Marijuana

New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has confronted the US Secretary of Homeland Security regarding Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) decision to begin seizing massive amounts of marijuana from state-licensed marijuana businesses in New Mexico, and arresting employees.

In recent weeks the CBP has confiscated hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of marijuana transported by marijuana companies that are legal under New Mexico law. A handful of marijuana employees have been arrested, with one recording showing a Border Patrol agent saying “We’ve been instructed to seize all cannabis—all illegal products. It’s still federally illegal.”

Now, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has met with Alejandro Mayorkas, the US Secretary of Homeland Security, to question why these seizures have happened and to request them to stop.
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Apr 19 2024

White House Press Secretary Says President Biden Supports Decriminalizing Marijuana

During today’s White House press briefing, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that it’s “very, very clear” that President Biden supports decriminalizing marijuana.

“Look, [on] decriminalization the president has been very, very clear he doesn’t believe that anyone should be in jail, or be prosecuted, just for using or possessing marijuana. He continues to say that. He believes that”, said Jean-Pierre, when asked “does the White House believe that it has done enough as it relates to the issue of marijuana?”

Jean-Pierre then goes on to say “As you know he asked the Secretary of HHS and the attorney general to initiate the administrative process to review how marijuana is being scheduled. HHS concluded their independent review that was guided by evidence and science, which is what we believe here in this administration. And now the scheduling review is with the Department of Justice.”
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Apr 19 2024

Jimmy John’s Selling Dime Bags for 4/20 At All 2,600+ Nationwide Locations

Jimmy John’s, a popular sandwich chain with a national footprint of over 2,600 stores, is celebrating 4/20 in a unique way.

The franchise says they’re offering a “Deliciously Dope Dime Bag” deal for just $10 at all of their over 2,600 locations across the United States. The deal includes a regular sized sub, chips, and a brownie for $10, a solid deal given that typically the sandwich itself is around $9-$10.

“Feeling extra munchy? Grab the Deliciously Dope Dime Bag, a limited time collection of a sandwich of smoked ham, jalapeño ranch, crispy jalapeños and, of course, extra herbs. Paired with Jimmy Chips®, a pickle spear and Fudge Chocolate Brownie”, Jimmy John’s says on their website.
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