Feb 29 2024

Virginia Legislature Approves Bill Prohibiting Parents From Being Punished for Marijuana Use

Legislation stating that “no person shall be denied custody or visitation of a child” for legally using marijuana has been passed by Virginia’s full legislature.

Senate Bill 115 states that “a child shall not be considered an abused or neglected child, and no person shall be denied custody or visitation of a child, based only on the fact that the child’s parent or other person responsible for his care, or the person petitioning for custody or visitation of the child, possessed or consumed legally authorized substances.” Virginia legalized marijuana possession in 2021.

An enactment clause “directs the Board of Social Services to amend its regulations, guidance documents, and other instructional materials to ensure that such regulations, documents, and materials comply with, and that investigations and family assessments are conducted by local departments of social services in accordance with, the provisions of the bill.”
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Feb 29 2024

Arizona Senate Votes 24 to 4 to Legalize Psilocybin (Magic Mushroom) Therapy Centers

Arizona’s full Senate has passed a bill to legalize psilocybin therapy centers.

Psilocybin mushrooms.

Senate Bill 1570 was passed with overwhelming support, with 24 members voting in favor compared to just four voting in opposition. The proposed law would legalize psilocybin therapy centers where individuals can legally consume psilocybin in a medical, supervised setting, with trained staff constantly available. Licensing for these centers would be handled by the Department of Human Services (DHS).

The measure would establish a Arizona Psilocybin Advisory Board, tasked with overseeing training criteria for those working at service centers. The board would also recommend to lawmakers any potential law changes.
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Feb 29 2024

US House Bill to Decriminalize Marijuana and Allow Expungements Gains Two New Sponsors, Now Has 84

Federal legislation to fully decriminalize marijuana has gained two new sponsors in the US House of Representatives.

Yesterday Congressmembers Jennifer McClellan (D-VA) and Andy Kim (D-NJ) signed on as cosponsors to the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act. The measure, filed in September by Representative Jerrold Nadler (D), now has 84 sponsors. The only marijuana-related House bill that has more sponsors is the SAFE Banking Act with 104.

The MORE Act would remove marijuana as a federal controlled substance, effectively decriminalizing it nationwide. It would place a 5% federal excise tax on marijuana sales in states where its legal for the first two years, with it increasing to 8% by the fifth year.
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Feb 29 2024

New Marijuana Legalization Bill Filed in Kentucky

Legislation filed yesterday in Kentucky’s Senate would legalize the recreational use of marijuana for everyone who’s at least 21 years old.

Under the new bill filed by Senator David Yates, those 21 and older would be allowed to possess an ounce of marijuana for recreational use. A Department of Cannabis Control would be established to oversee a new legal marijuana industry, where licensed retail outlets sell marijuana and marijuana products.

The proposal would allow those with past marijuana convictions to have the charges expunged from their record, and it prevents employers from discriminating against those who use marijuana legally while not at work.
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Feb 29 2024

The 4 States Still on Track to Legalize Marijuana in 2024

Activists across the United States are working to make their state the next to legalize recreational marijuana.

24 states plus the District of Columbia have legalized recreational marijuana. Although there are activists working to legalize marijuana in all of the other 26 states, some have achieved far more progress towards accomplishing this goal than others.

With that in mind, below are the four states still on track to legalize recreational marijuana this year:
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Feb 28 2024

WA Legislature Votes 145 to 1 to Move Accreditation of Marijuana Testing Labs to Department of Agriculture

A measure “reassigning the accreditation of private cannabis testing laboratories from the department of ecology to the department of agriculture” has been approved by Washington’s full legislature.

House Bill 2151 was advanced by the House of Representatives on February 12 in a 96 to 1 vote. Today, the Senate passed the measure unanimously 49 to 0. The legislation will soon be sent to Governor Jay Inslee for consideration.

The proposed law “Reassigns agency authority and responsibility for accreditation of cannabis testing laboratories to the Department of Agriculture (WSDA), effective July 1, 2024, and authorizes expedited rulemaking.”
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Feb 28 2024

US Senate: SAFER Banking Act to Allow Marijuana Banking Gains 36th Sponsor

The SAFER Banking Act is now sponsored by 36% of the entire United States Senate.

Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) has signed on as a cosponsor for the SAFER Banking Act (S.2860), which would give federal protections to banks and other financial institutions (such as credit unions) that provide services to marijuana businesses that are legal under their state’s law. Senator Cantwell is the measure’s 36th sponsor.

The SAFER Banking Act was filed in September with 13 sponsors. It has since nearly tripled its total number of sponsors.
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Feb 28 2024

South Dakota Bill to Ban Delta-8 THC Passed by Legislature, Sent to Governor

South Dakota’s full legislature has passed a bill to ban the production, distribution and possession of delta-8 and delta-10 THC.

Delta-8 THC gummies.

On Monday the full Senate voted 31 to 1 to pass House Bill 1125, which passed the House of Representatives in January by a vote of 69 to 0. Given it was amended slightly in the Senate, the House gave the measure one final vote of concurrence today, 69 to 1, officially sending to to Governor Kristi Noem. Even if Governor Noem decides to veto the bill, it has well more than the 2/3rds support required to override a veto.

The legislation states that no person or entity may:
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Feb 28 2024

Full Virginia Legislature Passes Legislation to Legalize Marijuana Sales, Will Soon Be Sent to Governor

Virginia’s Legislature has passed legislation that will allow the licensed distribution of marijuana and marijuana products.

Today the Virginia House of Delegates and Senate passed identical bills to legalize recreational marijuana sales. After one final technical hurdle, expected to occur either today or tomorrow, the legislation will be sent to Governor Glenn Youngkin.

House Bill 698 passed the House today 21 to 18, while the identical Senate Bill 448 passed the Senate 51 to 47.
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Feb 28 2024

Mitch McConnell, Longtime Opponent of Marijuana Legalization, Stepping Down as Senate Minority Leader

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), a longtime opponent of legalizing marijuana, announced today they he will step down as GOP leader in November.

(Photo credit: Getty Images).

In a speech on the Senate floor, McConnell said that he will continue to serve in Senate but will allow “the next generation of leadership” to lead the Senate and Republican Party. McConnell was first elected to the Senate in 1984. He became minority leader in 2007, and first became Majority Leader in 2014. He once again became minority leader in 2021 after Democrats took back control of the Senate.

Last week McConnell said “the end of my contributions are closer than I prefer”, hinting that this announcing could be coming. McConnell is currently 82 years old.
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