#bills to legalize marijuana

[flufflecat]

bill found our home gardening project

[gwydionmisha]

Sen. Warren On Why Speaker Johnson Says The Border Bill Is DOA: Trump Wants To Run On The Issue

“Let’s Make Marijuana Legal. It Shouldn’t Be That Hard.” - Sen. Elizabeth Warren

[cannabisbusinessexecutive]

NC Senate passes medical marijuana; legislation faces uncertain future as it heads to the House

On a 36-10 vote, the North Carolina Senate passed sweeping legislation Monday evening that would allow for the use of medical marijuana while strictly regulating hemp-derived consumables. Senator Tom McInnis (R- Cumberland, Moore ) said he had no doubt that the bill sponsor was well-intended in bringing forward House Bill 563, but he could not support a bill that his local sheriff adamantly…

[tanoraqui]

shoutout to my dash and the Democratic Party as a whole right now for being like

Some good policy reasons to get excited about Harris. Gun control! Heathcare! LGBT rights!

Fighting for the fate of the world: has said she’ll make climate change a top national security priority; was one of the original Senate sponsors of the Green New Deal (others: Ocasio-Cortez, Markey), much of which became Biden’s stealthily VERY green Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill and the Inflation Reduction Act

Yes, she was a prosecuting attorney; no, it’s NOT an ACAB situation—highlights of her time as District Attorney of San Francisco and Attorney General of California include enabling a re-entry/anti-recidivism program for young drug users which is now used as a template around the country, pointedly not prosecuting people for marijuana possession (distinctly before it was legal), defending Californians against foreclosures, got the “gay/trans panic” defense BANNED in CA courts, and being the first statewide agency to require all police offers to wear body cams.

As VP she’s spearheaded abortion rights, developed and nearly passed a landmark voting rights bill (stymied by Senate Republicans + 2 Democrats unwilling to change filibuster rules), and quietly built a solid foreign policy portfolio, including firm support of Palastine.

Find out if you’re registered to vote in any state!

Register to vote in any state!

Other voting resources—and DON’T FORGET to vote down-ballot, too! See how much Harris did as County District Attorney and State Attorney General? Those are elected offices!

[time4hemp]

The USDA's Cannabis Dilemma

Navigating the Hemp and Marijuana Regulatory Maze

Regulatory inconsistencies have forced farmers in many states out of the hemp industry.

Written by Casper Leitch

In recent years, the landscape of American agriculture has undergone significant shifts, particularly with the legalization of hemp cultivation in the 2018 Farm Bill. This move presented farmers with an opportunity to explore new avenues for their businesses, with hemp emerging as a potentially lucrative crop. However, the journey has not been without its challenges, as regulatory inconsistencies have left many farmers in a state of uncertainty.

Hemp Farmers Want To Grow Marijuana

For farmers like Sam Bellavance, a cannabis farmer from Vermont, the dream of cultivating both hemp and marijuana has hit a roadblock. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has begun revoking hemp licenses for farmers engaged in marijuana cultivation, citing federal law. This interpretation has left many farmers feeling as though a financial lifeline has been abruptly cut off.

The discrepancy between federal and state interpretations of the 2018 Farm Bill underscores the larger challenges faced by hemp and marijuana farmers. Despite growing support for marijuana legalization across the country, federal law still classifies it as a Schedule I controlled substance, creating a complex regulatory landscape to overcome.

The Lack Of Legal And Regulatory Clarity

One of the major concerns voiced by hemp industry officials is the lack of legal and regulatory clarity from the federal government. This ambiguity has not only deterred retailers from selling hemp-derived products but has also led to a decline in hemp cultivation levels. According to Hemp Benchmarks, the number of acres planted with hemp has seen a significant decrease in recent years, reflecting the challenges faced by farmers in this industry.

The situation becomes even more complex when considering the enforcement of regulations at both the state and federal levels. While some state-run hemp programs continue to license farmers engaged in marijuana cultivation, others have taken a stricter approach. This inconsistency has left many farmers feeling disillusioned and unsure of how to proceed.

Positive Changes Are On The Way

Despite these challenges, there is still hope for positive change on the horizon. Advocates for regulatory reform are pushing for greater clarity and equity in the hemp and marijuana industries. By advocating for the rights of small farmers and rural communities, they hope to create a more inclusive and sustainable future for all involved.

In conclusion, the journey towards hemp and marijuana legalization is fraught with challenges, but it is also filled with opportunities for growth and innovation. As we navigate this regulatory maze, it is essential to remember the individuals at the heart of this movement – the farmers whose livelihoods depend on the success of these industries. By working together to address regulatory inconsistencies and advocate for positive change, we can create a brighter future for all involved.

Below is a FREE TO DOWNLOAD marijuana music MP3 by Johnny Reefer Seed And The Resin Valley Boys.

Diggin’ In The Dirt.

[thenewdemocratus]

The Heritage Foundation: William J. Bennett & Robert White: Going to Pot, Why The Rush to Legalize Marijuana is Harming America

. You know, if I was a lawyer and I was listening to Bill Bennett and Bob White give their presentation about marijuana, I would probably conceive every point that they made about marijuana. Other than why they say marijuana should continue to be illegal. I would say all of their points about the negative effects about marijuana are probably right. I would just conceive all of that, but then my…

[reasonandempathy]

Walz has served as Minnesota’s governor since 2019 after 12 years in the House of Representatives and now chairs the Democratic Governors Association. He has built a reputation as a folksy politician who can get things done, as Minnesota has adopted a number of progressive laws during his tenure. According to a poll conducted earlier this year, Walz enjoys an approval rating of 55% among Minnesotans. Since Minnesota Democrats achieved a legislative trifecta in the 2022 elections, Walz and his allies have used their power to push a slate of progressive policies. The governor has signed bills protecting abortion access, expanding background checks for prospective gun owners and legalizing recreational marijuana. “Right now, Minnesota is showing the country you don’t win elections to bank political capital,” Walz said last year. “You win elections to burn political capital and improve lives.” That philosophy has endeared him to progressives, who threw their support behind him as the veepstakes kicked into high gear over the past two weeks. They reshared clips of Walz lovingly mocking his daughter’s vegetarianism and tinkering with his car to paint him as the dad that America needs right now.

This is fucking awesome! Honestly, sincerely good news and a very promising pick for the potential Harris Administration. An aggressive, unabashed, popular, populist left-winger with a track record of enacting real, substantive help for people is capital-G Great.

What has he done, specifically?

Abortion rights

In a 1995 ruling, the Minnesota Supreme Court upheld abortion rights in Minnesota. In January 2023, Walz signed the PRO Act (Protect Reproductive Options Act) into law, making abortion a "fundamental right," as well as access to contraception, fertility treatments, sterilization and other reproductive health care.

The law made Minnesota the first state to codify abortion rights in the aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Court's 2022 ruling in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, which nullified Roe. v. Wade after nearly 50 years of precedent. In April 2023, Walz signed the Reproductive Freedom Defense Act into law, shielding women and providers from any legal action originating from the patient's state.

Pro-LGBTQIA+ legislation

In March 2023, Walz signed an executive order to protect the right of residents to have access to gender-affirming health care. Weeks later, he signed the "Trans Refuge" bill, banning the enforcement of arrest warrants, extradition requests and out-of-state subpoenas for those who traveled to Minnesota for care.

"When someone else is given basic rights, others don't lose theirs," Walz said. "We aren't cutting a pie here. We're giving basic rights to every single Minnesotan."

Paid family, medical and sick leave

In May 2023, Walz signed a law creating a state-run program to provide paid family and medical leave for Minnesota workers, funded by a 0.7% payroll tax on employers, by 2026.

Legalization of recreational marijuana

In May 2023, Minnesota became the 23rd state in the nation to legalize recreational cannabis use. Three months later, people 21 and older could start to possess certain amounts of marijuana at home and on their person, in addition to legally growing up to eight plants at a time.

Restoration of voting rights for former felons

In March 2023, Walz signed a bill that restored the right to vote to more than 50,000 convicted felons who had already served their time.

Universal school meals

Amid the increase in food insecurity for many Minnesotans during the pandemic, and the subsequent strain on the state's food shelves that remains to this day, Walz signed a bill in March 2023 that ensures all K-12 students in the state have access to free breakfast and lunch on school days.

Do you know what makes this even better?

Fuck 'Em. I know negative partisanship is important and can help motivate right-wingers to vote, but they're going to vote anyway. And him being afraid of Walz is just a sign that he's a good pick, in policy and politics.

[batboyblog]

I seen people on Twitter, leftist I think, accusing Harris of giving unfair sentences for weed possession in the past. Could I ask you how true that is since you seem knowledgeable about this?

hello

the true story is, in the 7 years Harris was San Fran DA 45 people were sentenced to state prison for marijuana convictions, compared to 135 in the 8 years under the DA before her.

the head of her drug enforcement department said “Our policy was that no one with a marijuana conviction for mere possession could do any (jail time) at all,”

Link

So the true story is that, years before "decriminalization" of possession was a thing people were pushing leftie DAs to do, Harris was doing in in the 2000s

Some people are mad she was against a 2010 ballot measure to legalize (she objected to their failure to have anything about driving while high) and remained neutral as part of her job as California AG on a 2016 ballot measure (the AG's office has to write official explainers of ballot measures that are sent to Cali voters and she felt it was unfair for her to weigh in)

But in 2018 she was endorsing legal weed in 2019 she pushed her own legalization bill that would also wipe out offensives she got a lot of good press from pot circles at first when she ran for President because she was clearly the most pro-weed person running

Indeed President Biden was more conservative on the issue, the only candidate not sure about legalization. Now President Biden has taken big steps pardoning everyone convicted of a federal offensive and working to reschedule Marijuana from a class I to a class III (ie proscription) drug, but Harris is likely to push for a full federal legalization which would be huge

[milk5]

On April 8, 2025, a popular delta-8 THC-infused beer named Wolf Venom Shamanic IPA will provoke nationwide controversy. Each can possesses a 5.5% ABV and contains 100mg THC; six-packs are commonly sold at gas stations. The dramatically disproportionate THC-to-ABV ratio coupled with the delayed effect of the THC will frequently result in extreme inebriation following binge drinking episodes among youth. The first major incident will occur when an Ohioan teenager is found dead after choking on her own vomit in the fallout of such an event.

On July 1, 2027, federal legislation will be passed that amends the legal definition of marijuana to explicitly mention delta-8 THC. By this point, the greater majority of the states have already legalized recreational marijuana usage. The more substantial ruling of the bill will set strict standards on the amount of THC permitted in alcoholic beverages. Wolf Venom Shamanic IPA will remain on the market, but with the THC content significantly reduced. Each beer will only contain 5mg from this point on.

On November 3, 2029, you will have forgotten what it was like to play with your childhood pet when you were both young. You will form a mental image that approximates what you think it may have been like, but the reality is that you do not remember.

On February 19, 2032, adults in their mid-twenties will reminisce about the crazy memories they made back when old Wolf Venoms were still around. They will fondly recall that one time Joey was off his shit at the beach house after drinking 5(?) of them.

[afeelgoodblog]

The Best News of Last Week - April 3, 2023

Kentucky Legalizes Medical Marijuana in Bipartisan Vote After Decade of Failed Attempts

The state of Kentucky has legalized the use of medical marijuana. The bill received final passage on Thursday. Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear signed it into law Friday morning after a decade of failed attempts in the state legislature.

The news makes Kentucky at least the 38th state in the U.S. to legalize medical marijuana.

Now Indiana is surrounded by weed states. The encirclement is complete 😂

2. The Maryland House of Delegates voted Saturday to approve the Trans Health Equity Act

The Maryland House of Delegates voted Saturday to approve the Trans Health Equity Act — a bill that just a year ago disappeared from the chamber’s agenda ahead of a floor vote.

The bill would require Maryland Medicaid, beginning on Jan. 1, 2024, to provide coverage for additional gender-affirming treatments, which are currently disallowed in the state’s plan but commonly covered by private insurance. The expanded treatments include hormone therapy, hair alteration, voice therapy, physical alterations to the body, and fertility preservation.

3. FDA approves over-the-counter Narcan. Here's what it means

The approved nasal spray is the best-known form of naloxone. It can reverse overdoses of opioids, including street drugs such as heroin and fentanyl and prescription versions including oxycodone.

Making naloxone available more widely is seen as a key strategy to control the nationwide overdose crisis. Effects begin within two minutes when given intravenously, and within five minutes when injected into a muscle. The medicine can also be administered by spraying it into a person's nose.

4. Boston expands tuition-free community college program to all residents

Boston has expanded its tuition-free community college program to include all city residents regardless of age, income or immigration status.

Starting this fall, any city resident will be eligible to pursue an associate’s degree or certificate at one of six partnering local institutions without paying to attend. The program also includes a $250 stipend for incidental expenses each semester for up to three years, and up to $2,500 of debt relief for students whose account balances are keeping them from re-enrolling.

5. First cheetah cubs born in India since extinction 70 years ago

India has welcomed the birth of four cheetah cubs - more than 70 years after the animals were declared officially extinct there.India's environment minister announced the good news, calling it a "momentous event".

The country has been trying to reintroduce the big cats for decades, and last year brought eight cheetahs over from Namibia as part of the plan. Another 12 cheetahs were brought to India from South Africa last month.

6. BBC education show in Afghanistan helps children banned from school

The BBC has launched a new education programme for children in Afghanistan who are banned from school.It is aimed at children aged 11 to 16, including girls whose secondary education has been stopped by the ruling Taliban.

The weekly programme is called Dars, which means lesson in Dari and Pashto, Afghanistan's official languages. It is hosted by BBC Afghan female journalists who were evacuated from Kabul during the 2021 Taliban takeover.

Each new weekly half-hour episode of Dars will air four times a day, Saturday to Friday, on the newly launched BBC News Afghanistan channel.

7. A Trans Creator Has Raised Over 1.5 Million for Trans Healthcare on TikTok Live

Transgender TikTokers are celebrating Trans Day of Visibility by raising over $1.5 million for gender-affirming care around the world.

Mercury Stardust — a DIY TikToker and trans advocate who calls herself the “Trans Handy Ma’am” — raised $120,000 last year in a livestream for the mutual aid nonprofit Point of Pride, which maintains funds for surgeries, hormone therapy, and free binders and gaffs. This year, Stardust and cohost Jory, a.k.a. AlluringSkull, set themselves a goal of raising $1 million in a planned 30-hour live stream…and then smashed that milestone less than six hours after starting the stream Thursday evening.

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I have started a Youtube channel with wholesome videos I can find on the internet. Check it out :)

That's it for this week :)

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[solradguy]

WE FUCKIN DID IT OHIO!!!!! ABORTION'S IN OUR CONSTITUTION NOW!!!

CW for mentions of rape and descriptions of abortion processes in both articles: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/ohio-issue-1-voters-pass-abortion-rights-amendment/ar-AA1jtXPR https://abc13.com/election-day-2023-ohio-results-issue-1-voting/14024254/

The vote was SUBSTANTIALLY in favor too. Look at this!! (via CNN)

Issue 2, the vote for recreational marijuana in Ohio, also passed!! Obviously a lot of people wanted that to pass for party reasons, but the bill is also going to establish a bunch of stuff that's going to be wonderful for Ohio's economy in the long run:

Allows medical marijuana businesses in Ohio to grow, process or sell recreational products. 

Awards cultivation and dispensary licenses through the social equity program, which aims to help business owners who have been disproportionately affected by prohibition. That includes those who have been arrested or convicted of marijuana crimes. 

Instructs the Division of Cannabis Control to set rules for licensing, testing, product standards and more. As part of that, the division will set a THC content cap of at least 35% for plant material and 90% for extracts. 

Prohibits driving while high and sales to people under 21. 

source: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2023/11/06/ohio-issue-2-live-election-results-2023-state-votes-on-recreational-marijuana/71205541007/

I cannot believe these both passed. In Ohio!!!! Our entire government is red right now and abortion AND weed both got legalized!!! What a relief. There's hope for this state yet

[brightlotusmoon]

Bipartisan congressional lawmakers have filed a series of new amendments that seek to authorize U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) doctors to issue medical marijuana recommendations to military veterans, prevent marijuana testing for federal job applicants in legal states, prohibit the denial of security clearances over cannabis use and support research on the therapeutic benefits of psychedelics.

As part of a large-scale spending bill covering Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies (MilConVA) for the 2025 fiscal year as well as the separate National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), lawmakers filed several cannabis- and psychedelics-related amendments.

[cannabisbusinessexecutive]

Hawaii Senate Kills ‘De Facto’ Weed Legalization

A bill to increase the amount of marijuana a person can possess before facing stiff criminal penalties failed 15-9 in the Hawaii Senate on Monday. It was the second defeat of a measure at the Legislature this session to allow more people to possess pot. A bill to allow recreational use of marijuana for people 21 years and older died earlier this month. The reasons for shelving Senate Bill 2487,…

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

“Women are not without electoral or political power.”

April 3, 2024

ROBERT B. HUBBELL

APR 03, 2024

President Biden issued a statement on Tuesday condemning a ruling by the Florida Supreme Court that effectively institutes a six-week abortion ban. The state supreme court’s decision overruled a 35-year-old precedent recognizing that Florida’s constitution protected reproductive liberty. Biden’s statement said, in part,

[The decision] will likely trigger Governor DeSantis’ even more extreme law that would prevent women from accessing care before many even know they are pregnant. It is outrageous. These extreme laws take away women’s freedom to make their own health care decisions and threaten physicians with jail time simply for providing the medical care that they were trained to provide. Vice President Harris and I stand with the vast majority of Americans who support a woman’s right to choose, including in Florida, where voters will have the opportunity to make their voices heard in support of a reproductive freedom ballot initiative this November. We . . . continue to call on Congress to pass a law restoring the protections of Roe v. Wade in every state.

As President Biden noted, the six-week abortion ban is effectively on the ballot in Florida in November, when Floridians will have the opportunity to enshrine reproductive liberty in the Florida constitution. Public support for the six-week ban is in the low 20% range.

The text of the proposed constitutional amendment (called “Amendment 4”) reads as follows:

No law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient’s health, as determined by the patient’s healthcare provider. This amendment does not change the Legislature’s constitutional authority to require notification to a parent or guardian before a minor has an abortion.

Under Florida’s law governing constitutional amendments, Amendment 4 must garner at least 60% of the vote to pass. Although that is a high bar, it is not impossible. Other initiatives have surpassed the 60% threshold (approving medical marijuana and requiring parental consent for a minor to obtain an abortion).

As explained in an article on Substack by MCIMAPS, Floridians have reason to hope that Amendment 4 will pass by the 60% threshold in November. See MCIMAPS Report, Abortion and Weed will be on the Florida Ballot in 2024 (substack.com).

Will Amendment 4's presence help President Biden and other Democrats' chances on the Florida ballot in November?

Possibly, even probably.

First, because of the 60% threshold, supporters of Amendment 4 will have every incentive to drive massive turnout.

Second, supporters of a constitutional initiative to legalize recreational use of marijuana will also drive turnout in November.

Third, as noted in an analysis by Mark Joseph Stern, the justices on the Florida Supreme Court indicated in Tuesday’s opinion that they favor the “fetal personhood” doctrine, which would outlaw abortion (and contraception) in Florida at every stage of pregnancy from the moment of conception. See Mark Joseph Stern in Slate, The threat lurking behind Florida’s November abortion vote. If Amendment 4 fails to pass, the six-week ban will likely turn into a total prohibition on abortion. When Florida voters realize the additional implications of failure to pass Amendment 4, turnout should be massive.

Finally, Senator Rick Scott is up for re-election in November. Rick Scott supports the six-week ban (“If I was still governor, I would sign the bill.”) His position on abortion is based on his belief that life begins at conception, a position that aligns with the fetal personhood movement in Florida.

There is reason to believe that Senator Rick Scott is vulnerable. See The Hill, (3/5/24), Scott narrowly leads Mucarsel-Powell in Florida Senate race: Poll. Rick Scott will be forced to run on a six-week abortion ban and the fetal personhood doctrine—positions that are highly unpopular in Florida.

The Biden administration is right to say that Florida is “winnable” for Democrats. Although the ruling by the Florida Supreme Court will impose hardship on thousands of women in the next seven months, the anti-choice extremists have overreached to the point they are prompting a national backlash.

In late-breaking news on Tuesday, it appears pro-choice activists have secured enough signatures to place a pro-choice constitutional amendment on Arizona’s ballot in November. See Arizona Likely To Join Growing Group Of States With Abortion Ballot Initiatives | Talking Points Memo. The group Arizona for Abortion Access has collected more than 506,000 signatures; only 383,923 are required to place the measure on the ballot.

Let’s make Justice Alito regret his attempt to patronize women with his snide statement in Dobbs, “Women are not without electoral or political power.” No, they are not. Nor are their partners, parents, siblings, friends, and fellow citizens. The reactionary anti-choice movement is about to find out just how much electoral power they have.