State by state news
New Hampshire:
House bill 1623 passed the house and now goes to the senate. House bill 1623 would decriminalize Cannabis.
Vermont:
Senate bill-238 would replace existing criminal penalties outlawing the possession of up to one ounce of Cannabis with civil sanctions, punishable by a fine and no criminal record.
Illinois:
Voters preparing to ask there legislators to protect the sick from arrest and allow doctors to perscribe it.
States listed here have some kind of a bill or inititive that will be in the legislator, or will be voted on by the voters of that state, Nov.08. Also listed will be any bills that will reach the U.S. Congress
Federal
Rep. Barney Frank D-Mass, to introduce two bills in the congress. One bill would decriminalize possession of 100 grams or 3 and onehalf ounces. The second bill would protect the sick in those states that have enacted laws allowing the sick to use cannabis.
The U.S. house of reppresentative will vote this summer on the Hinchey-Rohrabacher Medical Marijuana Amendment, if passed would end Federal Governments raids on medical users.
Minnesota:
A bill that would allow patients to use medical Marijuana easily passed the house ways and means committee on Wednesday.
One of the things you can do is to join National Norml.There are chapters in most every state. Join, get invloved.
NY Assembly Passes Medical Marijuana Bill
Body: June 18th, 2008
ALBANY — The New York Assembly passed a bill today that would protect New Yorkers with life threatening or debilitating conditions from arrest for using medical marijuana when their doctors believe it would be the best treatment option, 79-48.
The bill is similar to the medical marijuana bill the Assembly passed last year. The version passed today was modified to address concerns voiced by members of the Senate, who have until June 23 to pass the bill before the legislature recesses.
California: The Senate Judiciary Committee approved Assembly Bill 2279 this week by a vote of 3-2. The measure now awaits action by the full Senate. (The state Assembly previously passed the measure 42-29 in May.) If enacted, AB 2279 would protect patients from employment discrimination on the basis of their state-licensed medical cannabis use in off-work hours. Californians are strongly encouraged to contact their Senators via NORML’s online advocacy system.
Hawaii: Governor Linda Lingle said this week that she may veto House Bill 2675, which would establish a legislative medical marijuana task force to explore ways to provide legal cannabis for Hawaii’s state-qualified medical cannabis patients. If you live in Hawaii, you may contact the Governor via NORML’s online advocacy system.
North Carolina: Lawmakers heard testimony this week in support of legislation (HJR 2405) seeking to establish a task force to study options for regulating the legal use of medical marijuana for qualified patients. House members did not vote on the bill. Residents in North Carolina are strongly encouraged to contact their House members via NORML’s online advocacy system.
New York: The Legislature adjourned this week without calling for a Senate vote on Assembly Bill 4867B, which sought to allow qualified patients to grow and possess medical cannabis under a doctor’s supervision. This marked the second consecutive year the Assembly had passed medi-pot legislation, only have it die in the Senate.
Michigan: A statewide ballot measure seeking to legalize the possession and use of medical cannabis has been authorized to appear on the November ballot. According to a spring 2008 poll, two-thirds of Michigan voters back the measure. If passed, Michigan would become the thirteenth state since 1996 to enact legislation protecting medical cannabis patients from arrest and state criminal prosecution, and the ninth to do so via ballot initiative. For more information on the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act, please visit here.
Massachusetts: Election officials on Wednesday certified for the November ballot a statewide initiative seeking to decriminalize the possession of up to one ounce of marijuana. Since 2002, more than 480,000 voters in 127 Massachusetts communities have endorsed non-binding resolutions to liberalize local pot policies. More information on the initiative is available from the Committee for Sensible Marijuana Policy.
Rhode Island: Governor Don Carcieri — a longtime opponent of medical marijuana — vetoed legislation this week that sought to establish a legislative commission to study ways to better provide medical cannabis to state-qualified patients. Since the measure received strong support from both the House and Senate, it is possible that legislators may elect to override the Governor’s veto. For more information, please visit the Rhode Island Patient Advocacy Coalition here.
