On May 31, Illinois became the first and only state to commercialize marijuana through state legislature. Governor Pritzker hopes the state can raise money this way. The legalization bill passed on the very last day of the legislative session. The law goes into effect January 1.
Other state legislators looked at facts and figures, and rejected legalization this year. Continue reading Big Surprise: Illinois legalizes weed in state legislature
Efforts by Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) and SAM’s allies defeated marijuana legalization and commercialization in 9 state legislatures: New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Connecticut, Minnesota, Vermont and Hawaii. When legislators listen to experts, as well as doctors, they reject marijuana legalization, a failure in every other state.
This year, only the Illinois rejected experts’ opinions and positioned itself as an outlier. Continue reading SAM Defeats marijuana in nine states
Marijuana legalization hit stone walls in New York and New Jersey this week and another effort died in New Hampshire. In Vermont, legislation to establish a commercial marijuana market faltered, too. Four states failed. Tiny windows of opportunity may still be open, but passing bills doesn’t appear possible before the end of this year’s legislative session.
It was the second year New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy tried to implement marijuana legalization through the legislature. In New Jersey, Continue reading Four States decline to legalize pot through legislatures this year
At a hearing of the New Jersey Legislative Black Caucus, coalition members of New Jersey Responsible Approaches to Marijuana Policy (NJ-RAMP) expressed their opposition to the legalization and commercialization of recreational marijuana in New Jersey.
Parents, law enforcement professionals, religious leaders, employers, and addiction professionals offered testimony, insights and expertise on a multitude of issues including health concerns, increase in youth use, drugged driving, and arrest rates among minorities.
According to news reports, a number of legislators would rather see decriminalization than legalization in New Jersey. The Black Caucus prefers decriminalization as more helpful to minorities. Continue reading Exposing Marijuana Harms at New Jersey’s Black Caucus Meeting
