2013 isn’t even a month old, and already we’re seeing numerous senators and representatives across the country ride the wave of reformation that was generated in November 2012. Since Washington and Colorado put the question of marijuana regulation on the ballot, more and more state leaders have come to the realization that prohibition is not what the people want, and it’s definitely not what the country needs.
Prior to the end of 2012, Indiana Sen. Brent Steele (R-Bedford) announced plans to introduce a proposal in the 2013 session that would alter the legal repercussions associated with marijuana possession. Rather than facing jail time, individuals in Indiana caught with 10 grams of marijuana or less would be served a fine.
Iowa Rep. Bruce Hunter (D-Des Moines) has pushed for medical marijuana and declared his intention to introduce HF 2270 in the Iowa General Assembly. If passed, Iowans with qualifying conditions would be allowed to possess up to two and a half ounces of marijuana. HF 2270 also includes terms for the creation of a licensing system for eligible patients and for the creation of nonprofit suppliers to sell marijuana to those licensed to buy.
In Illinois, Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie) introduced HB 1 to protect medical cannabis patients. Mississippi Sen. Deborah Dawkins (D-Pass Christian) is seeking to add the Magnolia State, which has already decriminalized personal use marijuana possession, to the ever-growing list of states that have legalized medical marijuana. Other states actively seeking to adopt compassionate medical marijuana legislation include New York, New Hampshire, and West Virginia.
On January 17, Hawaii Speaker of the House Joseph Souki (D-8th District) took – or photocopied – a page from Amendment 64, and introduced HB150, which essentially mirrors the latest article in Colorado’s constitution. If passed, adults 21 and over would be permitted to possess and purchase up to an ounce of marijuana at a time, as well as paraphernalia. (Under current state law, paraphernalia possession is a felony and carries a maximum five-year prison sentence and a $10,000 fine.)
Many of the calls for marijuana policy reforms have come out of states with the harshest marijuana laws on record. In Oklahoma, Sen. Connie Johnson (D-Oklahoma City) successfully introduced SB 710 and SB 914. Respectively, the bills call for (1) the establishment of a medical marijuana program, and (2) the reduction of penalties for possessing small amounts of marijuana. Both are scheduled to receive first readings on February 4.
In Alabama, Rep. Patricia Todd (D-Birmingham) and Rep. K.L. Brown (R) pre-filed House Bill 2, which would authorize the use of medical marijuana. HB 2 will be introduced to the legislature on February 5. And, a history of rejection didn’t dissuade Sen. David Haley (D-Kansas City) from introducing SB 9 in the Kansas Senate. It turns out third time’s a charm: for the first time in three years, an introduced medical marijuana bill will be heard at the committee level in Kansas.
Even Texas jumped – or at the very least, hesitantly crawled – on the reform bandwagon. Rep. Harold Dutton (D-Houston) has proposed decriminalizing possession of one ounce or less, instead fining users $500. Rep. Dutton’s fellow representative Elliot Naishtat (D-Austin) reintroduced a bill that would give patients with serious illnesses an “affirmative defense” against charges of possessing small amounts of marijuana.
Refusing to become complacent is one of, if not the most, important elements in the fight to end prohibition. Marijuana reform will not happen overnight, and individuals like Sen. Haley and Rep. Todd have shown us that determination does indeed yield results. Even small measures like substituting fines for jail time are a step in the right direction.
If these early weeks of 2013 can assure us of anything, it’s that this year has the potential to be one of the most significant and memorable years in reform history. With public opinion for marijuana regulation on the rise, we expect multiple states to follow suit and offer up similar legislative proposals in the months to come.
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It will never happen here in Tennessee! These Republicans who have a hold of our national and state legislation have already said that this is a dangerous drug and should not be legalized. Tennessee is a poor state and would greatly benefit from legalization for both medical marijuana and recreational marijuana. This would bring in lots of revenue and stop the loss of monies spent on prosecution and jail time.
Does anyone know specifically what new York is considering?
well, Gloria has given up people, I guess it’s just time for us all to throw in the towel and follow everyone else off the metaphorical cliff destroying the planet, and our bodies in the process just as the tide is turning.
Texas: decriminalize and fine users $500. Well, Rob is right, even “small measures are a step in the right direction”– but make no mistake, these fines maintain the pro-tobacco strategy of keeping cannabis comparatively expensive ($200 an ounce vs. under $20 for two packs of $iggerettes) so that youngsters “experimenting with smoking” are steered toward nicotine addiction. (Pack-a-day habit now over $3000/yr. in most states; government cashes in on the $iggerette tax payola.)
Hawaii HB150 would remove prohibition against “paraphernalia”– by which has been meant ANY harm reduction equipment– vaporizers, one-hitters– which can serve as an alternative to EASY-TO-HIDE HBOM Hot Burning Overdose Monoxide “joints” (steering youngsters toward propaganda-loaded tobacco stores to buy the papers) and “blunts” (wrapped in a skin which contains addictive nicotine).
There is an old Georgia medical marijuana law that was
put in place 30 years ago that was never implemented
Louisiana is never gonna see the light they are to fucking drunk
When is Louisiana ever gonna wake up???
Six state legislatures have legalization bills introduced in the first month of 2013,,how many will get out of committee to be debated on the floor is anyone’s guess.
Any estimates on how many states will have legalization bills by 4/20?
These measures are all legislated bills,not ballot initiatives,,the blood is in the water and the sharks are circling,,
The real problem with cannabis prohibition and the resulting wholesale erosion of our constitutional rights is all about civil rights. I will eat, drink, grow or otherwise consume whatever I please in my own home as long as I am harming no others. The feds concern about me ends at my door. Marijuana prohibition, and all drug laws that grant legal, unannounced entry into citizens homes by militarized police are simply conjured up, self serving excuses to expand police forces and control over every aspect of our lives. Is it any wonder that government, federal, state and local, are going broke? They all have expanded far beyond their original charters and intent and We the People were hoodwinked into funding and supporting an ever expanding intrusion into the everyday, personal lives and choices of America’s citizens. More laws, more cops, more jails, more judges and courts, more drug rehibilatation, more drug screening, more domestic raids…more, more, more is the message. Scare the shit out of us with lies and we will let them do anything to us. I fear my government much more than I fear drugs. For those who want to throw away their lives with drugs, let them. Provide drugs to them so they do not have to break into my home to fund their habits. It is such a small portion of America that wants to do harm to themselves with drugs, let them. Education is the answer. Truth is the answer. No more lies please. Remember cigarettes? There will always be those who make the choice to take a chance, risk it all…let them. I don’t want one more dollar spent trying to keep people off drugs! That is not the function of the government. Get the police out of our homes. What responsible adults do in their homes and gardens withour harming anothers should never be the concern of our government. Unless I am harming or threatening another human being stay the hell out of my home, out of my garden and out of my medicine cabinet. I am sure that there is plenty of real police work out on the streets of America to engage our neighborhood police forces that they really don’t need to concern themselves with trying to enforce laws that in reality force us all to drink alcohol by banning everything else. Alcohol kills, marijuana never has. I don’t need my government telling me science is wrong, that facts are wrong. My government does not have my best interst at heart nor are they more concerned about me than I am. I get to make the choices, not them. For me, I made the choice over 40 years ago. My parents were alcoholics and I wanted better for me. Marijuana has allowed me to avoid the effects of alcohol and in everyway I am a better man for making that choice, no thank to Uncle Sam.
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im just wondering if you guys know anything about Minnesota, we havnt had no bills introduced here since a year ago and it hasnt been brought up since. does anyone know or mpp could you give me info on MN if there is.
Everything comes with time, just be patient!