Colorado lawmakers moved the marijuana industry away from its cash-only roots on Wednesday when they approved the world’s first financial system for marijuana businesses. The plan sets up a network of uninsured cooperatives, which gives the industry an avenue to basic banking services. Even in light of Eric Holder’s comments on banking, marijuana businesses have still had a hard time finding banks to even let them open checking accounts, for fear of committing a federal crime. According to an AP…

[caption id="attachment_7612" align="alignright" width="300"] Jonathan Ogden[/caption] Jonathan Ogden, retired Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle, has applied for a medical marijuana dispensary license in Nevada, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. There are a limited number of licenses available in Nevada, so it is still unclear whether or not Ogden will own a dispensary. One hundred and nine other companies have filed applications, and only 66 will be licensed this year, 40 of which will…

A couple of weeks ago, the New Hampshire Senate refused to consider a bill that would have reduced marijuana penalties in the state, but MPP and its allies are not giving up on the 2014 session. Several representatives in the House are working to keep this issue alive, and we are still making the case that now is the time to stop criminalizing and jailing people for consuming a substance that is safer than alcohol. Today, MPP released a new report — Marked for Life — that shows how the lifelong stigma…

On Tuesday evening, the Minnesota Senate approved the medical marijuana bill with a veto-proof majority vote, 48-18. The legislation, authored by Sen. Scott Dibble, now crosses over to the House for consideration. If you are a Minnesota resident, please call and then email your state representative to ask him or her to vote “yes” on compassionate and workable medical marijuana legislation today! An overwhelming and diverse majority of Minnesotans support polices that allow the terribly ill to use…

Missouri lawmakers have passed legislation permitting patients with epilepsy access to “CDB-only” medical marijuana in the form of a “hemp extract.” On May 1, the Senate passed the bill unanimously (32-0), and the House seconded the bill with a vote of 136-12. The limited bill would permit epileptic patients to take medical marijuana extracts with THC amounts below 0.3%. Patients would have to obtain a medical marijuana registration card from the state’s Department of Health and Senior Services,…

This afternoon, the Minnesota Senate Finance Committee approved the medical marijuana bill, authored by Sen. Scott Dibble, 14-7. This was the last committee the bill needed to move through. It now goes to the entire Senate for a floor vote, which could happen as early as tomorrow. Polling shows that Minnesotans across the state, of all ages and from all political persuasions, think their neighbors should be able to use medical marijuana under the advice of their doctors. However, some lawmakers are…

Another Quinnipiac poll is out today, this time showing that Floridians want medical marijuana legalized. At a staggering 88% approval rate, Florida lawmakers have a mandate from the people to move forward with bills like SB 1030, which is already on its way to the governor’s desk. It wasn’t just one age group that steered the numbers so high; over 80 percent of all age groups surveyed approved of medical marijuana, showing that Floridians widely support the drug’s medicinal value. The breakdown…

On Thursday, the Florida House voted 111-7 in support of a bill that will exempt a limited group of very sick people from criminal laws for using marijuana that is low in THC and high in CBD if certain requirements are met. Gov. Rick Scott has stated that he’ll sign the bill if the Senate agrees to the House version today. Please email your lawmakers today and thank them for recognizing marijuana’s medical benefits. [caption id="attachment_7594" align="alignright" width="200"] Gov. Rick Scott[/caption] The…

A new proposal has been put forth in the Minnesota House of Representatives to gut the existing medical marijuana bill and replace it with language that would only allow for clinical trials for medical marijuana. While it’s heartening to know lawmakers are working on the issue, this proposal would not provide any patients with the medicine they need. Among its other flaws, federal law would preempt it by requiring the health department to contract with a marijuana manufacturer. If you are a Minnesota…

On April 24, the Missouri House and Senate passed a bill that would eliminate the possibility of jail time for people caught with up to 10 grams of marijuana — at least the first time. The bill, SB 491, was sent to Gov. Jay Nixon for his signature on April 28. He has until May 13 to sign the bill or veto it. [caption id="attachment_7589" align="alignright" width="201"] Gov. Jay Nixon[/caption] Nearly half a million Missouri residents already live in cities, including St. Louis and Columbia, which…