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 associated with a marijuana conviction can derail dreams by making it difficult to obtain jobs, an education, and even housing. If you have experienced any of these collateral consequences of a conviction for simple possession, please let us know.

It’s past time for New Hampshire to catch up with 15 other states — including all five other New England states — by reducing the penalty for marijuana possession to a fine.

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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 marijuana with a doctor’s recommendation. Continuing to punish the sick for using marijuana is cruel, and spending millions on a study that would only bring relief for a select few is wasteful.

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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, which requires a signed statement from a neurologist. However, no other conditions have been approved except intractable epilepsy.

The proposal also mandates the state to certify a college to cultivate cannabis for research purposes. The bill now moves on to Governor Jay Nixon’s desk for approval.

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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 hesitant to support the issue, thinking a compassionate vote in support of medical marijuana will leave them politically vulnerable.

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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 of the polls show 93 percent of Democrats, 80 percent of Republicans, and 84 percent of people 65 and older support changing the law. The poll went further and found that more than half (53 percent) support legalizing small amounts of marijuana for personal, adult use.

“If Vegas were giving odds on medical marijuana becoming legal in Florida, the bookies would be betting heavily,” said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University poll. “With almost nine in 10 voters favoring legalization for medical purposes, and bills allowing such use advancing in the state Legislature, the odds seem pretty good Florida may join the states which already have done so.”

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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 bill allows patients with cancer and conditions that result in chronic seizures or severe muscle spasms to use marijuana that contains 0.8% THC or lower and 10% CBD or higher. Patients can administer the medicine via pills, oils, or vaporization. Smoking is prohibited. The bill also requires the state to register five dispensing businesses, spread out across the state, to grow and dispense the medical marijuana. Unfortunately, the bill places heavy burdens on physicians who wish to recommend marijuana to their patients, arguably forcing them to violate federal laws in order to do so.

Florida took a small step forward this year, but the law is so incomplete that MPP will not be counting it as a “medical marijuana state.” Voters will have an opportunity to enact a comprehensive, workable medical marijuana law by voting "yes" on Amendment Two this November.

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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 resident,  please contact your lawmakers NOW and ask them to support a workable medical program similar to the laws in 21 states and the District of Columbia.

The clinical study amendment to H.F. 1818 was offered on the heels of the Senate medical marijuana bill clearing yet another legislative hurdle. Fortunately, the Senate proposal, which will be heard tomorrow in the Senate finance committee, would create a workable program that would protect seriously ill Minnesotans from arrest and prosecution for using marijuana with the recommendations of their doctors. It would also create a regulated medical marijuana dispensary program to provide safe and immediate access to that medicine.

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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 have local ordinances that treat possession of 35 grams or less as a non-arrestable offense.

SB 491 isn’t the only marijuana-related bill on the move.

Earlier this month, SB 951 passed out of committee; it may soon receive a vote in the Senate. While far from perfect, it would allow a broad range of severely ill patients to use medical marijuana products that include THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids. A second, very limited bill, HB 2238, would allow some patients to access CBD-rich cannabis oil with trace amounts of THC. It passed both houses and will be sent to Gov. Nixon for his signature. For an overview of the bill, click here.

The Missouri Legislature made significant progress this year to improve marijuana-related laws, due in large part to the hard work from groups like Show-Me Cannabis.

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Once again, the medical marijuana bill authored by Sen. Scott Dibble and Rep. Carly Melin cleared another legislative hurdle. The Minnesota Senate Judiciary Committee just voted to refer the bill to the finance committee. The legislation has already been approved by the Senate health and government committees. As you may know, session time is running out, so, if you have not already done so, please find out if your lawmakers support medical marijuana.

Polling shows that a majority of Minnesotans, regardless of political affiliation, age, income, education, or region, support medical marijuana legislation. However, lawmakers tend to lag behind the public on sensible and compassionate marijuana policies, so if you are a Minnesota resident, please let your lawmakers know that their constituents support medical marijuana and they should, too.

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On Wednesday, the Vermont Senate gave final approval to a bill that will improve access to medical marijuana and remove the arbitrary cap of 1,000 patients who may benefit from dispensaries. S. 247 was approved by the House last week, and the bill will now move forward to Governor Peter Shumlin’s desk where it will receive his signature.

Sponsored by Sen. Jeanette White (D-Windham), this bill will increase possession limits for dispensaries, allow them to deliver medical marijuana to patients, and permit naturopaths to certify patients for the program. Additionally, the bill was amended by the House to initiate two studies: One will explore the possibility of adding post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a qualifying condition for the state's medical marijuana program, and one will evaluate the potential impact of making marijuana legal for adults and regulating it similarly to alcohol.

[caption id="attachment_7396" align="alignright" width="148"] Sen. Jeanette White[/caption]

That’s right — not only did Vermont legislators improve the medical marijuana law this year, but they are already gathering the information they will need to consider sensible marijuana policy reforms during next year’s legislative session.

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