606 days. That's how long it’s been since the Illinois General Assembly passed the medical cannabis law. Today, after all that time, nobody can say when seriously ill patients will be able to access medical cannabis. [caption id="attachment_8458" align="alignright" width="176"] Gov. Bruce Rauner[/caption] If you are an Illinois resident, please take a moment to tell the governor the wait is inexcusable. Click here for instructions on how to call Gov. Rauner’s office and demand he use his authority…

Last week, District of Columbia Council Member David Grosso and three of his colleagues made it clear that Congressional bullying wasn’t going to stop them from considering a more rational approach to marijuana. On January 6, they quietly introduced legislation to tax and regulate marijuana like alcohol. [caption id="attachment_8454" align="alignright" width="300"] Councilmember David Grosso[/caption] This sensible proposal comes on the heels of voters’ overwhelming vote for Initiative 71, which…

(This post is the first in a series providing insights into the legal marijuana industry. It is a guest post from the staff at MedMen.) While ultimately an exciting endeavor, opening a marijuana business can be a tedious process involving a multitude of legal and monetary procedures. A close eye for detail is required. Dealing with rules and regulations and licensing applications, meeting zoning requirements, preparing concise and detailed business plans and operational protocols, attending local…

[caption id="attachment_8446" align="alignright" width="138"] Rep. Mark Cardenas[/caption] MPP believes legalizing, taxing, and regulating marijuana for adults 21 and over is a more sensible approach than continuing failed prohibition policies, and so does Arizona state Rep. Mark Cardenas. He recently introduced HB 2007, a bill that would treat marijuana like alcohol, similar to the laws of Colorado, Washington, Alaska, and Oregon. If you are an Arizona resident, please take a moment to contact your…

[caption id="attachment_8443" align="alignright" width="300"] Speaker Greg Stumbo[/caption] The medical marijuana issue got a big boost in Kentucky this week when a bill was introduced by House Speaker Greg Stumbo (D-Prestonsburg). The bill, HB 3, would make medical marijuana legal for Kentucky patients who are certified by a physician. It would task the Department of Public Health with establishing a patient registry, issuing ID cards to patients who qualify, and licensing and regulating dispensaries…

Back in December, the attorneys general for Nebraska and Oklahoma filed suit in federal court against the state of Colorado, claiming that the law making marijuana legal for adults there was causing problems for law enforcement in their states. Now, a group of prominent Oklahoma Republicans is urging their attorney general to drop the suit, according to the Washington Post: [caption id="attachment_8440" align="alignright" width="200"] AG Scott Pruitt[/caption] In a Wednesday letter to Oklahoma Attorney…

With the Vermont General Assembly set to convene this week, a group of citizens, organizations, and businesses from around the state is officially launching a coalition to support legislation that would end marijuana prohibition in Vermont and replace it with a system in which marijuana is regulated and taxed similarly to alcohol. From the Washington Times: The Vermont Coalition to Regulate Marijuana held a news conference Tuesday, a day before the start of a legislative session in which lawmakers…

 A strong majority of state voters support reforming Virginia marijuana laws, according to a Public Policy Polling survey released Tuesday. The poll of 884 registered Virginia voters was conducted January 2-4 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.3%. The full results are available at https://www.mpp.org/VApoll. From the Richmond Times-Dispatch: Three out of five Virginians surveyed support removing criminal penalties for possessing up to an ounce of pot and three out of four back medical…

State legislators in Maine are planning to introduce at least four marijuana-related bills in the upcoming session. From the Portland Press Herald: The marijuana OUI bill is being proposed by the Department of Public Safety, which wants to set a limit that will allow police officers to determine when a driver is too stoned behind the wheel. [caption id="attachment_8429" align="alignright" width="152"] Rep. Diane Russell[/caption] Rep. Diane Russell, D-Portland, said she will introduce her fourth…

We are down to the final two days of the 2014 legislative session in Michigan, and this is the last opportunity to pass two critically important bills. HB 5104 would protect patients who consume non-smoked forms of marijuana, while HB 4271 would create clear legal protections for medical marijuana provisioning centers (dispensaries) to ensure patients have safe and regular access to medical marijuana. Both bills must pass out of the Senate committee and receive a vote on the floor before time runs…