Virginia House Passes Bill To Allow Medical Marijuana Use In Hospitals
The Virginia House of Delegates has passed a bill to allow patients to use medical marijuana in hospitals. While both the House and Senate earlier this month approved differing versions of the cannabis legislation, the sponsors of those bills have agreed on a compromise approach which cleared the House in a 97-1 vote on Tuesday. […]
This Black History Month, Simply Rescheduling Marijuana Isn’t Enough While Cannabis Prisoners Remain Behind Bars
“Rescheduling…does not free a single person from prison, clear a single criminal record or repair the racial harm created by decades of cannabis prohibition.” By Stephanie Shepard, Last Prisoner Project Every Black History Month, we are asked to reflect on how far our country has come, and to honor progress, resilience and the long fight […]
Virginia House Lawmakers Amend Senate-Passed Marijuana Sales Bill, Setting Stage For Bicameral Negotiations
Virginia lawmakers have advanced a bill to legalize marijuana sales along another step in the bicameral legislative process, with a House committee approving a substitute version of a Senate-passed reform measure. The House General Laws Committee on Tuesday took up the legislation from Sen. Lashrecse Aird (D) and replaced its contents with the text of […]
Florida Lawmakers Vote To Slash Medical Marijuana Fees For Military Veterans
A Florida bill to significantly reduce the fee for military veterans to obtain medical marijuana registry identification cards has cleared another legislative committee. The House Health & Human Services Committee approved the measure from Reps. Susan Valdés (R) and Michelle Salzman (R) in a 22-0 vote on Tuesday. This comes after the legislation cleared two […]
Connecticut Lawmakers Take Up Bill To Allow Medical Marijuana Access In Hospitals
Connecticut lawmakers are among the latest in the U.S. to take up legislation to allow medical marijuana use by certain qualifying patients at health facilities such as hospitals, nursing homes and hospices. Members of the legislature’s Joint Committee on Public Health convened to discuss the cannabis bill at a hearing on Monday, taking testimony from […]
Dr. Oz Warns Of ‘Consequences’ As People Choose Marijuana Over Alcohol, Citing Concerns About ‘High-Dose Hemp And CBD’
Mehmet Oz, the head of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), says “there are going to be consequences” as more Americans choose marijuana over alcohol—including problems caused by “high-dose hemp and CBD.” As the Trump administration works to finalize a cannabis rescheduling proposal and prepares to roll out a CBD coverage plan through […]
Four More States Advance Bills To Allow Medical Marijuana Access In Hospitals
Lawmakers in multiple states are advancing bills meant to provide patients with access to medical marijuana in health care facilities, with lawmakers from Virginia to Hawaii making the case this week for a policy change they say is necessary to ensure patients have a full range of treatment options at their disposal. While the specific […]
Maryland Senators Weigh Bill To Let Firefighters And Rescue Workers Use Medical Marijuana While Off Duty
Maryland senators on Thursday took up a bill to protect firefighters and rescue workers from being penalized for off-duty use of medical marijuana. Members of the Senate Finance Committee held a hearing on the proposal from Sen. Carl Jackson (D) about a year after the full chamber advanced an earlier version that ultimately stalled out […]
Rhode Island Marijuana Regulators Weigh How To Award New Dispensary Licenses
“It’s unfair to everyone that’s invested time, money and attention to this process. We ask there not be any delay.” By Christopher Shea, Rhode Island Currant State cannabis regulators have yet to decide how they will handle the awarding of up to 20 cannabis retail licenses to applicants chosen by lottery as early as May. […]
Arizona Senators Approve Measures To Criminalize ‘Excessive’ Marijuana Smoke Or Odor
Arizona senators have approved a pair of measures that would make the act of creating “excessive” amounts of marijuana smoke or odor a criminal nuisance punishable by jail time, even if the person is using cannabis in compliance with state law in their own homes. Despite concerns about undermining the will of voters who passed […]