Browsing United States

Maine Representative Introduces Legal Cannabis Bill The Maine Legislative council is expected to decide Thursday whether or not they will allow the introduction of LR 2329 – “An Act to Align Maine’s Marijuana Laws With the Guidelines Governing Taxation and Regulation Issued by the Federal Government.” The measure was sponsored by Rep. Diane Russel (D-Portland) and would permit the cultivation, possession, and use of marijuana by individuals over the age of 21 if passed. It would establish a regulated retail system to distribute cannabis, …

Maryland Gubernatorial Candidate Backs Legalization Heather R. Mizeur, a Democratic candidate in Maryland’s upcoming gubernatorial election, is calling for legal cannabis regulations in the state. She is preparing a proposal that discusses how Maryland could oversee the cultivation and distribution of cannabis. Under Mizeur’s plan, it would be legal for an adult to possess up to an ounce of cannabis grown in secure Maryland facilities. Nonetheless, smoking in public and driving under the influence would still be illegal. “Marijuana is safer than alcohol and tobacco,” she said in an interview with the …

Medical Marijuana Receives Bi-Partisan Support Pennsylvania Senators Mike Folmer (R-Lebanon) and Daylin Leach (D-Montgomery) recently announced plans to introduce a bill that would legalize medical cannabis in the state. With that said, any medical cannabis in the state must have a minimum CBD:THC ratio of 1:1. Accordingly, cannabis would only be permitted under S.B. 1182 – the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Act – if it contains at least an equal amount of cannabidiol (CBD) as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The senators join an …

Utah Doctors Support Medical Marijuana For Kids Three Utah physicians submitted a letter in support of medical marijuana to the state’s Controlled Substances Advisory Committee last week. Written by Dr. Francis Filloux, a pediatric neurologist, the letter calls for the committee to allow medical marijuana tinctures in the case of epileptic children. He and his two colleagues who signed on in support join a recent push to allow CBD-rich cannabis …

Medical Marijuana Demand Trumps Supply In New Mexico Licensed medical marijuana producers in New Mexico are having difficulties meeting the supply demands of the state’s growing patient population, according a recently released survey. In fact, a number of producers have been forced to ration their supplies to certain patients, and even turn others away. “The program has encountered two notable issues: limited supply and inflated cost.” The survey was commissioned by the New Mexico Department of Health and conducted by an independent contractor. It included around 6,750 responses, with participants ranging from age 19 to 83. The average respondent was …

Michigan May See Medical Marijuana In Pharmacies Michigan Senators approved Senate Bill 660, which would allow the the distribution of pharmaceutical-grade medical marijuana through the state’s licensed pharmacies. The bill was passed with a 26-16 vote. “This bill will give them a pure and pharmaceutical-grade alternative.” – Sen. Roger Kahn Nonetheless, the measure, which was introduced by Senator Roger Kahn (R-Saginaw) and co-sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville (R-Monroe), requires action on behalf of the federal government before it may be implemented. Specifically, it relies on the plant …

Goucher Poll Reveals Support For New Policies According to the results of a recently released Goucher Poll, 91% of respondents believe that the consequences of possessing small amounts amounts of cannabis should focus less on jail time. Instead, they suggest the institution of rehab provisions, fines, or some other policy. “89.7% of participants were in support of medical marijuana.” Furthermore, the poll suggests support for a number various forms of cannabis policy reform, including medical marijuana and legalization for adult-use. “When it comes to marijuana use in the state, a slight majority of …

Report: Disproportionate MMJ Recommendations In Arizona According to a report from the Arizona Department of Health Services, 21 of the state’s registered physicians are responsible for writing a large proportion of the state’s medical marijuana recommendations. In turn, Will Humble, director of the state Department of Health Services, hopes to eliminate practices that improperly recommend medical marijuana to patients. Meanwhile, he intends to continue intensive training for those who provide recommendations in high volumes. “It’s a problem that all the states face: Just a handful of physicians write the certifications.” – Will Humble The state of …

Michigan Senators Push For Pharmaceutical-Grade Cannabis Michigan’s Senate Government Operations Committee advanced Senate Bill 660 with a 3-0 vote Tuesday. The proposed measure would allow regulated “pharmaceutical-grade” cannabis to be sold in licensed pharmacies throughout the state. It should be noted that the bill, even if passed, would rely on the reclassification of cannabis to a Schedule II drug under the Control Substances Act. The measure, which was introduced by Senator Roger Kahn (R-Saginaw) and co-sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville (R-Monroe), seeks to “provide for the licensure and regulation of facilities to grow and test pharmaceutical-grade pot, and …

Miami Voters Called For Medical Marijuana In Florida Citizens across the nation hit the polls Tuesday to decide on a number of hot-button topics, and the 2013 election season was a success for supporters of cannabis policy reform. “6,683 (64%) of Tuesday’s [Miami Beach] voters are in favor of medical marijuana legislation in Florida.” A form of decriminalization was approved by voters in Portland, Maine and three Michigan cities. Furthermore, Colorado voters approved Proposition AA, which outlines a statewide …