States With Pending Marijuana Bills

[beefybull]

Arkansas

Medical Marijuana
Medical use bill (H.B. 1321) was introduced by Rep. Buddy Blair and Rep. Jim Lendall. The bill was referred to the Committee on Public Health, Welfare, and Labor.
http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=1407111

For more information, please contact: Ms. Denele Campbell,
Alliance for Reform of Drug Policy in Arkansas:
501-839-2475 [email protected]

California

Decriminalization
Sen. Sher has introduced a bill, S.B. 131, which would downgrade possession of one ounce or less of marijuana from a misdemeanor to a civil infraction. The bill is similar to one by Sen. McPherson that was passed by the Senate last session, but died in the Assembly due to partisan bickering. NORML supports the bill because it would protect minor pot offenders from a criminal record.
http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=1503191&type=ST

Connecticut

Decriminalization
Decriminalization bill, S.B. 356, a 4 ounce limit with a civil fine, has been introduced by Sen. Martin Looney and Sen. Todd Harp. Bill referred to the Judiciary Committee.

On the House side, H.B. 5260, introduced by Kevin Witkos, would make possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of small amounts of marijuana (up to 4 ounces), a violation, punishable by a fine only. Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=1301016

Massachusetts

Decriminalization
A bill (S.B. 207) has been introduced by Sen. Charles Shannon (with 4 co-sponsors) to decriminalize less than an ounce of marijuana ($100 civil fine); Rep. Patricia Jehlen, along with 7 co-sponsors, has introduced a companion bill in the House. No bill number yet assigned.

http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=1365946

Medical Marijuana
'Medical Use' bill has been introduced by Rep. Frank Smizik, along with 9 House co-sponsors, and in the Senate by three senators. The bill has not yet been assigned a number, or referred to committee, but the docket number is House Docket 3137.

For more information, please contact Mass/CANN: [email protected]
www.masscann.org

Missouri

Medical Marijuana
Sen. Ronnie DePasco (a cancer patient himself) has publicly expressed his intention to introduce a medical use bill. His office says he intends to introduce the bill within 2 weeks.

Local Decriminalization Effort in Columbia, MO
Columbia has qualified a municipal ordinance for the ballot in April, legalizing medical use and decriminalizing (fine only) other use. Election to be held on April 8, 2003.

For more information on the state or Columbia law reform efforts, please contact MO NORML's Dan Viets:
[email protected]

Montana

Medical Marijuana
Rep. Ron Erickson (D-Missoula) introduced a medical use bill (H.B. 506), which unfortunately fell to a 60 - 40 vote on the House floor.

However, this is very encouraging as this is the first time Montana has ever politically vetted the issue of medical marijuana. Typically, bills of this nature take two to four legislative sessions to pass.

Thanks to Montana NORML, the bill was able to move out of committee and receive a floor vote. We are confident that Montana will pass a medical marijuana bill in the next few years.

For more information, please contact John Masterson of MT NORML:
[email protected]
www.montananorml.org

New York

Medical Marijuana
Assemblyman Richard Gottfried (D-Manhattan), chair of the Assembly Health Committee, will shortly be introducing a medical use bill.

For more information, please contact New York NORML's Ruth Liebesman:
[email protected]
www.nynorml.org

Oklahoma

Decriminalization
Senator Bernest Cain, chair of the Judiciary Committee, has introduced Senate Bill 779, that includes a fine-only misdemeanor (up to $500 for first offense; up to $1000 for second offense) for marijuana possession.
http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=1401886

For more info, please contact OK NORML's Norma Sapp:
405-760-956 [email protected]

Texas

Decriminalization
Decriminalization bill, H.B. 715. (lowering minor offenses from a class B misdemeanor to a class C misdemeanor - with no arrest or jail - ticket only) has been introduced by Rep. Harold Dutton.
http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=1409626

For more information, please contact TX NORML's Howard Woolridge:
[email protected]
http://www.normltexas.org

Vermont

Medical Marijuana
'Medical Use' bill (Bill #111) introduced in the House on 1/30/03 by Rep. David Zuckerman and 22 co-sponsors, to "exempt seriously ill people from prosecution or prison for using medical marijuana under a doctor's supervision."

A similar bill passed the House last year.

A companion bill, S.B. 76 has already passed the Senate Health and Welfare Committee, and is headed to the Senate Finance Committee for a hearing. It is crucial that members of the Senate Finance Committee hear from their constituents before the hearing.

Vermont Medical Marijuana Study Committee has recommended medical marijuana.
http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=1322181

Wisconsin

Medical Marijuana
Medical use bill to be introduced soon by Rep. Mark Pocan and Rep. Frank Boyle soon.

For more information, please contact either WI NORML's Chris Kelly,
[email protected]
www.winorml.org

 

[beefybull]

 

[beefybull]

Bump

 

[collegiateLifter]

lets hope some of them pass.

 

[beefybull]

lets hope some of them pass.

Definitely. I'm going to keep bumping this until it gets a ton of views. All it takes is someone in one of these states forwarding along news of the bill to like 10 people they know, who will in turn send it to others, and so on.

http://www.NORML.org/

http://www.Legalize.com/

http://www.CannabisCulture.com/