Hawaii and Minnesota Fire Up Hemp Research Legislation

[Source: www.Marijuana.com]

Hemp cultivation is about to receive a long, hard, second look by both Hawaii and Minnesota, thanks to the recent passage of the US farm bill and the noble efforts of “the canary in the coal mine,” – Colorado’s voters.

It was the combination of these two events that kicked open the doors of prohibition, allowing farmers to once again cultivate hemp. Despite the misgivings of the ignorant right… Hemp can’t get you high – it might give you a colossal headache – but under no circumstances will it get you high! And for many… That’s the rub. In the prohibitionists mind, hemp is analogous to marijuana… Hopelessly intertwined with marijuana’s unearned bad boy reputation.

Read more: Hemp research Legislation on the Rise

Boulder approves pot use for adults on private property

 

 [Source:By Erica Meltzer Camera Staff Writer/Dailycamera.com]

Adults will be able to smoke marijuana on private property in Boulder, even if their neighbors are able to see them, and people younger than 21 caught with pot will be treated like underage drinkers.

The Boulder City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to adopt new marijuana ordinances in light of Amendment 64, which legalized possession of small amounts of marijuana and directed the state Legislature to come up with a regulatory framework for retail sales.

Boulder is waiting to develop rules for marijuana stores until the state decides what its regulations and licensing procedures will be.

For now, the city is adopting new ordinances saying marijuana cannot be smoked in public or by people under 21.

In response to earlier concerns about the definitions of public and private, the ordinance was clarified to say that marijuana can be consumed on private property, like in a backyard, even if neighbors might see or smell it.

Amendment 64 applies to people 21 and older. The ordinances adopted Tuesday will treat underage use of marijuana similar to underage drinking.

People between ages 18 and 21 will still have the right to use marijuana if they have a medical card. If someone is accused of underage pot use and intends to present a medical defense, he or she will be asked to present that before trial to avoid unnecessary legal costs for the city.

Read more: Boulder approves pot use for adults on private property - The Denver Post

 

New York: Lawmakers Likely To Debate Marijuana Decriminalization Measure

 [Source: NORML]

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo reaffirmed his commitment to decriminalize the public possession of 15 grams or less of marijuana during his 2013 State of the State address. Governor Cuomo had previously announced his support for a similar legislative proposal in 2012, but state lawmakers failed to act on it.

Under state law, the private possession of up to 25 grams of marijuana is a non-criminal civil citation, punishable by a $100 fine. By contrast, the possession of any amount of cannabis in public view is classified as a criminal misdemeanor [NY State Penal Law 221.10].

In 2011, New York City law enforcement spent $75 million arresting approximately 50,000 minor marijuana offenders under Penal Law 221.10. Many of these offenders had marijuana on their person, and only revealed the cannabis publicly after being ordered by police to empty their pockets during 'stop-and-frisk' searches. According to the Governor's office, 94 percent of arrests for small amounts of marijuana in the state are in New York City. Over 85 percent of those charged were either African American or Latino.

The public supports this reform measure, recent polling from Sienna College found that 63% of New York State residents supported decriminalizing the possession of 15 grams or less of marijuana in public view to a fine only violation.

Equalizing cannabis penalties will save taxpayer dollars, protect citizens against illegal searches, and reduce unwarranted racial disparities in arrests.

NORML will continue to update you in the coming weeks as this proposal moves forward.

Colorado pot growers gear up for ‘green rush’

[By T.W. Farnam, Published: March 25/Washingpost] 

 

Denver - The pot industry in Colorado is undergoing a massive makeover as it prepares to begin selling marijuana for recreational use legally under state law. Businesses are ramping up production, and trade associations are cleaning up their image, anticipating what could be a billion-dollar industry.

 

But the entrepreneurs who are hoping to cash in on the “green rush” starting next year are struggling with the unique challenges of conducting a business that the federal government considers a crime....

 

Read full article for Colorado pot growers gear up for ‘green rush’ HERE

New Hampshire Medical Marijuana Legalization Bill Defeated

[Source: Paul Smith, www.stopthedrugwar.org]

A bill to legalize marijuana in New Hampshire is dead after a House vote Wednesday. The measure was defeated on a vote of 239-122 with no debate. Democrats supported the bill on a roughly two-to-one margin, while Republicans opposed it by roughly the same margin.

The vote against the bill came after the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee voted 12-8 last month not to pass the measure.

The bill, House Bill 337, would have removed marijuana from the state's criminal code, effectively ending marijuana prohibition in the Granite State, but did not contain any provisions for taxation and regulation of cultivation and sales.

Another marijuana legalization bill, House Bill 492, is still alive, but is stuck in the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee with no vote scheduled. That bill would allow people to grow up to six plants and sets up a scheme to tax and regulate marijuana commerce.

Original Article HERE