Looking back at 2018, it was another productive year for marijuana law reform advocates. In addition to advancing legislation in state houses around the country, NORML chapters played a significant role in passing marijuana law reform initiatives in Michigan and Missouri, and were instrumental in numerous municipal marijuana decriminalization victories. With more and more local and state governments taking steps to reduce the arrest and incarceration of marijuana patients and consumers, many are predicting 2019 to be a watershed year for marijuana law reform legislation. T....

Marijuana could take the next step toward joining pinot noir and craft beer on Oregons list of famous exports, under a proposal likely to go before state lawmakers in the new year. The Statesman Journal reports that the Craft Cannabis Alliance, a business association led by founder and executive director Adam Smith, is working with legislators to let Oregon start exporting pot to other legal-weed states by 2021. Among them is Sen. Floyd Prozanski, D-Eugene, who said he also plans to reintroduce provisions from Senate Bill 1042, a similar proposal that died in the statehou....

#1: Public Support in Favor of Adult Use Legalization at Historic Highs More adults than ever before believe that marijuana use by adults ought to be legal. An October poll conducted by Gallup reported that 66 percent of adults including majorities of Democrats, Independents, Republicans, and those over the age of 55 back legalization. The percentage is the highest level of support ever reported by the polling firm. A 2018 Pew poll similarly reported greater public support for legalization than ever before, while a June poll by the Center for American Progress reported th....

Following the vote Lawmaker Somchai Sawangkarn said that the passage of medical marijuana legalization could be considered as a New Year gift to Thais. The amendment on the Narcotics Bill was passed the second and third readings today. And will become effective once it is published on the Royal Gazette, said Sawangkarn. The National Legislative Assembly approved the change to the law by a vote of 153 to 0, with 13 members abstaining. This makes Thailand the first country in Southeast Asia to legally allow marijuana to be used for medical purposes. As noted by CNN, the regi....

Lets legalize the adult use of recreational marijuana once and for all, said Cuomo. He said that he plans to push for the measure within 100 days, reports NBC New York. Cuomo didnt provide a specific timeline for when he believes legalization would become a reality. Cuomos comments marks the first time hes ever stated support for legalizing marijuana; he shied away from the issue almost entirely during his first two terms he won reelection last month, and once referred to cannabis as a gateway drug. In July he said that the situation on marijuana is changing, which was the....

Below is a list of the top five states we believe are the most likely to legalize marijuana next, becoming the 11th in the U.S. to do so following Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Massachusetts, Maine, Nevada, California, Vermont and Michigan. New Jersey Governor Phillip D. Murphy, elected last year to replace Chris Christie, has made the legalization of marijuana one of his primary goals, keeping with a campaign promise. Last month, by a vote of seven to two and six to one, the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee and the Assembly Appropriations Committee appro....

Smell the Truth Business Health Lifestyle Legal Activism Science Reviews New York governor plans to legalize recreational marijuana in 2019 By Oscar Pascual on December 12, 2018 at 4:11 PM New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo D is taking steps to make New York the next state to legalize recreational cannabis use for adults. Cuomo on Thursday announced plans to include marijuana legalization as part of his executive budget for 2019, reports the New York Post. As we work to implement the reports recommendations through legislation, we must thoroughly consider all aspec....

Washington, DC: Today, President Trump announced his intention to nominate former Attorney General William Barr to be considered by the Senate to replace former Attorney General Jefferson Beauregard Sessions. With every move by the Department of Justice facing intense public scrutiny, maintaining Jeff Sessions policy of reefer madness would be self-defeating, said NORML Political Director Justin Strekal. The movement to end the failed and cruel policy of marijuana criminalization is larger and stronger than ever, supported by a majority of Democrats, Republicans, and non-p....

Michigans Board of State Canvassers certified the election results for Proposition 1 on Thursday, meaning that key provisions of the initiative will take effect 10 days after, on Decebember 6. Starting that day, those 21 and older in the state will be allowed to possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana and up to 15 grams of marijuana concentrates. In addition, they will be allowed to grow up to 12 marijuana plants at a private residence. The initiative also legalized marijuana stores, though they wont be open for some time. The Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs n....

The US Tax Court has ruled against Harborside being able to deduct standard business expenses, a hemp provision is in the final version of the farm bill, Mexico and the US disagree over Mexican heroin production levels, and more. Pot shops can`t deduct standard business expenses, the US Tax Court ruled in a case Thursday. Sonya Yruel/DPA Marijuana Policy California Dispensary Loses in US Tax Court. In a decision Thursday, the US Tax Court rejected a bid from Harborside Health Center to be able to declare normal business expenses on its taxes. The court held that Harbors....

Citizens of the Bay State have much to be thankful for this week. On November 20th, just two days before Thanksgiving, adults over the age of 21 were able to legally purchase marijuana in the state of Massachusetts for the first time in over a century. Massachusetts was the first state to enact marijuana prohibition doing so on April 29th, 1911. Voters decided in favor of repealing the ban in November 2016. This signal to open retail marijuana establishments marks a major milestone for voters who approved legal, adult-use cannabis in our state, Commission Chairman Steve....