New Orleans: City Eliminates Penalties for Marijuana Possession, Vacates Thousands of Past Convictions

A separate ordinance passed by the city clears the criminal records of those convicted of low-level marijuana possession offenses. It is estimated that some 10,000 residents will be granted blanket pardons under this action.
The post New Orleans: City Eliminates Penalties for Marijuana Possession, Vacates Thousands of Past Convictions appeared first on NORML.

House Marijuana Vote Delayed As The Senate Advances Veterans Access Amendment

Last week, the House of Representatives went into recess before taking up action on the FY-2022 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies appropriations package, which has historically contained protections for state-legal medical programs but in recent years, reformers have had increasing success in advancing efforts to expand those protections to adult-use programs as well.
The post House Marijuana Vote Delayed As The Senate Advances Veterans Access Amendment appeared first on NORML.

2022 Marijuana Reform Ballot Initiative Efforts Underway Nationwide

Here’s a breakdown of current statewide, citizen-initiated efforts so far.
The post 2022 Marijuana Reform Ballot Initiative Efforts Underway Nationwide appeared first on NORML.

Puerto Rico: Law Signed Protecting Medical Cannabis Patients from Employment Discrimination

Under the expanded law, employers may not discriminate against authorized patients of medical cannabis in the recruitment, hiring, designation, or termination process or when imposing disciplinary actions.
The post Puerto Rico: Law Signed Protecting Medical Cannabis Patients from Employment Discrimination appeared first on NORML.

Louisiana: Marijuana Decriminalization Law Takes Effect Today

House Bill 652 amends state law so that offenses involving the possession of up to 14 grams of marijuana are punishable by a fine of no more than $100 – no arrest and no jail time.
The post Louisiana: Marijuana Decriminalization Law Takes Effect Today appeared first on NORML.

Revised for 2021 — NORML Report Highlights Over 450 Studies Assessing the Therapeutic Efficacy of Cannabis and Cannabinoids

This updated edition reviews over 450 peer-reviewed studies assessing the safety and efficacy of either whole-plant cannabis or cannabinoids for 23 different patient populations.
The post Revised for 2021 — NORML Report Highlights Over 450 Studies Assessing the Therapeutic Efficacy of Cannabis and Cannabinoids appeared first on NORML.

Oakland City Council Approves Resolution to Support AB 1256

July 26, 2021 – Today, Oakland City Council unanimously approved a resolution in support of Assembly Bill 1256 by Assemblymember Bill Quirk, to prohibit employers from discriminating against potential or current employees who have tested positive for inactive cannabis metabolites in their urine or hair.
The resolution was authored by Vice Mayor Rebecca Kaplan and co-authored by Councilmember Carroll Fife. Vice Mayor Kaplan stated in her support memo:
“Oakland residents and applicants in the City of Oakland should not be punished for usage of legalized cannabis. Employers should only be authorized to dismiss or discipline workers from usage of legalized cannabis when hired, once the applicant is an employee subjugated to workplace politics and conditions of employment. Preventing applicants from being hired for usage of legalized medications and legalized recreational substances places barriers of entry that is discriminatory and negatively impacts applicants from underserved and disadvantaged neighborhoods in the City of Oakland and its surrounding cities.”
Last Tuesday, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a resolution by Supervisors Shamann Walton and Matt Haney condemning the suspension from the Olympics of Sha’Carri Richardson over her marijuana drug test, and calling on the World and US Anti-Doping Agencies to change their marijuana policies. Supervisor Haney also introduced a resolution in favor of AB 1256 to end similar employment discrimination for Californians; it is expected to be voted on at tomorrow’s SF BOS meeting.
When California voters passed Proposition 64 in 2016 to legalize the adult use of cannabis, there were no protections put in place to prevent employment discrimination against cannabis consumers. Assembly Bill 1256 addresses these inequities while still allowing employers to ensure a workforce that is unimpaired on the job.
Urine and hair tests for cannabis don’t detect current impairment, but rather inactive drug residues that stay in the system days and weeks after use. “These tests have nothing to do with workplace safety or job performance,” stated Dale Gieringer, Director of Cal NORML. “There are much better ways to protect workers in safety-sensitive jobs.”
The cities of Atlanta, New York City, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Rochester NY, and Richmond VA have enacted laws protecting employment rights of recreational marijuana users, as have the states of Montana, Nevada, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Laws in twenty states: Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia prohibit employers from discriminating against workers on the basis of their use of medical marijuana.
AB 1256 (Quirk) is a Cal NORML-sponsored bill; it has been introduced in the legislature as a two-year bill and will be heard in 2022.
The post Oakland City Council Approves Resolution to Support AB 1256 appeared first on CANORML.

Upcoming Congressional Vote House On Marijuana Policy

As soon as next week, there will be a crucial vote in the US House of Representatives on an amendment to protect legal marijuana states from federal interference.
The post Upcoming Congressional Vote House On Marijuana Policy appeared first on NORML.

Study: Marijuana Legalization Laws Don’t Undermine Anti-Tobacco Smoking Efforts

Researchers concluded, “We see no evidence that liberalized cannabis policies are directly associated with increased smoking behaviors among young adults.”
The post Study: Marijuana Legalization Laws Don’t Undermine Anti-Tobacco Smoking Efforts appeared first on NORML.

Study: Cannabis Use Not Linked to Motivation Loss

Investigators reported, “[D]espite significant increases in levels of cannabis use in our sample, change in cannabis use did not predict changes in motivation, which suggests that cannabis use may not lead to reductions in motivation over time.”
The post Study: Cannabis Use Not Linked to Motivation Loss appeared first on NORML.

Sidebar