marijuana reform
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House Passes Historic but Largely Symbolic Measure to Decriminalize Marijuana
In what was largely a symbolic move, the House of Representatives voted on Friday to decriminalize marijuana on the federal level. Don’t spark up just yet, though. Vice reports that the bill is unlikely to pass through the Republican-controlled Senate. The measure, titled the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act, would potentially remove marijuana from…
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Colorado Governor Grants Pardons to Those Convicted for Possession of Up to an Ounce of Marijuana
Colorado’s Democratic Gov. Jared Polis signed an executive order on Tuesday pardoning people who have been convicted for possessing up to an ounce of Marijuana. CNN reports that this move follows the passage of a bill in June that granted the governor power “to grant pardons to a class of defendants who were convicted of…
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Pennsylvania Governor Wants to Legalize Marijuana to Help With COVID-19 Recovery Effort
Pennsylvania’s Democratic Governor Tom Wolf included marijuana legalization as part of his legislative agenda for the state’s COVID-19 economy recovery plan. CNN reports that Gov. Wolf has asked the state legislature to work towards legalizing marijuana. A press release outlining his proposed plan states that 50 percent of marijuana sales be directed towards historically disadvantaged…
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Good News Everyone: Illinois Governor Clears Over 11,000 Marijuana Convictions
Seeing as this may be the last story you read this year why don’t we close the night out with some positive news? NBC News reports that the Governor of Illinois granted over 11,000 pardons for low-level marijuana convictions. This is only the first step as thousands more expungements are anticipated a new law legalizing…
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NYC Council Votes to Bar Companies From Testing Job Applicants for Marijuana
In what’s being called a groundbreaking measure, New York City’s City Council has passed a bill banning most companies from testing job applicants for marijuana. The bill, which was approved by the Council April 9, awaits signature by Mayor Bill de Blasio, who, according to the New York Times, supports the measure. The change would…
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Top Prosecutor in Brooklyn Wants to Decriminalize Prostitution
The chief prosecutor of New York City’s most populous borough, Brooklyn, is backing an effort to decriminalize prostitution, arrests for which, according to a state senator advocating for the change, disproportionately impact black women. “I believe in decriminalization,” Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said during a “decriminalizing queerness” forum sponsored by the Lambda Independent Democrats…
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Marijuana-Decriminalization Ordinance Unanimously Passes in Atlanta City Council
The Atlanta City Council has taken a giant step in the name of marijuana reform. An ordinance that decriminalizes the possession of small amounts of marijuana was unanimously passed by the council Monday. WXIA-TV reports that after it passed in the council 15-0, the ordinance—which was proposed by Councilman and mayoral candidate Kwanza Hall—just needs…
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A Marijuana Company Just Bought a Calif. Town Between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. It’s Lit! (Or Is It?)
When recreational marijuana goes live in California in January 2018, folks traveling along Interstate 15 in the state will have an additional pit stop between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. The small city of Nipton was just purchased by a cannabis company that wants to turn the town into a marijuana resort of sorts. Nipton…