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Marijuana Policy in the US (view source)
Revision as of 16:15, 10 November 2015
, 16:15, 10 November 2015→Marijuana Policy by State
Multiple bills have been filed that will end Hawaii’s marijuana prohibition this session, giving legislators the opportunity to take a fiscally sound approach to marijuana policy when they reconvene in 2016.
*'''Idaho'''
https://www.mpp.org/states/idaho/
A missed chance to inch toward compassionate marijuana policy
Last update: November 4, 2015
In April, the Idaho Legislature approved S1146 and sent it to Gov. Butch Otter. The bill would have protected some seriously ill Idahoans from being convicted for possessing medical marijuana oils with very low amounts of THC. It also would have allowed physicians to recommend certain medical cannabis oils to patients with one of several conditions. The bill would only have protected patients from a conviction, not an arrest, and would not have provided in-state access to the oils. Despite these serious limitations, S1146 would have been a step forward. Sadly, Gov. Otter vetoed the bill.
Hopefully, 2016 can bring reform to Idaho’s marijuana laws. Please write your state lawmakers in support of a comprehensive medical cannabis bill. If you are a medical professional or a patient who might benefit from medical marijuana, we would like to hear from you. Additionally, if you are a law enforcement official, member of the bar, clergy member, or local official who supports this issue, please email state@mpp.org to see how you can be of special help. Please include your address or nine-digit zip code so we can look up your state legislators.
'''Learn more about Idaho’s marijuana laws'''
Under current Idaho law, an individual charged with possession of up to an ounce of marijuana faces a year in jail and/or up to a $1,000 fine. Unfortunately, this draconian law hits minority communities the hardest. According to the ACLU, black Idahoans are over two and half times more likely to be arrested for possession than their white neighbors. Ask your lawmakers to end marijuana prohibition today. To learn more about Idaho’s marijuana laws, arrests, and use, please see http://www.drugscience.org/States/ID/ID.pdf
*'''Illinois'''
https://www.mpp.org/states/illinois/
http://www.illinois.gov/gov/mcpp/Pages/default.aspx
Medical Cannabis Pilot Program now serving patients!
Last update: November 9, 2015
Dispensaries have now begun serving patients in Illinois, marking the biggest milestone in the program since the law was passed in 2013. Eight dispensaries were initially approved, five of which opened immediately, including Harbory (Marion), Herbal Remedies (Quincy), EarthMed (Addison), Salveo Health and Wellness (Canton), and The Clinic Mundelein (Mundelein). The complete list of approved dispensaries and their locations is available here. The total number of patients now stands at approximately 3,300, with more expected to join the registry now that businesses are able to serve them. Hat tip to Illinois Medical Cannabis Community’s Joel Erickson for identifying those that were first to open!
Discussions over decriminalization continue, but unfortunately the budget battle dominating state politics this year threatens to overwhelm the support both the governor and the general assembly have voiced in support of a decrim bill. The bill’s sponsor Rep. Kelly Cassidy and others continue to seek a solution before the clock runs out in December.
At stake are thousands of Illinoisans saddled with the stigma of criminal convictions, along with the tax burden on residents who must fund a system that has made Illinois a state with the fifth highest arrest rate for marijuana possession in the nation. A study by the ACLU found that despite similar marijuana use rates, enforcement is far from equal — blacks are 7.6 times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession in Illinois than whites.
'''Good news for medical cannabis patients — for a change!'''
The news over dispensary openings is welcome relief to patients who faced a challenging year. In addition to delays in licensing businesses and approving their operation, the Illinois Department of Public Health refused to adopt numerous new conditions, despite approval by the Medical Cannabis Advisory Board. An effort to extend the program beyond 2017 fell short in its initial attempt, but a similar effort is expected during the legislative session in 2016.
Unsurprisingly, the number of patients who have registered for the program has initially been low, but it is expected to increase now that the program is operational.
