Texas lawmakers have dismissed a bill to reduce the penalties for marijuana-related offenses, citing strong opposition to decriminalization despite the fact that a plurality of voters in the state believe the drug should be fully legalized. Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick declared the legislation “dead” in the Texas Senate just after the House gave the bill […]
marijuana decriminalization
Texas House passes bill that reduces penalties for Texans caught with small amounts of marijuana
After a brief discussion, the Texas House gave preliminary approval Monday to a bill that would reduce the penalties for low-level possession of marijuana — a move lauded as a win by those eager for the state to take its first major step toward loosening its staunch marijuana laws. But hopes of turning the bill […]
Wisconsin governor calls for decriminalization of recreational marijuana use
Gov. Tony Evers wants to allow Wisconsin residents to carry or sell small amounts of marijuana and legalize its use for medical reasons, aides said Sunday. Evers will propose in his first state budget proposal to decriminalize marijuana if its users, manufacturers and distributors handle 25 grams or fewer and create Wisconsin’s first medical marijuana program that would […]
Baltimore to no longer prosecute marijuana possession
Baltimore’s top prosecutor announced Tuesday that the city will no longer prosecute any cases related to marijuana possession, regardless of quantity or a person’s criminal record. Marilyn Mosby, the state’s attorney in Baltimore, is also seeking to have the courts vacate roughly 5,000 prior marijuana convictions going back to 2011, The Associated Press reported. “No one who is serious about public […]
Texas marijuana advocates get fired up to decriminalize pot in 2019
On a typical night, Flamingo Cantina is packed with patrons seeking out its “good vibes music.” But on the unusually quiet Wednesday after New Year’s Eve, as the buzzed frat boys and trashed tourists who flock to Austin’s Sixth Street take a sabbatical from the sauce, this Rastafarian watering hole hosted a wholly different crowd. “We’re […]
Marijuana Decriminalization Bills Filed In Texas With Bipartisan Support
Decriminalization of marijuana in Texas is back on the table as nearly a half dozen bills related to the drug’s use were filed on Monday for the 86th legislative session. Recreational and most medical uses of marijuana are still prohibited in the state, the exception being low-THC cannabis for qualifying intractable epilepsy patients under the […]
Despite marijuana’s increasing legalization and acceptance, arrests soar in Philly Suburbs and South Jersey
Corey Thornton admits he gave little thought to the marijuana in his car as he drove along Germantown Pike near the Plymouth Meeting Mall in March. He was heading home to Philadelphia, where police have essentially decriminalized marijuana possession — no longer arresting thousands a year for pot but issuing a like number of $25 civil […]
Marijuana possession expungement bill becomes law in Delaware
Simple possession of marijuana was decriminalized in Delaware nearly three years ago. Gov. Carney signed a bill Wednesday allowing those charged with marijuana possession as a criminal offense prior to 2015 to have their criminal records expunged— or cleared. State Sen. Greg Lavelle sponsored the legislation along with State Rep. Valerie Longhurst. Lavelle says expungement […]
Manhattan DA Decriminalizes Cannabis Use In The Borough
Starting Wednesday (8/1), most cases of marijuana smoking and possession in Manhattan won’t be prosecuted. Manhattan district attorney Cyrus Vance released a new “decline to prosecute” policy for the D.A.’s office on Tuesday (7/31). Vance says: Every day I ask our prosecutors to keep Manhattan safe and make our justice system more equal and fair. The […]
New Jersey Just Quietly Decriminalized Marijuana
New Jersey just quietly moved to decriminalize marijuana, at least for the rest of the summer. New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal has requested all municipal prosecutors adjourn all marijuana offenses until Sept. 4 as his office develops “appropriate guidance.” The move comes less than a week after a back-and-forth between Grewal and Jersey City officials, […]
Despite Decriminalization, Miami Cops Make 40 Marijuana Arrests During Urban Beach Week
As night descended on Lummus Park this past Sunday, the smell of pot along the sidewalk was thicker than the salty ocean air. Perched on a coquina rock barrier, 20-year-old Bianca Plummer rolled a blunt with a few thimblefuls of pot. But before the young woman dressed in shorts and a black swimsuit could light […]
Albuquerque Mayor Signs Marijuana Decriminalization Bill Into Law
Mayor Tim Keller signed a bill Thursday decriminalizing the possession of an ounce or less of marijuana in the city. The legislation, passed by city councilors last week, replaces the criminal penalty of fines and jail time for such possession with a $25 civil fine. Authorities warned that marijuana possession remains a criminal offense under […]
Maryland State Senate Raises The Amount Of Marijuana One Can Possess, Bans Smoking In Cars
Marylanders stopped by police could carry up to an ounce of marijuana and only face civil fines under a bill the state Senate passed Monday night. But it would be a crime to smoke while driving or riding in the passenger seat of a vehicle. Sen. Robert A. Zirkin, a Baltimore County Democrat, called it “a push and […]
A History Of America’s Marijuana Decriminalization Movement In The 70’s
In the past five years, eight states and Washington, D.C., have legalized recreational marijuana for adults. Today, 68 million people live in areas where marijuana is treated like alcohol or tobacco. The drug is sold in stores, millions of tax dollars are being raised from its sale, and an increasing number of businesspeople are profiting […]
Virginia State Officials Meet to Discuss Marijuana Decriminalization
In the 10-year period ending last year, there were 133,256 arrests in Virginia for possession of marijuana, 84 percent of them first-time offenses. Nevertheless, relatively few people go to jail in the state solely for possession of marijuana, according to a study prompted by a proposal that would decriminalize the possession of small amounts of […]
City of Atlanta Decriminalizes Marijuana
Atlanta’s city council decided unanimously to decriminalize marijuana Monday night. They voted 15-0 to make the penalty for possession of one ounce or less a $75 fine — a move that aims to neutralize uneven policing and enforcement of drug laws in the city where 92% of individuals arrested for marijuana between 2014 and 2016 were […]
New Hampshire Likely to Decriminalize Marijuana This Summer
A bill that would decriminalize small amounts of marijuana in New Hampshire is expected to be signed by Gov. Chris Sununu. It will make the Granite State the very last in New England to do so. “I know New Hampshire is late compared to other states, but we finally did the right thing,” said New […]
Marijuana Decriminalization Bill in Texas Runs out of Time
Time ran out in the Texas House late Thursday on a proposed law that would have reduced the penalty for possession of small amounts of marijuana in the state to below that of most traffic tickets. A midnight deadline passed without the full House taking up House Bill 81 for initial consideration, meaning it and […]
