XPost: alt.drugs, alt.hemp, rec.drugs.psychedelic
XPost: talk.politics.drugs

Drug War Chronicle, Issue #1150 -- 1/27/22
Phillip S. Smith, Editor, psmith@drcnet.org https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/1150

A Publication of StoptheDrugWar.org
David Borden, Executive Director, borden@drcnet.org
"Raising Awareness of the Consequences of Drug Prohibition"

Table of Contents:

1. THESE STATES COULD LEGALIZE MARIJUANA VIA THE BALLOT BOX IN 2022
[FEATURE]
A new year brings a new slate of potential state-level marijuana
legalization initiatives. https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2022/jan/27/these_states_could_legalize

2. MEDICAL MARIJUANA UPDATE
Fourteen months after voters approved medical marijuana at the polls
only to see it thrown out by the state Supreme Court, Mississippi
legislators have reached an agreement on a medical marijuana bill, and more. https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2022/jan/26/medical_marijuana_update

3. THIS WEEK'S CORRUPT COPS STORIES
A sticky-fingered former Kentucky sheriff is in trouble, a former
Connecticut cop gets nailed for helping out a target of a DEA drug investigation, and more. https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2022/jan/26/weeks_corrupt_cops_stories

4. MS HOUSE PASSES MEDMJ BILL, MO DRUG DECRIM BILL FILED, MORE... (1/20/22)
A marijuana services company has filed a federal lawsuit over massive
cash seizures by cops in California and Kansas, the Colombian
Constitutional Court puts the kibosh on spraying coca crops with
herbicide, and more. https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2022/jan/20/ms_house_passes_medmj_bill_mo

5. DEA PROPOSES SCHEDULING FIVE TRYPTAMINES, RI GOVERNOR TO PUSH FOR
MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION, MORE... (1/21/22)
Legislators in a pair of red states attempt to deal with mounting
pressure for medical marijuana, a Washington state bill moves to end employment-related marijuana testing, and more. https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2022/jan/21/dea_proposes_scheduling_five

6. VA GOP BILL WOULD GUT MARIJUANA SOCIAL EQUITY FUNDING, MEXICO MURDERS
MAY HAVE PEAKED, MORE... (1/24/22)
North Dakota marijuana initiative campaigners will have to go back to
the drawing board, social equity funding is on the chopping block in
Virginia's GOP marijuana implementation bill, and more. https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2022/jan/24/va_gop_bill_would_gut_marijuana

7. SD HOUSE VOTES TO BAN MEDMJ HOME GROWS, MN USUAL SUSPECTS FORM ANTI-MARIJUANA COALITION, MORE... (1/25/22)
Life just got a bit easier for Empire State medical marijuana patients,
a Wisconsin GOP lawmaker wants to reinstate drug testing for some
welfare recipients, and more. https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2022/jan/25/sd_house_votes_ban_medmj_home

8. MS LAWMAKERS REACH AGREEMENT ON MEDMJ BILL, SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL
APPROVES PSYCHEDELIC DECRIM, MORE... (1/26/22)
Thailand takes another big step toward marijuana decriminalization, San Francisco is turning a blind eye to drug use at a Tenderloin services
center, and more. https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2022/jan/26/ms_lawmakers_reach_agreement

(Not subscribed? Visit https://stopthedrugwar.org to sign up today!)

================

1. THESE STATES COULD LEGALIZE MARIJUANA VIA THE BALLOT BOX IN 2022
[FEATURE] https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2022/jan/27/these_states_could_legalize

A new year is here, and with it, new opportunities to expand the legal marijuana landscape at the ballot box. Currently, marijuana is legal in
18 states and Washington, DC, with medical marijuana allowed in 36
states and DC. Given that marijuana legalization is as popular as apple
pie -- the most recent Gallup poll (https://news.gallup.com/poll/323582/support-legal-marijuana-inches-new-high.aspx)
has support at a record 68 percent. There are eight states that could
increase that number at the ballot box this year.

(There are also legalization efforts at statehouses -- look for a
feature story on that shortly.)

Among the eight states with ballot prospects are several states where legalization would be achieved in a hybrid fashion: The legislature
would have to approve a bill calling for a referendum on the issue, and
then voters would get their say.

The year is young, and none of the initiatives below have yet qualified.
They must all overcome procedural hurdles and signature gathering
requirements (except for those hybrids). But if they can manage to get qualified, the polling numbers suggest they can win, even in the reddest states.

With a big tip of the hat to Ballotpedia (https://news.ballotpedia.org/2022/01/17/where-could-voters-see-marijuana-on-the-ballot-in-2022/),
Marijuana Moment (https://www.marijuanamoment.net/these-states-could-legalize-marijuana-or-psychedelics-in-2022/),
and NORML (https://norml.org/blog/2022/01/12/1-12-22-ballot-initiative-referendum-update/),
who are all keeping an eye on the action, here's the list of states
working to legalize it at the ballot box this year:

Arkansas

Two separate marijuana legalization initiative campaigns were derailed
by coronavirus disruptions and restrictions in 2020, but both are back
this year, along with a potential third initiative. All take the form of initiated constitutional amendments.

One initiative is a proposed constitutional amendment (https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/21098505/aauaema.pdf) submitted
by Arkansans for Marijuana Reform. It would legalize the possession of
up to four ounces of marijuana buds and two ounces of concentrates and
would let people grow up to six mature marijuana plants and six
seedlings. Legal marijuana commerce would be handled by the state
Department of Finance and Administration, which would have to issue at
least one retail license per 15,000 residents.

A second initiative (https://www.artruegrass.org/mission), submitted by Arkansas True Grass (https://www.artruegrass.org),would legalize sales
as well as personal possession. Adults could purchase up to four ounces
at a time and grow up to 12 plants for personal use, while licensed and regulated marijuana commerce would be taxed at 13 percent at the retail
level (8 percent excise tax and 5 percent local sales tax). Past
marijuana convictions would be expunged.

The third initiative was just filed this week (https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2022/jan/25/3rd-petition-filed-to-legalize-recreational-mariju/).
It is from former state lawmaker Eddie Armstrong (D), who is also
involved in an Illinois marijuana business and who announced back in
October that he had formed a campaign (https://www.marijuanamoment.net/former-arkansas-lawmaker-launches-campaign-to-put-marijuana-legalization-on-the-2022-ballot/)
called Responsible Growth Arkansas to put a legalization constitutional amendment on the ballot. His Arkansas Adult Use Cannabis Amendment would legalize marijuana but seems more interested in who would get coveted
licenses. It would have authorities issue licenses first to people who
already had medical marijuana licenses and would cap the number of
dispensaries at 120.

All three campaigns will need to come up with 89,151 valid voter
signatures by July 8 to qualify for the November ballot.

Kentucky

This is a hybrid state: Six members of the House have filed House Bill
225 (https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/22rs/hb225.html), which, if
passed, would put before the voters a referendum question on marijuana legalization. The proposal would allow anyone 21 or over to possess,
use, buy, or sell up to an ounce of marijuana and grow, harvest, and
store up to five plants for personal use. The measure would also set up
a system of taxed and regulated marijuana commerce.

Whether this bill will move remains to be seen. It went to the Committee
on Committees on January 5 and, as of this writing, it has not advanced
or been scheduled for a hearing.

Maryland

Another hybrid state. Delegate Luke Clippinger (D), chairman of
legislative group studying the issue of marijuana legalization, has
filed House Bill 1 (https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/HB0001),
which, if passed, would place before voters the following question: "Do
you favor the legalization of adult -- use cannabis in the State of
Maryland?" If voters approved it, the General Assembly would then be
charged with writing the rules covering "use, distribution, possession, regulation, and taxation of cannabis."

This bill could move. It was House Speaker Adrienne Jones (D) who formed
the marijuana working group, and Clippinger is not only chairman of the
group but also chairman of the Judiciary Committee, to which it has been referred.

But Jones's counterpart, Senate President Bill Ferguson (D), seems more inclined (https://www.marijuanamoment.net/maryland-senate-leader-pushes-for-marijuana-legalization-bill-while-house-speaker-wants-2022-ballot-referendum/)
to support getting a straight legalization bill passed before November
than going down the referendum route. Either way would work.

Missouri

Missouri has two marijuana legalization initiatives already cleared for circulation and one measure in the legislature that would, if passed,
result in a public referendum on the issue.

Legal Missouri 2022 (https://www.legalmo22.com/who_we_are) has filed an initiative
(https://www.sos.mo.gov/CMSImages/Elections/Petitions/2022-059.pdf) that legalizes marijuana for people 21 and over and automatically expunges
criminal records for past nonviolent marijuana offenses. It also
includes social equity provisions aimed at broadening participation in
the industry. The group kicked off its signature gathering campaign in
December and needs at least 107,246 valid voter signatures by July 28.

A different group, Fair Access Missouri, has filed multiple initiatives (https://www.sos.mo.gov/2022Petitions) aimed at creating a system of
legal marijuana sales for people 21 and over. The group describes itself
as a "grassroots coalition of activists, patient advocates, and
entrepreneurs working to give Missouri voters an open market with low
taxes and low barriers to entry." Fair Access Missouri is also now in
the signature gathering phase.

And then there is Rep. Shamed Dogan (R), who has filed a joint
resolution, House Joint Resolution 33 (https://www.house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HJR83&year=2022&code=R), to put
a marijuana legalization constitutional amendment on the 2022 ballot. He
filed the same bill last year, but it did not advance. It is not
currently scheduled for a House hearing.

New Hampshire

And another hybrid. The House has already approved a marijuana
legalization bill this year, as in years past, but all such bills so far
have gone on to die in the Senate. Maybe this year will be different,
but in case it is not, three House members have introduced bills to
place marijuana legalization constitutional amendments on the ballot.
The measures are CACR 20 (https://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill_Status/billinfo.aspx?id=1337&inflect=2) from Rep. Renny Cushing (D),CACR 34 (https://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill_Status/billinfo.aspx?id=1222)
from Rep. Joshua Adjutant (D) (D) (https://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/Bill_status.aspx?lsr=2129&sy=2022&sortoption=&txtsessionyear=2022),
and CACR 35 (https://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill_Status/billinfo.aspx?id=1209&inflect=2) from Rep. Abdrew Prout (R).

These bills face a significant uphill battle. First, they have no win a
60 percent supermajority in both the House and Senate, which would be a
tough slog in the GOP-controlled legislature, and then two-thirds (67
percent) of the voters would have to approve it.

Getting two-thirds of the voters to approve it, though, may not be as challenging as it appears. A recent poll had support for marijuana
legalization in the state at 75 percent.

Ohio

And another hybrid. The Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol (https://justlikealcohol.com) is campaigning to put a marijuana
legalization initiative (https://justlikealcohol.com/initiative-text/)
before the legislature, which would then have four months to approve it.
If the legislature votes no or fails to act, the initiative would then
go to the voters in November, provided the campaign successful completes another round of signature gathering.

Right now, the campaign is struggling to get past the initial round of signature gathering. The initiative needs 132,887 valid voter signatures
to begin the process at the statehouse, and it handed in more than
200,000 raw signatures early in January, but state officials determined
that only 199,925 were valid. Campaigners then did a final round of
petitioning (https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/politics/2022/01/13/ohio-marijuana-ballot-initiative-gets-another-29-k-signatures/6517118001/)and
came up with an additional 29,918 raw signatures. State officials have
yet to confirm the signature count, but less than half of those raw
signatures need to be valid to get the campaign past the hurdle.

Oklahoma

Two different marijuana legalization initiative campaigns are underway
in the Sooner State.

Oklahomans for Responsible Cannabis Action (https://orcaok.com) is
behind State Question 819
(https://www.sos.ok.gov/documents/questions/819.pdf), which would amend
the state constitution to legalize marijuana. The measure would legalize
up to eight ounces for people 21 and over and has strong home grow
provisions, allowing for up to 12 plants (and the fruits of their
harvest). It also includes employment and parental rights protections
and would make some changes to the state medical marijuana program.

The deep-pocketed national drug reform powerhouse New Approach PAC (https://www.campaignmoney.com/political/527/new-approach-pac.asp) is
behind State Question820
(https://www.sos.ok.gov/documents/questions/820.pdf), which would allow
people 21 to possess up to an ounce of marijuana and grow up to six
mature plants and six seedlings at home.

SQ 819 is a constitutional amendment, so it has a higher signature
requirement that SQ 820, which is an initiated statute. SQ 819 will need
at least 177,958 valid voter signatures to qualify for the ballot, while
SQ 820 will only need 94,911. Once the campaigns get the go-ahead for
signature gathering, they have 90 days to get it done, with a June
cut-off date for latecomers.

South Dakota

South Dakotans approved a marijuana legalization initiative in 2020 with
54 percent of the vote, only to have the will of the voters overturned
by the state Supreme Court. South Dakotans for Better Marijuana Laws
(SDBML) (https://www.southdakotamarijuana.org), the folks behind the
2020 effort, are back again with a new, trimmed-back initiative (https://www.southdakotamarijuana.org/2022-initiative) that does not
include business licensing, sales, or regulations, instead leaving that
to the legislature.

The campaign is in the midst of signature gathering, having turned in
some 15,000 raw signatures (https://www.southdakotamarijuana.org/news-3/press-release-south-dakota-legalization-campaign-has-collected-over-15000-signatures-for-2022-initiative)
in December. A 2022 initiated measure requires 16,961 valid signatures
from registered South Dakota voters to qualify for the November ballot,
but the campaign has until May 3 to complete signature gathering. It
says its goal is 25,000 raw signatures.

================ ...
___________________

It's time to correct the mistake:
Truth:the Anti-drugwar
<http://www.briancbennett.com>

Cops say legalize drugs--find out why:
<http://www.leap.cc>
Stoners are people too:
<http://www.cannabisconsumers.org>
___________________

bliss -- Cacao Powered... (-SF4ever at DSLExtreme dot com)

--
bobbie sellers - a retired nurse in San Francisco

"It is by will alone I set my mind in motion.
It is by the beans of cacao that the thoughts acquire speed,
the thighs acquire girth, the girth become a warning.
It is by theobromine alone I set my mind in motion."
--from Someone else's Dune spoof ripped to my taste.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)