XPost: alt.drugs.psychedelics, alt.drugs.pot, alt.hemp.politics
Drug War Chronicle, Issue #1128 -- 4/5/21
Phillip S. Smith, Editor,
psmith@drcnet.org https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/1128
A Publication of StoptheDrugWar.org
David Borden, Executive Director,
borden@drcnet.org
"Raising Awareness of the Consequences of Drug Prohibition"
Table of Contents:
1. NEW YORK LEGALIZES MARIJUANA! [FEATURE]
The Empire State is the 16th state to legalize marijuana.
https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2021/mar/31/new_york_legalizes_marijuana
2. NEW MEXICO LAWMAKERS APPROVE MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION, GOVERNOR WILL
SIGN BILL [FEATURE]
New Mexico becomes the second state in as many days to move to legalize marijuana.
https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2021/apr/01/new_mexico_lawmakers_approve
3. DRUG DECRIMINALIZATION IS STARTING TO SHOW UP AT THE STATEHOUSE [FEATURE] Slowly but surely, a drug decriminalization wave is beginning to build.
https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2021/mar/25/drug_decriminalization_starting
4. MEDICAL MARIJUANA UPDATE
With blue states already looking at marijuana legalization and beyond,
the medical marijuana action these days is taking place in red states.
https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2021/mar/31/medical_marijuana_update
5. RAHUL GUPTA COULD BE NEXT DRUG CZAR, FEDERAL MARIJUANA BANKING &
INSURANCE BILLS FILED, MORE... (3/19/21)
White House staffers get fired or suspended for past marijuana use, NYC
mayoral candidates call for safer injection sites, more.
https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2021/mar/19/rahul_gupta_could_be_next_drug
6. NM LEGALIZATION BILL AWAITS SPECIAL SESSION, BIDEN ADMIN SUPPORTS
COLOMBIA COCA SPRAYING, MORE... (3/22/21)
Colorado's governor signs a marijuana socieal equity bill, Arizona's
sheriffs and prosecutors don't want to lose civil asset forfeiture,
Mexican cartel hitmen gun down 13 cops in Mexico state, and more.
https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2021/mar/22/nm_legalization_bill_awaits
7. NJ GOV "OPEN" TO DRUG DECRIM, MJ ADVOCATES PRESS VA GOV TO LEGALIZE
THIS YEAR, MORE... (3/23/21)
Some Garden State Republican legislators have a problem with the state's
new marijuana legalization law, congressional drug warriors file a bill
aimed at methamphetamine, and more.
https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2021/mar/23/nj_gov_open_drug_decrim_mj
8. SENATE SAFE BANKING ACT REFILED, VANCOUVER ISLAND DRUG CHECKING
STOREFRONT OPENS, MORE... (3/24/21)
New York legislative leaders say they're almost ready to file a
marijuana legalization bill as the clock ticks down, South Dakota's
governor is proposing marijuana decriminalization as part of a plan to
lower the number of plants medical marijuana patients can grow, and more.
https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2021/mar/24/senate_safe_banking_act_refiled
9. NY GOVERNOR SIGNS MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION INTO LAW, BIDEN WHITE HOUSE
SETS DRUG POLICY PRIORITIES, MORE... (4/1/21)
The Biden administration has filed a brief with the Supreme Court
supporting an effort to expand sentencing reductions under the 2018
First Step Act, the New Mexico legislature has voted to legalize
marijuana, and more.
https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2021/apr/01/ny_governor_signs_marijuana
10. MILWAUKEE POT FINE TO DROP TO $1, BALTIMORE ENDS PROSECUTIONS FOR
DRUG POSSESSION, MORE... (2/26/21)
Democrat lawmakers in Congress ask the Biden administration to
reconsider its policy on past employee marijuana use, a Minnesota bill
to provide protections for informants passes the Senate, and more.
https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2021/mar/26/milwaukee_pot_fine_drop_1
11. NY MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION AGREEMENT REACHED, VA HOUSE SPEAKER WANTS
EARLY LEGALIZATION, MORE... (3/29/21)
New Jersey's governor has signed a bill regarding parental notification
for teen pot busts, the North Dakota Senate kills marijuana
decriminalization, and more.
https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2021/mar/29/ny_marijuana_legalization
12. NM, NY MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION VOTES COULD COME ANY TIME, GAO GOOD
SAMARITAN LAW REPORT, MORE... (3/30/21)
Marijuana legalization efforts could come to fruition in both New Mexico
and New York as early as today, a Louisiana poll has surging support for marijuana legalization, the GAO reports that Good Samaritan laws have
positive effects, and more.
https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2021/mar/30/nm_ny_marijuana_legalization
13. NY LEGALIZES MARIJUANA, US-MEXICO ANTI-DRUG COOPERATION AT
STANDSTILL, WA DRUG DECRIM BILL FILED, MORE... (3/31/21)
The New York legislature approved marijuana legalization last night and
the governor says he will sign the bill, a drug decriminalization bill
has been filed in Washington state, North Carolina Republican senators
head in the opposite direction when it comes to fentanyl, and more.
https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2021/mar/31/ny_legalizes_marijuana_usmexico
14. NY GOVERNOR SIGNS MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION INTO LAW, BIDEN WHITE HOUSE
SETS DRUG POLICY PRIORITIES, MORE... (4/1/21)
The Biden administration has filed a brief with the Supreme Court
supporting an effort to expand sentencing reductions under the 2018
First Step Act, the New Mexico legislature has voted to legalize
marijuana, and more.
https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2021/apr/01/ny_governor_signs_marijuana
15. ONDCP SAYS OVERDOSES SPIKED DURING PANDEMIC, POLL HAS 75% OPPOSED TO MARIJUANA PROHIBITION, MORE... (4/2/21)
North Dakota lawmakers reject a bid to let voters decide on marijuana legalization, a West Virginia medical marijuana expansion bill remains
alive, drug overdose deaths are up during the pandemic, and more.
https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2021/apr/02/ondcp_says_overdoses_spiked
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================
1. NEW YORK LEGALIZES MARIJUANA! [FEATURE]
https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2021/mar/31/new_york_legalizes_marijuana
After hours of debate Tuesday, the state Senate voted 40-23 to approve
the Marijuana Regulation and Tax Act (MRTA) (Senate Bill 854 (
https://legislation.nysenate.gov/pdf/bills/2021/S854A)), which would immediately legalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana and
set the stage for a taxed and regulated legal marijuana market. The
House followed up hours later, approving the bill on a 100-49 vote.
An embattled Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) reached an agreement with
legislative leaders on the bill over the weekend and has said he will
sign it into law. He has 10 days to either do so or veto it or it
becomes law without his signature.
Tuesday night, Cuomo said (
https://pix11.com/news/local-news/marijuana-in-ny-nj/ny-lawmakers-vote-yes-on-legal-marijuana/)
he looked forward to signing the bill. "New York has a storied history
of being the progressive capital of the nation, and this important
legislation will once again carry on that legacy," he said.
New York becomes the 16th state to legalize marijuana and the third to
do through the legislative process. It is also the second most populous
state to do so after California. And, along with legalization in New
Jersey earlier this year, the Empire State's decision to end its war on marijuana will undoubtedly add pressure on remaining neighboring pot prohibition states to get on the bandwagon.
Under the bill, people 21 and over will be able to possess up to three
ounces and grow up to six plants, three of them mature. Past marijuana possession convictions will be automatically expunged. But legal sales
will not commence until a state committee sets up rules and regulations
for the nascent industry.
Keen recognition of racial injustice in the prosecution of the war on
the drugs guided legislators as they crafted their vision of progressive marijuana law reform. As leading bill supporter state Senator Liz
Krueger (D-Manhattan) enumerated in a statement (
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/liz-krueger/final-bill-introduced-legalize-tax-and-regulate-adult-use)
after the legislation took final form, it features a strong set of
social equity provisions, including:
* Dedicating 40% of revenue to reinvestment in communities
disproportionately impacted by the drug war, with 40% to schools and
public education, and 20% to drug treatment, prevention and education.
* Equity programs providing loans, grants, and incubator programs to
ensure broad opportunities for participation in the new legal industry
by people from disproportionately impacted communities as well as by
small farmers.
* A goal of 50% of licenses going to equity applicants.
Krueger, who, along with other legislative leaders and a broad-based
coalition of activists, has been trying to get legalization passed since
2013, pronounced herself pleased in a statement (
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/liz-krueger/statement-senator-liz-krueger-senate-passage-marijuana)
after the vote.
"Today is an historic day for New Yorkers," she said. "I could not be
more proud to cast my vote to end the failed policies of marijuana
prohibition in our state, and begin the process of building a fair and inclusive legal market for adult-use cannabis. It has been a long road
to get here, but it will be worth the wait. The bill we have held out
for will create a nation-leading model for legalization. New York's
program will not just talk the talk on racial justice, it will walk the
walk."
In her statement, Krueger gave shout-outs to Assembly Majority Leader
Crystal Peoples-Stokes (D-Buffalo) and to activist groups such as the
Drug Policy Alliance (DPA), both of which have been working the issue
for years.
"I am proud to have fought so long for this legislation and to finally
see it pass," said Peoples-Stokes (
https://www.fox61.com/article/news/local/new-york-senate-set-to-take-up-pot-legalization-deal/71-6d6563c7-05a5-48f1-9054-edf6733b4457).
"We are providing marijuana justice by ensuring investment into the
lives and communities of those who suffered for generations as a result
of mass incarceration. The results will be transformative for people
across New York State -- it will create economic and research
opportunities, jobs across a wide variety of sectors, and a safe and
reliable product."
"This day is certainly a long time coming," DPA executive director
Kassandra Frederique said in a statement (
https://drugpolicy.org/press-release/2021/03/victory-dpa-hails-historic-passage-marijuana-legalization-new-york)
after the vote. When we started working toward marijuana reform 11 years
ago, we knew we had our work cut out for us. Because of the sheer extent
of harm that had been inflicted on Black and Brown communities over the
years, any marijuana reform that was brought forth had to be equally comprehensive to begin repairing the damage. And I can confidently say,
the result is something truly reimaginitive. We went from New York City
being the marijuana arrest capital of the country to today New York
State coming through as a beacon of hope, showing the rest of the
country what comprehensive marijuana reform -- centered in equity,
justice and reinvestment -- looks like."
And a new day dawns for New York.
The Drug Policy Alliance is a funder of StoptheDrugWar.org.
================ ...
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