16 States That Are Considering Cannabis Legalization Bills In 2021 — Cannabis Business Times

More than a lots state legislatures are considering medical or adult-use cannabis legalization expenses this year as momentum constructs following the 2020 election, which saw five states pass legalization steps, and the U.S. House’s approval of the MORE Act, which would federally deschedule cannabis.
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«The Election Day legalization success definitely contributed to the momentum for other states to pursue cannabis reform, particularly in the Northeast, and legislators in a number of states have already acted by presenting legislation to legalize cannabis,» Violet Cavendish, communications supervisor for The Marijuana Policy Project (MPP), informs Cannabis Business Times and Cannabis Dispensary.
MPP is focusing its efforts on advancing legislation to legislate and control adult-use cannabis in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Rhode Island and Virginia this year, Cavendish states, including that New York and New Mexico are also crucial states to see as state lawmakers consider legalization proposals.
On the medical cannabis front, MPP is actively working with client supporters this year to advance legislation in Kentucky and South Carolina.
«Legalization has actually proven to be a winning concern, and we anticipate to see continued progress for state-level cannabis reforms this year,» Cavendish states.
NORML is likewise providing its support to much of these policy reform efforts, and Deputy Director Paul Armentano says the organization will be actively involved in adult-use legalization efforts in New Mexico, Virginia, New York and Connecticut this year, while likewise focusing on the execution of New Jersey’s adult-use cannabis program.
NORML will likewise lobby in favor of home cultivation in Washington State, along with broadened medical cannabis gain access to and a decrease of criminal ownership penalties in Texas. The organization is also seeking to advance medical cannabis legalization in South Carolina.
«In several other states, we are also supporting efforts to expand existing medical access, facilitate the expungement of past records, and enforce workplace and other legal protections against discrimination for those who utilize cannabis responsibly,» Armentano says.
NORML State Policies Coordinator Carly Wolf anticipates legalization legislation to advance faster in New Mexico and Virginia, which have brief legal sessions, and is also paying particularly attention to the Northeast this year.
«With the implementation of New Jersey’s voter-approved ballot measure anticipated in the coming months, I am carefully watching other states in the Northeast like New York, being simply throughout the river, in addition to Connecticut, and am optimistic about the chances of legalization prospering in both of these states in 2021, specifically with even bigger Democratic bulks now than in previous years,» she states.
Here is a more detailed look at the states that are weighing cannabis policy reform this year.
Adult-Use Cannabis Legalization Efforts
Gov. Ned Lamont revealed throughout his State of the State address in early January that adult-use cannabis legalization is a concern for him this year, and late last month, he introduced a draft bill to make this objective a reality. Lamont’s administration is presently seeking feedback on the draft legislation, and it stays to be seen whether Lamont will include the proposal into his state budget, which is because of legislators in February.
Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith and Sen. Jeff Brandes have actually filed complementary bills this year to legislate adult-use cannabis in the Sunshine State. Smith’s H.B. 343 would legalize cannabis for grownups 21 and older, while Brandes’ S.B. 710 would modify the state’s sales tax exemption for the sale of cannabis to use only to purchases made by certified patients or caregivers registered in the state’s medical cannabis program. The legislation would enable adults to acquire up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis or products including approximately 2 grams of THC, but smoking cannabis would stay unlawful.
Del. Jazz Lewis has introduced a detailed cannabis legalization bill, H.B. 32, which would legalize the individual possession and house cultivation of cannabis for grownups, as well as instantly expunge past cannabis offenses, establish a social equity program and reinvest a portion of tax revenue to endowments to Maryland’s 4 historically black institution of higher learnings (HBCUs) and the communities most impacted by prohibition. The Maryland Cannabis Policy Coalition organized a virtual press conference Jan. 26 in support of Lewis’ expense, which is formally called The Cannabis Legalization and Regulation, Inclusion, Restoration, and Rehabilitation Act of 2021.
House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler has actually been spearheading adult-use cannabis legalization efforts in Minnesota, and is restoring his push for policy reform this year with plans to when again sponsor adult-use legislation. Ahead of in 2015’s legislative session, Minnesota lawmakers held a series of public conversations across the state to collect public input on legalization, and Winkler presented an adult-use legalization costs last spring that integrated feedback generated from those conversations.
Democrats in New Mexico’s legislature are preparing a cannabis legalization proposition during this year’s 60-day legal session, which kicked off Jan. 19. Rep. Javier Martinez is leading the legalization effort this year and sees a course forward for policy reform after voters did not reelect some more conservative legislators to the Democrat-controlled legislature in the 2020 election. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has actually likewise thrown her assistance behind adult-use cannabis legalization in the past.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo restored his push for legalization this year throughout his Jan. 6 State of the State address, when he revealed strategies to present an adult-use legalization proposition. Ever since, the legislature has presented its own legalization procedure, and the discussion continues surrounding the best technique to policy reform.
Rep. Jason Dockter has sponsored an adult-use legalization bill in the state legislature this year, despite his own opposition to legislating cannabis. According to The Dickinson Press, Dockter believes legalization is inevitable as more states legislate and control cannabis, and he states legislators must prepare a legalization proposition rather of leaving the problem in the hands of a ballot effort campaign. Legalize ND backed a 2020 project to get adult-use legalization in front of citizens last year, however eventually refocused its efforts on the 2022 election after the COVID-19 pandemic mainly thwarted its signature gathering efforts. In the meantime, Dockter’s H.B. 1420 would enable grownups 21 and older to use, possess and transport up to one ounce of cannabis or a comparable quantity of edible cannabis items, and the state Health Council would be charged with licensing and managing farmers and dispensaries.
State Sen. Roland Gutierrez pre-filed S.B. 140 in November to legislate adult-use cannabis in the state. The legislator approximated that legalization would develop 30,000 new jobs, in addition to produce more than $3 billion in income, according to an ABC13.com report.
In mid-January, Gov. Ralph Northam proposed an adult-use legalization expense that has given that been co-sponsored by Sens. Louise Lucas and Adam Ebbin. The legislation would allow adult-use sales to launch Jan. 1, 2023, and requires the licensing of farmers, processors, distributors/wholesalers, merchants and testing laboratories. The Senate Rehabilitation and Social Services Subcommittee voted Jan. 20 to advance the expense, sending it to the complete Senate Rehabilitation and Social Services Committee for consideration. Virginia Del. Steve Heretick has actually reestablished a separate legalization expense, which is likewise still pending in the state legislature.
Medical Cannabis Legalization Efforts
Alabama
Sen. Tim Melson prepares to reintroduce a medical cannabis legalization costs this year after comparable legislation passed the Alabama Senate throughout the 2020 legal session prior to eventually stalling in your house. Melson’s brand-new bill would produce the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission to license and manage the market in the state, where just industrial hemp has actually been legalized.
Kansas
A group of legislators presented a medical cannabis legalization proposal in mid-January with the backing of the Kansas Cannabis Industry Association. The expense’s advocates argue that a regulated medical cannabis market may assist enhance the state’s economy in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, and they are positive that the legislation has the support it needs in the legislature if it is phoned for a vote this year.
Kentucky
Sen. Steve West introduced a medical cannabis legalization expense Jan. 8 in the type of S.B. 92, which would legalize the growing, production, distribution, sale and delivery of cannabis items and permit practitioners to recommend medical cannabis to their clients. West’s proposal joins Rep. Jason Nemes’ H.B. 136, a different medical cannabis legalization costs that was reestablished Jan. 6 after stalling throughout in 2015’s legal session.
Nebraska
Sen. Anna Wishart has presented L.B. 474 to legalize medical cannabis in the state. Wishart helped lead Nebraska’s 2020 medical cannabis ballot effort, which was supported by Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana and ultimately rejected by the Nebraska Supreme Court for breaching the state’s single subject guideline.
Tennessee
Janice Bowling has backed legislation to legalize medical cannabis in Tennessee for several years, and announced plans in November to present a new medical cannabis legalization expense during this year’s legislative session. Bowling told regional news outlet WREG that she hopes the current legalization of medical cannabis in close-by Mississippi will generate more assistance for the bill, which would license medical cannabis use for clients with qualifying conditions that consist of cancer, glaucoma and PTSD.
States Making a Run at Both Medical and Adult-Use Legalization
Indiana
Sen. Karen Tallian has actually introduced two pieces of legislation this year to legalize and control medical and adult-use cannabis, as well as hemp. S.B. 87 would develop the Cannabis Compliance Commission to control cannabis and hemp in the state, while S.B. 223 would legalize the belongings of as much as two ounces of cannabis.
South Carolina
Lawmakers in the Palmetto State pre-filed expenses in both your house and the Senate in December to legislate medical and adult-use cannabis. Legislators in both chambers are considering two pieces of Migraine Medical Cannabis cannabis legislation, both called the «South Carolina Compassionate Care Act,» which mirror a proposition that was considered during 2019 legislative session, when the Senate ultimately pushed a vote on the procedure to 2020. Although the legislation failed to resurface last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the conversation seems to be continuing this year, and legislators in your home and Senate have also pre-filed costs to legalize the ownership of percentages of cannabis, along with legislation to legislate adult-use.