Marijuana is on the mind of governors and state legislators. (Creative Commons)
Marijuana Policy
First Federal Marijuana Reform Bill of 2021 Filed. Rep. Greg Staube (R-FL) has filed a bill, HR 365, which would not end federal marijuana prohibition but would move marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act. Staube filed an identical bill last session.
Connecticut Governor Circulates Draft of Marijuana Legalization Bill. Gov. Ned Lamont (D) is circulating a draft of a proposed marijuana legalization bill and seeking feedback from state agencies as he prepares to try to push it through later this year. According to the draft legislation, there would be a taxed and regulated legal market, with taxes set at $1.25 per gram of wholesale marijuana, and trimmed buds would be subject to another tax of fifty cents per gram. Retail purchasers would also pay the state s 6.35% sales tax and a 3% surcharge. The draft also would provide automatic expungement of old
If Virginia follows through with Gov. Ralph Northam’s plan to legalize marijuana, it should create a new agency to regulate and oversee the marijuana market, a panel of lawmakers says.
Localities that do not wish to have marijuana retailers in their jurisdictions may be able to opt out via referendum, according to a recommendation from a Senate panel examining a
Groups that oppose legalizing marijuana speak out Marijuana bud (FILE) (Source: MIke Fussell, WAVE 3 News) By Joe Dashiell | January 19, 2021 at 10:10 PM EST - Updated January 19 at 10:22 PM
RICHMOND, Va. (WDBJ) - A General Assembly subcommittee began work on marijuana legislation Tuesday, as a coalition of opponents spoke out against legalization.
Members of the Senate Rehabilitation and Social Services - Subcommittee on Marijuana heard from the public, but most of their discussion centered on how the state should regulate the industry.
“I don’t see how this fits in ABC,” Sen. Ryan McDougle (R-Hanover) said of the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority. “I think it has to be a separate entity.”
Virginia lawmakers now debating marijuana legalization
Who regulates it and taxation rates are part of the debate
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ROANOKE, Va. – Marijuana legalization continues to be a hot debate in the commonwealth.
Senate Bill 1406, which looks to make the drug legal, went to the Senate Rehabilitation and Social Services subcommittee Tuesday morning.
One of the topics lawmakers discussed was the regulation of commercial marijuana by determining who will have the authority.
While some people lean toward the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority (VABC), others want an independent agency to regulate it instead.
“NORML does support and prefer a regulatory agency that is specific to cannabis.“ Jenn Michelle Pedini, the executive director of Virginia NORML, said. “It is understandable the legislation is looking to leverage the resources already available through ABC but it remains to be determined if that is the best regulatory pathway.”