The Right to Know. The Right to Grow.
Maryland, Say Hello to Mary Jane
In what is probably best described as altered states, yet another mid-Atlantic state is inching closer to decriminalizing marijuana. The Maryland Senate approved the legislation on Bill 364 by 38-8 votes to make possession of small amounts of marijuana (in this case 10 oz) a civil offense that would result in a fine. This is fairly hot on the heels of Washington D.C.’s vote to do the same. His statement saying that he would sign the bill represents a fairly large shift in sentiment by Governor Martin O’Malley, who was bullish on loosening the laws surrounding marijuana.Maryland lawmakers also updated the Maryland medical marijuana law, reaching detente on Bill 923. Seriously ill patients (with qualifying conditions) can now receive and use marijuana with a doctor’s recommendation.
Clearing CA’s Medical Marijuana Legislative Smoke
AB 1894. That’s the designation for the most recent attempt at regulating California’s medical marijuana industry. The Huffington Post is reporting that Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco) is taking another puff at implementing rules that would corral all medical marijuana businesses and laws within the state. And if all goes well, this could be the springboard to legalization efforts in the Golden State on the 2016 ballot. The somewhat haphazard regulatory efforts to date might have hurt opportunities in the past. Increased federal scrutiny and no clear regulation framework left a bad taste in some constituents’ mouths.
A Lot of Green
Just when you thought it couldn’t get much higher, the Miami Herald is reporting that Colorado’s recreational and medical marijuana sales rose again in February. When the results of the second month’s sales were tabulated, the combined tax revenue generated by recreational and medical marijuana sales was reported at $4.1 million. Perhaps, there should be legislative action to change it to “cannabiz.”
Taking the High Road
According to a U.S.News article, U.S. Postal Inspectors nabbed 45,000 lbs of cannabis by the end of last September, mailed in a reported 9,100 parcels. Both of those figures are up since last year by 7.1% and 19.7% respectively. Whether there is more weed on the road or better means of detecting it, the figures don’t say, but apparently the U.S. Postal Service is the way to roll. Fourth Amendment protections make it marijuana’s preferred carrier. Brown can’t do it for you and FedEx will absolutely, positively not get it there overnight.
Think we missed something important in this week’s round-up? Comment below and let us know.
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