States battling to reform marijuana laws across the United States earned some hard-earned victories last week. Even deep in the heart of Texas, cannabis consumers received some positive news.
Oregon
The Oregon House of Representatives passed legislation designed to protect the privacy of recreational marijuana consumers in the state. The bill, which passed by a vote of 53-5, bans marijuana retailers from retaining personal information on their customers. Information obtained for age verification purposes from drivers licenses, passports, and other forms of identification would have to be purged after 48 hours. The measure comes in response to statements from the Trump administration indicating that it will take a tougher stance on enforcing federal marijuana prohibition in states that have legalized recreational cannabis.
- Related Story: Oregon Refuses To Hand Over Data On Marijuana Users To Feds
Tennessee
On Wednesday, Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam (R) signed legislation to nullify local ordinances in the state’s two largest cities that decriminalized possession of small amounts of marijuana. Last year, Nashville and Memphis enacted measures allowing police to write citations and impose civil penalties for minor cannabis possession offenses. Once implemented, police will be forced to arrest marijuana offenders, who will once again be charged criminally.
Colorado
The Colorado Senate on Wednesday passed legislation to protect recreational cannabis businesses from federal law enforcement. As we reported previously, the bill allows businesses to change their designation from recreational to medical “based on a business need due to a change in local, state or federal law or enforcement policy.” Marijuana remains illegal under federal law, and Attorney General Jeff Sessions has expressed reservations regarding state laws making the plant legal. This is the boldest effort yet by any state to protect a state-legal marijuana system, and could significantly reduce the revenue Colorado receives from the industry.
Iowa
On Wednesday, an Iowa Senate subcommittee unanimously voted to bring a medical marijuana bill to the chamber floor. The law would permit patients with PTSD, cancer, and other severe health conditions to legally purchase and use marijuana if approval is given by a doctor. However, there do not appear to be sufficient votes in the Iowa House for the measure to pass before the 2017 legislative session ends as soon as this week.
Rhode Island
On Tuesday, Rhode Island lawmakers held their first hearing on a bill to legalize recreational marijuana in the state. Similar hearings have been held by the House Judiciary Committee every year since 2011, yet the legislation has never made it to the floor for a vote. Supporters hope that with neighboring Massachusetts having voted to legalize the plant in 2016, the effort will gain more traction this time around. Also discussed at the hearing was a separate bill that would put the legalization debate on hold and create a commission to study the impacts of recreational marijuana on the state.
- Related Story: Five States Most Likely to Legalize Marijuana in 2017
Texas
The Dallas City Council on Wednesday passed a measure to reduce penalties for possession of small amounts of marijuana. Starting October 1st, police will start issuing misdemeanor citations for those in possession of less than four ounces of cannabis. Offenders will then be released if no additional crimes were committed.
