List of 2017 United States cannabis reform proposals

In 2017, U.S. states proposed or are expected to propose cannabis reform legislation for medical marijuana and non-medical adult use. State-level legalization remains at odds with cannabis' status as a Schedule I narcotic under the Controlled Substances Act at the Federal level, and the Cannabis policy of the Donald Trump administration remains unclear as of early 2017.[1]

States expected to propose legislation include Delaware, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Texas, Virginia, Kentucky, New Mexico, Vermont, and Missouri.[2]

Delaware

A legalization bill was introduced by state senator Margaret Rose Henry in March, 2017.[3]

Kentucky

The Cannabis Compassion Act (BR 409) for medical cannabis was filed in December, 2016.[4]

Michigan

On May 17, the Michigan Secretary of State approved for signature collection a voter initiative which will, if it becomes law, allow adult possession of 2.5 ounces of cannabis, and create a state regulatory system for production and sale in Michigan.[5][6] The initiative's sponsor, Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol, is the state level activity of the national Marijuana Policy Project.[7]

Missouri

A legalization initiative was certified to begin gathering signatures by Missouri's Secretary of State in January. The previous year, an initiative failed the threshold to appear on the ballot by 23 signatures.[8]

New Hampshire

HB 640, a bill to decriminalize possession of a fraction of an ounce of cannabis was passed by voice vote on June 1 and sent to the governor for his signature to become law.[9] The governor, Chris Sununu, has expressed his intention to sign the bill.[10][11]

New Jersey

In February, state senator Nicholas Scutari said he would introduce legislation to legalize cannabis in the state.[12]

Rhode Island

Rhode Island state senator Joshua Miller and representative Scott Slater said they planned to introduce a legalization bill for the seventh straight year in 2017.[13]

Tennessee

In August, the state's Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally and House Speaker Beth Harwell announced in a letter that they intended to form an ad-hoc committee to consider legalization of medical marijuana.[14][15]

Texas

On April 3, 2017, a bill decriminalizing possession of under an ounce of cannabis cleared a committee for consideration by the state house.[16] Other legislation included SB 269, introduced by state senator Jose Menendez, which would go beyond then-current legal status of CBD oil, and completely legalize medical cannabis.[17] State senator José R. Rodríguez introduced a similar bill, Senate Joint Resolution 18, and SJR 17 to put non-medical legalization to a statewide ballot in November.[17]

Vermont

An updated version of a failed 2016 Senate bill was passed on April 21.[18] On May 3, the state House passed its own version of legalization. The two bills needed to be reconciled.[19][20] On May 10, the joint bill legalizing cannabis was approved by the state legislature, for the first time in U.S. history.[21] On May 24, Governor Phil Scott vetoed the bill.[22]

See also

References
  1. Kurtis Lee (March 7, 2017), "What is the future of recreational marijuana in Trump's America?", The Los Angeles Times
  2. Seerat CHABBA (December 31, 2016), "Marijuana Legalization 2017: Which States Will Consider Cannabis This Year?", International Business Times
  3. Rob Petree (March 23, 2017), Marijuana legalization bill announced by Delaware state Senator Margaret Rose-Henry, WDEL (AM)
  4. Maryam Louise, Marijuana Legalization: Kentucky Senate Will Vote In 2017 For Medical Cannabis Law, Yahoo News
  5. David Eggert (May 19, 2017), Michigan OKs recreational marijuana ballot petition, opposition group emerges, Associated Press – via The Cannabist
  6. Jonathan Oosting (May 18, 2017), "Michigan pot legalization petitions hitting streets", Detroit News
  7. Jonathan Oosting (March 24, 2017), "National pot group plots Michigan legalization plan", Detroit News
  8. Marijuana legalization question could land on future Missouri ballot with the correct number of signatures, WDAF-TV Fox 4 TV News, January 10, 2017
  9. Updated: NH Senate votes to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana, hashish, WMUR News, May 11, 2017
  10. "New Hampshire legislature decriminalizes marijuana possession, sends pro-pot bill to governor's desk", The Washington Times, June 1, 2017
  11. Governor Chris Sununu Statement on HB 640 (press release), Office of the Governor of New Hampshire, May 11, 2017, I look forward to signing House Bill 640 into law.
  12. Susan K. Livio (February 10, 2017), N.J. lawmakers will vote on legalizing marijuana despite Trump's new Attorney General, NJ.com
  13. Katy Steinmetz (January 11, 2017), "Rhode Island Lawmakers Want to Legalize Recreational Marijuana", Time
  14. Marijuana in TN to be researched, Murfreesboro, Tennessee: WGNS radio, August 29, 2017
  15. Joel Ebert (August 25, 2017), "House Speaker Beth Harwell, Lt. Gov. Randy McNally launch committee to study medical marijuana", The Tennessean, Nashville
  16. Texas marijuana decriminalization bill clears legislative hurdle, The Associated Press, April 3, 2017 – via Denver Post's The Cannabist
  17. "85th Texas Legislature Preview: Can the GOP-run House and Senate get along well enough to get anything accomplished?", The Austin Chronicle, January 13, 2017
  18. Cory Dawson (April 22, 2017), State Senate approves legal-pot measure, but House unlikely, Associated Press
  19. Marijuana Legalization Bill Passes Vermont House, Associated Press, May 4, 2017 – via US News and World Report
  20. Steven Nelson (May 3, 2017), "Vermont's House and Senate Have OK'd Pot Legalization. But It's No Done Deal: A tight time frame to reconcile bills and a skeptical governor pose potential hurdles.", US News and World Report
  21. Peter Hirschfeld (May 10, 2017), Vermont House Approves Marijuana Legalization, Bill Now Goes To Gov. Scott, Vermont Public Radio
  22. Laurel Wamsley (May 24, 2017), "Vermont's Governor Vetoes Recreational Pot Bill", The Two-Way, NPR
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