The mayor of St. Louis on Monday signed a bill to decriminalize marijuana possession and cultivation for adults, a local reform that comes as efforts to legalize cannabis statewide in Missouri are also gaining momentum. The St. Louis ordinance signing comes weeks after the Board of Aldermen unanimously approved the legislation, which makes it so adults 21 and older can possess up to two ounces of cannabis without facing the civil penalty that’s currently in place. It would also make it so that “no resources” could be spent to punish adults for cultivating up to six flowering plants. Importantly, the measure only affects local policy and does not change Missouri state laws that continue to criminalize marijuana for non-medical use. “We are seeing a major shift in the way our country sees not just marijuana, but how it connects to public safety, incarceration, and economic opportunity in our communities,” Mayor Tishaura Jones (D) said at a signing ceremony. “This law will help reduce racial disparities in our policing, make our city safer and make St. Louis more competitive in hiring for city positions.” The newly enacted policy will further permit city employees who are medical cannabis patients to present their state-issued ID cards “to avoid adverse employment actions based on a positive drug test for marijuana.” Police will also be prevented from using the smell or visual presence of marijuana smoke as a basis to conduct a search or arrest someone.

Kyle Jaeger, Marijuana Moment, 12/13/2021 14:10:00

Open article: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/st-louis-mayor-signs-bill-to-decriminalize-marijuana-possession-and-cultivation/

The New Mexico Finance Authority Oversight Committee on Tuesday approved a new, $5-million loan program aimed at helping licensed cannabis microbusinesses—specifically those operated by members of communities disproportionately impacted by previous cannabis law enforcement or located in rural communities—succeed. “Through the Cannabis Microbusiness Loan Program, NMFA looks forward to providing access to capital to help even more New Mexicans benefit from the economic opportunities created by the legalization of adult-use cannabis,” said Marquita Russel, Chief Executive Officer of the New Mexico Finance Authority. “This program will give New Mexico small businesses, particularly in rural and economically-disadvantaged communities, a tool to make this industry more accessible and help get their businesses off the ground.” The Cannabis Microbusiness Loan Program will offer affordable loans to licensed cannabis establishments that demonstrate the technical and managerial capacity to operate but are unable to fund start-up costs due to their size, socio-economic or demographic characteristics. With $5 million dedicated to the program overall, individual loans will be up to $250,000 with an expected average loan size of $100,000.

AZ Marijuana, 12/13/2021 02:05:00

Open article: https://azmarijuana.com/arizona-medical-marijuana-news/new-mexico-approves-public-financing-for-marijuana-businesses/

Rep. Sue Errington’s bill wouldn’t legalize or decriminalize pot, but it would create a commission for possible legalization in the future. Marijuana advocates are hopeful a cannabis infrastructure bill will have a chance during the 2022 legislative session. Rep. Sue Errington, D-Muncie, is working on the bill. She filed a similar one last year. She allowed 13News to review the 19-page preliminary draft, which would create a new Cannabis Compliance Commission with the power to regulate industrial hemp and CBD, which are currently legal. The commission would also issue recommendations for how lawmakers could expand legalizing marijuana in the future, as well as allow for research. Errington’s bill does not decriminalize marijuana usage. It also does not legalize medical or recreational marijuana, though she has filed bills that go that far in the past. “I felt maybe we are trying to bite off too big a chunk at once,” Errington said. Errington filed a similar bill last year with a companion bill sponsored by retired Sen. Karen Tallian. Over the phone, the longtime supporter of the issue said she thought a marijuana infrastructure bill could possibly have a shot this session. Right now, Errington is hoping her bill will get bipartisan support and a companion bill in the State Senate.

420 Intel – Marijuana Industry News, 12/13/2021 19:00:00

Open article: https://420intel.com/articles/2021/12/14/marijuana-advocates-cautiously-optimistic-about-cannabis-infrastructure-bill