Kansas lawmakers from both chambers met on Wednesday to start discussing a path forward for medical marijuana legalization in the state. The conference committee convened one day after negotiators were appointed to finalize medical cannabis reform legislation. While no action was taken by the six-member panel, the lawmakers heard a run-down of the most technical differences between a bill that passed the House last year and a measure filed in the Senate this year. Advocates are optimistic that the convening of the conference committee means that legislators intend to send a final bill to the governor, potentially within days. Most of Wednesday’s meeting was led by a staffer who explained how the House-passed substitute of SB 158 differs from a similar Senate bill, SB 560, that was discussed in several committee hearings last month. Members may convene again later on Wednesday to continue working on the legislation, but the overall expectation is that a deal on the reform proposal is within reach. The plan is to incorporate whatever language is agreed upon into a separate, unrelated legislative vehicle that already cleared both chambers in order to expedite passage.

Kyle Jaeger, Marijuana Moment, 04/27/2022 13:35:00

Open article: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/kansas-lawmakers-kick-off-bicameral-medical-marijuana-conference-aiming-to-pass-jointly-negotiated-bill-soon/

Maryland State Senate building Maryland lawmakers approved legislation to refer to voters the question of state legalization of cannabis for adult use on the November 2022 ballot. The proposal, HB 1, passed the House in a vote of 96-34 and the Senate in a vote of 29-17. As the bill is a voter referendum, it cannot be vetoed by Gov. Larry Hogan (R). Separately, HB 837, the companion legislation that includes initial steps for cannabis legalization that would be contingent on voter approval of HB 1, passed the House in a vote of 92-37 and the Senate in a vote of 30-15. The bill now heads to Gov. Hogan’s desk. Both the House and Senate vote margins would be sufficient to override a potential Governor’s veto. Enabling legislation adopted in anticipation of passage HB 837 details the initial steps of cannabis legalization, such as possession limits, limited expungement, funding for minority- and women-owned businesses, and a community reinvestment and repair fund. The bill does not create a licensing or regulatory framework, and despite the likelihood that voters will approve the measures in November 2022, simple possession and limited home cultivation would remain illegal in Maryland until July 1, 2023.

The Leaf Online, 04/28/2022 03:30:00

Open article: https://www.theleafonline.com/c/politics/legislation/2022/04/maryland-vote-2022/

Two Ohio lawmakers have introduced legislation proposed by the campaign seeking to legalize cannabis in the state, The Center Square reports. The bill’s introduction comes after advocates successfully submitted enough signatures to trigger the state’s initiated statute process. Under the initiated statute process, once a campaign submits enough signatures, the Legislature has four months to pass the bill, or an amended version, and if they fail to do so, the campaign – the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol – can collect another 132,887 valid signatures to put the issue to voters. The group submitted the petition language and the required signatures on January 28.

Cannabis Law Report, 04/27/2022 00:18:00

Open article: https://cannabislaw.report/ohio-legislators-introduce-legalization-bill-authored-by-cannabis-advocates/

Gov. Janet Mills signed legislation April 22 that intends to help municipalities cover the costs of inviting adult-use cannabis business operations into their jurisdictions. The bill, Legislative Document 1195, authorizes $20,000 reimbursements to help towns and cities pay for expenses associated with the state’s adult-use program roll-out, including legal fees, drafting or amending ordinances, conducting town meetings, and holding elections. Funding for the reimbursements will come from the state’s Adult-Use Marijuana Public Health and Safety and Municipal Opt-In Fund, according to a news release from Maine House Democrats. The fund receives money from the sales and excise taxes imposed on adult-use cannabis and related products. The legislation was sponsored by Rep. Tiffany Roberts, D-South Berwick. “In the development of Maine’s adult-use marijuana industry, the state has asked municipalities to help balance the newly sanctioned use of this commodity, however, they are not yet seeing a return on their investment,” Roberts said in the release. “This bill will allow municipal governments to recover expenses from their regulation of the adult-use industry and encourage partnerships with local businesses.

Cannabis Law Report, 04/28/2022 00:24:00

Open article: https://cannabislaw.report/maine-governor-signs-legislation-to-reimburse-cannabis-municipalities-20k/