Activists in Denton, Texas say they’re confident that they’ve collected enough signatures to place a marijuana decriminalization initiative on the local ballot. The group Decriminalize Denton said that it will continue collecting additional petitions until May 3 while it also works to verify the more than 2,500 signatures that have already been gathered. But as of last week, organizers said that it appears that they’ve already netted enough to put the measure before voters in November. The campaign plans to submit the signatures to the city in the first week of May. They need 1,745 valid signatures from registered voters for ballot placement. ICYMI: We did it! We have successfully gathered and verified what we believe to be enough petition signatures to qualify for the November election. While we continue to finish independently verifying what we have, we will be accepting late signatures through end of day May 3rd! — Decriminalize Denton (@DecrimDenton) April 22, 2022 Meanwhile, as Denton activists pursue the midterm election in November, the campaign Ground Game Texas successfully put cannabis decriminalization on the Austin ballot for next month. Early voting for that local measure started on Monday.

Kyle Jaeger, Marijuana Moment, 04/26/2022 14:20:00

Open article: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/texas-activists-say-they-have-enough-signatures-to-put-marijuana-decriminalization-on-another-local-ballot/

When Georgia voters head to the polls for the primary election next month, they will get a chance to decide on a marijuana legalization question. The state Democratic party leadership placed nine non-binding advisory questions on the ballot this year, with the hope of gaining perspective on what issues voters care about most to inform legislative policy priorities. One of those questions asks: “Should marijuana be legalized, taxed, and regulated in the same manner as alcohol for adults 21 years of age or older, with proceeds going towards education, infrastructure and health care programs?” While the results of the vote on May 24 won’t immediately change state law, a strong showing in favor of legalization will demonstrate to elected officials that there is support for the reform, at least among those who vote in the Democratic primary. “Our ballot advisory questions are one of many ways we engage with Democratic voters ahead of the midterm elections,” Scott Hogan, executive director of the Democratic Party of Georgia, told FOX 5 Atlanta. Georgia has open primaries, meaning that any voter can choose to fill out the Democratic ballot on Election Day regardless of their party affiliation.

Kyle Jaeger, Marijuana Moment, 04/27/2022 08:23:00

Open article: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/georgia-voters-will-decide-on-marijuana-ballot-question-next-month/

Ganjapreneur 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. State Rep. Casey Weinstein (D), one of the lawmakers supporting the bill, said that cannabis legalization in Ohio is “overdue.” “The hundreds of thousands of Ohio voters who signed this petition – and millions more who support legalization statewide – asked for action from our legislature. Instead, GOP leaders have ignored them.”

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

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