The third-highest-ranking Senate Democrat visited a credit union on the unofficial marijuana holiday 4/20 on Wednesday, reiterating her support for passing a bipartisan cannabis banking reform bill and explaining how she’ll fight to get the policy change enacted sooner rather than later. Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) discussed the issue and her commitment to resolving the problem at a press event at a branch of the Salal Credit Union. The assistant Democratic Senate leader was also recently appointed as a conferee on a large-scale manufacturing bill where the cannabis banking proposal is expected to be considered as Congress finalizes the legislation to be sent to President Joe Biden. The broad legislative vehicle may be the “best opportunity” that lawmakers have to advance marijuana banking reform this session, the senator said, adding that it’s among her “top priorities” as lawmakers move to the conference. The America COMPETES Act “has a really good chance of passing and deals with a lot of really critical issues facing Americans today,” she said.

Kyle Jaeger, Marijuana Moment, 04/20/2022 17:08:00

Open article: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/top-senate-democrat-says-marijuana-banking-reform-is-a-priority-at-4-20-credit-union-event-as-state-officials-push-for-fixes/

A pair of Ohio Democratic lawmakers on Wednesday filed a bill to legalize marijuana that directly mirrors a proposed initiative that activists are pursuing. If the legislature fails to act by next month, advocates can collect additional signatures to put the measure directly before voters on the November ballot. Reps. Casey Weinstein (D) and Terrence Upchurch (D) are sponsoring the legislation, which is virtually identical to a citizen initiative from the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol (CTRMLA). The lawmakers announced the plan on the unofficial cannabis holiday 4/20. It’s time to legalize marijuana in Ohio. https://t.co/Ily42Bn9DK — Rep. Casey Weinstein (@RepWeinstein) April 20, 2022 Activists turned in about 133,000 initial signatures for their ballot measure in January, starting a process whereby lawmakers were given four months to act on the proposal. With that window closing—and resistance from GOP leadership—the prospects for legislative reform advancing this session seem slim. Even so, Weinstein and Upchurch are giving lawmakers another chance to act on the issue before legalization is potentially put to voters in November.

Kyle Jaeger, Marijuana Moment, 04/20/2022 14:22:00

Open article: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/ohio-lawmakers-file-new-marijuana-legalization-bill-on-4-20-that-mirrors-ballot-initiative-activists-are-pursuing/

For the Wisconsin Legislature, getting to the point where a conversation about legalizing cannabis could be had in committee has been challenging. It’s a first step legislator finally took Wednesday, April 20, an annual day of celebration for cannabis activists. The public hearing on the legislation (SB 1034), which would legalize medical marijuana, was held in the Senate Committee on Insurance, Licensing, and Forestry and attracted about five hours of testimony. The majority of the testimony called for an end to all cannabis prohibition in Wisconsin. Attempts to even hold public hearings on bills to legalize cannabis have routinely failed. During the 2021-23 budget process, proposals by Gov. Tony Evers (D) to fully legalize recreational and medicinal cannabis use were stripped out of Evers’ budget document by Republican-controlled committees. The 2022 medical cannabis bill, first introduced four years ago by now-Sen. Mary Felzkowski (R-Irma) when she was a member of the Assembly, provides the foundation for a limited-use medicinal market.

Marijuana Moment, Marijuana Moment, 04/21/2022 09:45:00

Open article: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/limited-wisconsin-medical-marijuana-bills-gets-4-20-senate-hearing/

Washington, D.C. lawmakers on Tuesday advanced a bill to ban most workplaces from firing or otherwise punishing employees for marijuana use, setting the measure up for final passage early next month. Councilmember Trayon White (D) is sponsoring the legislation, which was slightly amended before being unanimously approved by the Committee of the Whole, which is comprised of all 13 members of the full Council. It previously moved through the Labor & Workforce Development Committee last month. The Cannabis Employment Protections Amendment Act would expand on previous legislation the D.C. Council approved to protect local government employees against workplace discrimination due to their use of medical cannabis. Councilmember Elissa Silverman (I) said at the Committee of the Whole hearing on Tuesday that there’s a “disconnect between the District legalization of cannabis and its employment laws.” “Even though cannabis is legal, workers can be fired or disciplined for using it in their personal time and without any impact on their work,” she said.

Kyle Jaeger, Marijuana Moment, 04/20/2022 09:01:00

Open article: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/d-c-bill-to-provide-workplace-protections-for-marijuana-consumers-gets-initial-approval-by-council/