About seven out of 10 North Carolina voters support legalizing medical marijuana, and a plurality favors letting adults access cannabis for recreational use, according to a new poll. The survey from WNCT, The Hill, and Emerson College found that 68 percent of voters believe marijuana should be legalized for medical purposes—a finding that comes as lawmakers have stalled on a Senate reform bill that cleared three committees last year. Only 19 percent of respondents said they were against medical cannabis legalization. With respect to adult-use marijuana policy, voters are largely divided, with 48 percent in favor of the broader reform and 43 percent against it. That’s a slight drop from the last time the survey put that question to voters. But as election seasons near, it stands to reason that more lawmakers might take special notice of the poll’s results on medical cannabis.

Kyle Jaeger, Marijuana Moment, 04/12/2022 08:42:00

Open article: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/seven-in-ten-north-carolina-voters-back-medical-marijuana-legalization-as-senate-reform-bill-remains-stalled/

If Ohio is going to legalize marijuana this year, it’s probably going to need to happen on the ballot, a GOP state lawmaker who is cosponsoring a legalization bill said last week. At an event hosted by Ohio State University on Thursday, Rep. Ron Ferguson (R) expressed disappointment that the Republican-controlled legislature has declined to take action on cannabis reform and instead seems positioned to leave the issue up to voters if activists collect enough signatures to qualify their legalization measure for the November ballot. Ferguson said he would “like to see us have a legislative solution” and “really get accomplished within the statehouse”—but it’s apparent that leadership isn’t going to move on the issue, even after advocates turned in enough valid signatures earlier this year to trigger a legislative review of legalization. “I’m fearful that the folks in the statehouse are looking at more of a five-year-and-beyond plan,” the lawmaker said, adding that if Ohio is going to see a policy change enacted in the near future, it will likely come in November if the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol (CTRMLA) ballot campaign is successful.

Kyle Jaeger, Marijuana Moment, 04/12/2022 10:17:00

Open article: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/ohio-voters-will-need-to-decide-on-marijuana-legalization-at-ballot-as-legislature-stalls-pro-reform-gop-lawmaker-says/

Illinois lawmakers have sent a bill to the governor that would make it so courts cannot deny petitions to expunge or seal records based on a positive drug test for marijuana. However, a separate House-passed bill concerning workplace protections for employees who use cannabis off-the-job stalled in the Senate before the chamber adjourned for the session. The bill sent to Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) last week would revise the state’s Criminal Identification Act to stipulate that courts “shall not deny a petition for expungement or sealing because the petitioner has submitted a drug test taken within 30 days before the filing of the petition for expungement or sealing that indicates a positive test for the presence of cannabis within the petitioner’s body,” a synopsis says. Rep. Carol Ammons (D), the bill’s sponsor, said the measure closes an “existing loophole” that could inadvertently impact people who are eligible for relief following the legalization of marijuana for adult use in 2020.

Kyle Jaeger, Marijuana Moment, 04/12/2022 15:20:00

Open article: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/illinois-bill-to-close-marijuana-expungement-loophole-heads-to-governor-while-workplace-protection-measure-stalls/

“I am disappointed by my Republican colleagues’ constant refusal to do the right thing and listen to Wisconsinites when it comes to the issue of cannabis legalization,” said Sen. Melissa Agard. By Nina Zdinjak Wisconsin State Senate Committee on Insurance, Licensing and Forestry will hold a public hearing on a medical marijuana bill (Senate Bill 1034) on April 20. Sponsors say the fact that the hearing is scheduled on the popular 4/20 cannabis holiday is a coincidence. Senator Melissa Agard (D-Madison) responded to the hearing notice, saying that the Wisconsin residents are ready for cannabis reform, reports Wispolitics. “It is supported by the majority of the residents of our state, including a majority of Republicans,” Agard said. “While I’m encouraged people will have the ability to come to testify at a public hearing, it is disappointing that we had 15 months of the session in which we could have rolled up our sleeves and worked in a bipartisan manner on this important and complex policy.

Benzinga Staff Writer, The Fresh Toast, 04/12/2022 12:27:00

Open article: https://thefreshtoast.com/news/wisconsin-senator-says-republicans-are-all-talk-and-no-action-on-medical-marijuana-reform/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=wisconsin-senator-says-republicans-are-all-talk-and-no-action-on-medical-marijuana-reform