A bill moving through the Illinois state legislature would create a commission to study and improve equity in agriculture, including in hemp and cannabis production. H.B. 5201 would establish a task force to advise the state on policies and programs that would bolster socially disadvantaged producers and create more equity within the industry. “We know agriculture is the largest job-producing industry in the state of Illinois,” says State Rep. Sonya Harper, who introduced the bill.  However, the loss of Black and other minority farmers in the industry has led to issues with food security, health, and the economy, especially in disadvantaged communities, according to the bill text. If created, the committee would include around 30 members who come from diverse backgrounds both demographically and professionally, including a representative from a nonprofit organization aimed at increasing healthy food access, an attorney or legal expert in property law, and six socially disadvantaged farmers or agribusiness owners. The bill specifically highlights hemp and cannabis as an area of focus for the commission. Harper says H.B. 5201 is one of several bills she has introduced and helped pass as it relates to agricultural equity and increasing opportunities for farmers of color. 

Julie A. Werner-Simon, Cannabis Business Times, 03/01/2022 16:59:00

Open article: http://www.cannabisbusinesstimes.com/article/illinois-house-bill-5201-agriculture-social-equity-commission-cannabis-hemp

Nearly three in four New Hampshire voters support legalizing marijuana, according to a new poll. And bipartisan majorities also say they’re in favor of conducting cannabis sales through a state-run model as would be the case under a bill that recently passed the House of Representatives. The Granite State Poll, published by the University of New Hampshire (UNH) on Friday, found that 74 percent of residents in the state feel that prohibition should end. In a separate question, sixty-eight percent said they support a bill that passed the House this month to have the state Liquor Commission exclusively conduct sales—a proposal that has raised some concerns among advocates and stakeholders. Seventy-nine percent of Democrats, 68 percent of independents, and 56 percent of Republicans said they back the unique reform approach. Meanwhile, support for legalization overall has grown demonstrably in the state over the past decade, increasing by 25 percentage points since UNH started polling residents on the issue in 2013.

Kyle Jaeger, Marijuana Moment, 02/28/2022 08:46:00

Open article: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/three-in-four-new-hampshire-residents-support-legalizing-marijuana-with-bipartisan-majorities-backing-state-run-model/

A South Dakota House committee on Monday defeated a Senate-passed bill to legalize marijuana, and members also gutted a separate measure that would have set up initial rules for the market by replacing it with new language to eliminate existing protections for medical cannabis patients. The state Senate had narrowly approved the legalization bill, SB 3, last week. But the House State Affairs Committee defeated it by voting 8-3 to move the legislation to the 41st day of the session—one day after the session ends, thereby preventing its consideration. Advocates say the fight isn’t completely over yet, however. It’s possible that the measure could be revived if 24 lawmakers agree to force floor consideration. Whether there’s the will for that kind of legislative maneuvering—called a “Smokeout” in legislative parlance—is yet to be seen.“SB 3 may have been defeated in committee today but there are still procedural options available to supporters,” Matthew Schweich, director of South Dakotans for Better Marijuana Laws, told Marijuana Moment. “This fight is not over. And if we ultimately come up short in this legislative session, then we will go back to the ballot this November and pass adult-use cannabis legalization in South Dakota for the second election in a row.” “Our opponents can delay legalization but they cannot stop it,” he said. “We have the will of the people on our side.”South Dakota voters already approved legalization during the 2020 election, but the reform was struck down by the state Supreme Court following a challenge from the governor’s office. While activists are still holding out hope that the reform can be enacted legislatively, they’re keeping the option open to go to the ballot again this November if lawmakers fail to act.

Kyle Jaeger, Marijuana Moment, 02/28/2022 11:20:00

Open article: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/south-dakota-house-panel-rejects-senate-passed-marijuana-legalization-bill-while-gutting-medical-cannabis-protections/