A new bill in California hopes to end discrimination against those who use cannabis outside of the workplace. California employers would be barred from discriminating against employees for cannabis use while off the job under legislation introduced last week. The measure, AB 2188, was introduced in the California Assembly by Democratic Assembly Member Bill Quirk on February 15. If passed, AB 2188 would end discrimination based on drug testing for cannabis metabolites, which are non-psychoactive substances that can be detected in a person’s bodily fluids for up to several weeks after they have consumed cannabis. “The bill would make it unlawful for California employers to penalize or discriminate against a person when making decisions about hiring, termination, or other aspects of employment if the discrimination is based on the person’s off-duty cannabis use or the presence of non-psychoactive cannabis metabolites revealed in an employer-mandated drug screening,” Lauren Mendelsohn, an attorney with the Law Offices of Omar Figueroa in Sebastopol, California, explained in an email to High Times. The legislation, however, has several limitations. Employers who are required to follow federal drug-testing mandates are exempt.

420 Intel – Marijuana Industry News, 02/24/2022 19:00:00

Open article: https://420intel.com/articles/2022/02/25/california-bill-would-protect-cannabis-users-employment-discrimination

The South Dakota Senate green-lighted bills to legalize and tax marijuana as well as provide for expungements for low-level cannabis offenses, Marijuana Moment reported. Sponsored by Sen. Michael Rohl (R), lawmakers advanced SB 3 in an 18-17 vote, late Wednesday. The measure cleared the Commerce and Energy Committee last week and is now heading to the House. Once enacted into law, the bill would allow adults 21 and older to purchase and possess up to one ounce of cannabis from licensed retailers. The proposal would not permit home cultivation that was on a ballot measure for which activists have been collecting signatures. Voters in South Dakota approved legalization during the 2020 elections. However, the reform was canceled by the state Supreme Court following a challenge from Gov. Kristi Noem’s (R) administration. According to Circuit Judge Christina Klinger’s ruling from last February, which Supreme Court backed, the initiative violated the requirement that constitutional amendments can deal with just one subject. Under the new proposal, the state’s adult-use program would be regulated by the state Department of Revenue, which will also put rules related to issues such as transportation and registration into effect. Local municipalities would be able to opt-out of allowing cannabis businesses within their jurisdiction. In addition, those with a past felony conviction would not be allowed to hold a cannabis business license. The licensing provisions of a separate bill, SB 150, which would take effect only if voters approve legalization at the ballot, would make it so that only existing businesses that currently hold liquor licenses would be eligible to enter the marijuana market. “While we prefer the framework of SB 3, we were very pleased to see both SB 3 and SB 150 pass the Senate today,” Matthew Schweich, director of South Dakotans for Better Marijuana Laws (SDBML) told Marijuana Moment. “We are now one step closer to reaching a compromise and enacting a legalization law through the Legislature this session.”

Benzinga Staff Writer, The Fresh Toast, 02/24/2022 10:45:00

Open article: https://thefreshtoast.com/news/south-dakota-senate-green-lights-cannabis-legalization-expungement-bills/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=south-dakota-senate-green-lights-cannabis-legalization-expungement-bills

The Maryland House of Delegates on Wednesday debated a pair of bills to put marijuana legalization on the state’s 2022 ballot and begin setting up details for the program if voters approve it. The chamber also defeated a number of proposed amendments from Republican members. The chamber discussed the measures, both sponsored by Del. Luke Clippinger (D), on second reading days after the House Judiciary Committee—which the sponsor chairs—reported them out favorably. The legislation is now cleared for third reading and consideration of final passage to advance to the Senate, which is expected this week. Members of the full House were initially set to take up the bills on Tuesday, but motions to put them on special order for Wednesday were agreed to so that amendments could be drafted. The first of the chairman’s proposals, HB 1, would ask voters to approve an amendment to the state’s constitution to legalize cannabis use and possession by adults at least 21 years old. It would further direct lawmakers to set laws to “provide for the use, distribution, regulation, and taxation of cannabis within the state.” Two amendments to that bill were defeated on the floor. The first from House Minority Leader Jason Buckel (R) would have allowed local governments in counties that vote against the referendum to affirmatively act to continue criminalization even if the state legalizes.

Kyle Jaeger, Marijuana Moment, 02/23/2022 12:25:00

Open article: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/maryland-house-debates-bill-to-put-marijuana-legalization-referendum-on-november-ballot/

Senate Democrats are rejecting sight unseen their Republican counterparts’ bill to overhaul policing in America, not waiting for the legislation to be introduced before panning it as piecemeal changes that don’t tackle racism and brutality. As Sen. Tim Scott, South Carolina Republican, readies to release the package as soon as Wednesday, Democrats are telling reporters it just doesn’t cut it. Sen. Cory Booker, New Jersey Democrat, said the GOP proposal was “heavy on gestures and light on meaningful reforms.” “If we’re serious about confronting police brutality and excessive use of force, this bill is not the solution,” he told Politico last week. Mr. Booker also predicted on CBS that the bill would be the “lowest common denominator.”

The Washington Times Http, Washington Times – Politics, Breaking News, US and World News, 06/15/2020 20:00:00

Open article: https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/jun/16/democrats-slam-gop-police-overhaul-bill-its-unveil