Andrew Cuomo to support a state legalization law with strong racial equity provisions, such as automatic expungement of past marijuana convictions and priority licensing for people most affected by the war on drugs.
“For decades—this has been horrible—young men and young women, disproportionately young men and women of color, have been arrested and jailed for even carrying small amounts of marijuana, a charge that came with exorbitant punitive penalties, a serious criminal record,” he said.
Jeremy Munson introduced an amendment that would have gutted the legalization bill and replaced it with provisions to simply decriminalize possession of marijuana and certain cannabis preparations, along with paraphernalia.
With Saturday’s vote, the number of committees that have passed the legalization bill entered into the double digits, making it one of most thoroughly vetted reform measures to move through a state legislature.
Winkler, who led a statewide listening to gather public input ahead of the measure’s introduction, called it the “best legalization bill in the country” at the time.
Under the legislation, social equity would be prioritized, in part by ensuring diverse licensing and preventing the market from being monopolized by corporate players.
The bill calls for the establishment of a seven-person Cannabis Management Board, which would be responsible for regulating the market and issuing cannabis business licenses.
Tim Walz is also in favor of ending marijuana prohibition, and in January he called on lawmakers to pursue the reform as a means to boost the economy and promote racial justice.
Numerous people testified before the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee, with many sharing personal stories about the harms of criminalizing personal drug possession.
But among the most notable supporters of the legislation is the MMA, which is part of the American Medical Association .
“Maine’s current policies around drug use and substance use disorder have a severe death measure.
“These impacts are especially severe for Mainers of Color.
“More than 500 people died last year from drug overdoses in our state,” it said.
“Drug possession convictions have a disproportionate impact on the poor and people of color; making drug possession a civil offense will help to alleviate these disparities,” the association said.
Decriminalization is an essential step to remove barriers to care and support, reduce stigma and discrimination, improve health and socioeconomic outcomes, and work toward a more just and compassionate society.
“As stated above, the Department is resolved to working for reasonable reforms to Maine’s illegal possession statute based on evolving views of how to address the problem of illegal substance use.
In a 88-40 vote, the House approved HB 441, which would make possession of up to one ounce of cannabis a class C misdemeanor that does not come with the threat of jail time.
While decriminalization bills sometimes impose a civil penalty or infraction for possession, rather than a misdemeanor, this measure generally meets advocates’ definition of decriminalization because a class C misdemeanor does not involve incarceration as a punishment.
While it still needs to make it through the Senate, I am proud of this legislation and what it means for Texans.
If the person pays the fine and enters into a plea of no contest or guilty, their case would be automatically deferred for one year.
“Texas cannabis bills are on the move and it’s exciting to see bipartisan support for HB 441, which has been carefully crafted to eliminate the threat of arrest and jail time for marijuana possession,” Heather Fazio, director of Texans for Responsible Marijuana Policy, told Marijuana Moment.
Advocates have closely followed the House this week as lawmakers took up a series of reform proposals.
A separate medical cannabis expansion proposal was given final passage in the House in a 134-12 vote on Thursday, sending it to the Senate.
On Wednesday, the chamber approved an additional bill that would create a new drug schedule for products containing THC that would carry slightly lower penalties compared to where they are currently classified.
Earlier this month, the House Agriculture and Livestock Committee also approved legislation that would make certain changes to the state’s hemp program, including imposing rules related to the transportation and testing of consumable hemp products.
But all of these proposals face an uphill battle in the Senate, where it remains to be seen whether legislators will have the same appetite for reform or what kind of changes they might push for in any particular bill.
That’s all to say that, unless Patrick has a change of heart on the issue, there’s still a risk that he could singlehandedly quash the reform measures.
Phelan said he thinks “the House will look at” reform measures this year, including bills to legalize for adult use.