LANSING, Mich., Nov. 20, 2017 /Weed Wire/ — The Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol turned in more than 360,000 signatures today calling for its marijuana legalization initiative to be placed on Michigan’s November 2018 ballot.
Tag Archives: Initiative
First Commercial Insurer to File Cannabis Business Insurance is Approved by Insurance Commissioner
Cannabis businesses licensed by the State of California may now purchase commercial insurance coverage from an admitted commercial insurance company. Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones has approved the filing of the first admitted commercial insurance company to file cannabis business insurance, so that the insurer can begin writing policies and offering coverage for cannabis business owners.
Advocates for Utah Medical Cannabis Legalization Launch Signature Drive
Utah medical cannabis legalization has taken a critical step forward. After earning the approval of state election officials last week, volunteers with the Utah Patients Coalition started gathering signatures to get medical cannabis on Utah’s ballot in 2018.
Utah Patients Coalition to Launch 2018 Signature Drive for Medical Cannabis Ballot Initiative
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Aug. 16, 2017 /Weed Wire/ — The campaign to place a medical cannabis initiative on the November 2018 ballot will hold a news conference on Thursday to announce the official launch of signature gathering efforts.
Utah Patients Coalition Approved to Begin Collecting Signatures for 2018 Medical Cannabis Initiative
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Aug. 10, 2017 /Weed Wire/ — Utah Patients Coalition has received approval from Lt. Governor Spencer Cox to begin gathering signatures to qualify for the November 2018 ballot.
Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Legalization Initiative Makes 2018 Ballot
Oklahoma medical marijuana legalization may become a reality in 2018 as a legalization initiative has qualified for the state’s 2018 ballot.
Maine Legislature Passes Bill to Fund the Implementation of the Marijuana Legalization Initiative and Change the Agency That Will Regulate Marijuana for Adult Use
AUGUSTA, Maine, May 25, 2017 /Weed Wire/ — The Maine Legislature has passed a bill to fund the implementation of the successful 2016 marijuana legalization initiative and change the agency that will regulate marijuana for adult use.
Wyoming Medical Marijuana Initiative Does Not Make 2018 Ballot
A Wyoming medical marijuana initiative that had been in the works since 2015 won’t be on the ballot in 2018.
Montana Judge Rules Dispensaries Can Reopen Immediately
On Dec. 7, 2016, District Judge James Reynolds ruled that a drafting error in Montana’s recently passed Initiative 182 cannot delay the medical marijuana initiative’s implementation, immediately striking down a three-patient limit that previously went into effect on Aug. 31, as reported by the Associated Press.
Massachusetts Marijuana Roll-out Faces Potential Delays
Although recreational marijuana is slated to become legal in Massachusetts on Dec. 15, 2016, Massachusetts Sec. of State William F. Galvin announced on Nov. 28 that it could take longer than expected for the law to go into effect.
Marijuana Wins Big on Election Night
WASHINGTON, Nov. 8, 2016 /Weed Wire/ — This Election Day was a watershed moment for the movement to end marijuana prohibition, with the results expected to accelerate efforts to legalize marijuana in states across the U.S., at the federal level, and internationally.
Florida Becomes 1st State in the South to Approve Medical Marijuana
WASHINGTON, Nov. 8, 2016 /Weed Wire/ — Florida voters have approved the state’s medical marijuana initiative, Amendment 2.
Yes on Prop. 205 Launches Spanish-language TV Ad Highlighting Benefits of Regulating and Taxing Marijuana Like Alcohol
Nov. 3, 2016 /Weed Wire/ — The Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol has launched a statewide Spanish-language TV ad in support of Prop. 205.
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP) Endorses Question 2, The Initiative to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol in Nevada
MEDFORD, Mass., Oct. 28, 2016 /Weed Wire/ — Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP), a nonprofit group of police, judges, prosecutors, and other criminal justice professionals, today announced its endorsement of Nevada’s ballot Question 2.
Denver Social Marijuana Use Initiative Qualifies for Ballot After Competing Measure Rejected
City voters will decide whether to allow permits for bars, other businesses that obtain neighborhood group OK.
Arizona Supreme Court: Recreational Legalization Stays on Ballot
On Aug. 31, 2016, the Arizona Supreme Court rejected the final legal challenge to Proposition 205, a voter initiative to legalize recreational marijuana in the state, as reported by the Associated Press.
Michigan Marijuana Initiative Loses Court Case
MI Legalize, the organizer behind an effort to legalize recreational marijuana in the state of Michigan, has suffered another setback in court.
Anti-pot Initiative Sponsor Gives Up Montana Ballot Effort
The sponsor of a proposed initiative to repeal Montana’s medical marijuana law said Wednesday he won’t appeal a judge’s refusal to place the measure on November’s ballot, but instead will focus on defeating a separate initiative to expand medical pot distribution.
What Will Recreational Marijuana Legalization Mean for California?
“This [marijuana legalization] initiative goes further than any initiative in the world,” says Lynne Lyman, California state director for the Drug Policy Alliance.
Judge Tosses Challenge to Arizona Marijuana Initiative
PHOENIX — A judge has thrown out a bid to keep voters from deciding whether to legalize the recreational use of marijuana.
North Dakota Voting on Medical Marijuana in November
On Aug. 11, 2016, North Dakota Secretary of State Al Jaeger announced that the North Dakota Compassionate Care Act, an initiative to legalize medical marijuana in the state, had received enough signatures to appear on the ballot on Nov. 8.
South Dakota Judge Denies Ballot Access to Medical Marijuana Petition
Organizers behind New Approach South Dakota, a campaign to legalize medical marijuana, has suffered a serious setback. On August 9, 2016, Circuit Judge Mark Barnett denied the group’s lawsuit to place a voter initiative legalizing medical marijuana on the November ballot.
First Major Newspaper Endorsement: Prop 64 “Solid,” “Smart,” “Long Overdue”
SACRAMENTO, Calif., Aug. 9, 2016 /Weed Wire/ — The Yes on Proposition 64 campaign announced today that California’s first major newspaper endorsement of Proposition 64, the Adult Use of Marijuana Act, has come out strongly in favor of the measure.
Golden in California: Adult Use of Marijuana Act Qualifies for Ballot
On June 28, 2016, California Secretary of State Alex Padilla announced that the Adult Use of Marijuana Act, a ballot initiative legalizing recreational marijuana in the state, had enough signatures to qualify for the 2016 November ballot.
Arkansas Group Submits Signatures for Medical Marijuana Ballot Initiative
On June 20, 2016, Arkansans for Compassionate Care, a group pushing for a medical marijuana ballot initiative in the state of Arkansas, submitted signatures to the secretary of state’s office for approval.
MI Legalize Sues Michigan Over Petition Process
A group of activists are suing the state of Michigan in an attempt to get a voter initiative legalizing recreational marijuana on November’s ballot.
Proposed Ballot Initiative Would Ban More Than 80 Percent of Cannabis Products
BOULDER, Colo., June 9, 2016 /Weed Wire/ — A proposed initiative to install a new cannabis-related measure into the Colorado Constitution would effectively end Colorado’s successful first-in-the-nation effort to permit the sale of recreational cannabis to adults.
Nebraskans Abandon 2016 Medical Marijuana Ballot Initiative
Nebraska’s medical marijuana campaign has hit another major snag. On May 23, 2016, advocates pushing for medical marijuana in the state announced they would no longer be pursuing a 2016 ballot initiative due to prohibitive costs and not enough time.
Marijuana Group Erects Billboards in Arizona With Mother’s Day Message
In Arizona, marijuana advocates have erected a pair of billboards with a special message meant to coincide with Mother’s Day on May 8 and appeal to millennials.
Pine Tree High: Maine Marijuana Initiative Certified for Ballot
On April 27, 2016, Maine’s Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol announced that the organization’s legalization initiative has qualified for the November ballot.
Maine Legalization Movement Sees New Life
On April 12, 2016, Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap announced that he would not seek an appeal to a ruling that overturned his decision to invalidate a marijuana legalization ballot initiative.
Ohio Ballot Board Certifies Medical Marijuana Initiative
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio Ballot Board certified an initiative on Thursday that would establish a comprehensive medical marijuana program in Ohio.
California’s Lieutenant Governor Endorses Adult Use of Marijuana Act
On March 21, 2016, California Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom endorsed the legalization of recreational marijuana in the state.
Maine Marijuana Measure Fails to Qualify for November Ballot
A ballot initiative that would have legalized recreational marijuana in the state of Maine has failed to qualify for the 2016 November ballot.
MPP Releases Ohio Medical Marijuana Amendment Language
On March 1, 2016, the Marijuana Policy Project released the language for a constitutional ballot amendment that would legalize marijuana in the state of Ohio.
Arkansas Attorney General Approves Medical Marijuana Bill
In Arkansas, a constitutional ballot initiative legalizing medical marijuana in the state has cleared a critical milestone in the process to get on the 2016 ballot. On Feb. 17, Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge approved the language of the proposed initiative; dubbed the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment of 2016. According to KATV Little Rock, this is…
Legalization Initiative in Massachusetts Bolstered by Out-of-State Donors
With out-of-state contributions representing 44 percent of the amount raised in 2015 for the CRMLA in Massachusetts, sponsored by the Marijuana Policy Project, out-of-state parties could potentially influence the state’s legalization initiative.
Medical Marijuana Amendment Qualifies for Ballot in Florida
In Florida, a constitutional ballot initiative that would legalize medical marijuana in the state has officially garnered the number of signatures required to qualify for the 2016 ballot.
Boise Marijuana Protest Ends in Citation
On New Year’s Day, a small group of protestors staged a demonstration on the steps of Idaho’s Capitol building in Boise, ending in one citation. Leading the protest was Serra Frank, founder of the advocacy group Moms for Marijuana International.
Third Michigan Legalization Petition Joins the Fray
Michigan now has a third full adult use legalization initiative in the signature gathering phase: MILegalize, Michigan Cannabis Control and Revenue Act and the most recent contender, Abrogate Prohibition Michigan, the least restrictive of the three.
Florida Supreme Court Clears PUMM’s Initiative
Progress toward legal medical marijuana use in Florida took another step on Dec. 17, 2015, when the state’s supreme court issued an advisory opinion on the initiative petition on the subject.
Napster Co-Founder Backing New Legalization Initiative in California
On Nov. 2, 2015, proponents Michael Sutton and Donald Lyman filed the Control, Regulate, and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act with the Office of the Attorney General in the state of California’s Department of Justice.
Ohio Rejects Marijuana Legalization
On Nov. 3, 2015, Ohio voters overwhelmingly rejected Issue 3, a ballot initiative that would have legalized both recreational and medical marijuana.
Author & National Cannabis Pioneer Steve DeAngelo Weighs In On Sean Parker’s Move for Cannabis Legalization In California for 2016
OAKLAND, Calif., Nov. 3, 2015 /Weed Wire/ — California is roaring toward legalization efforts in 2016, and the field of initiatives submitted to the state is getting crowded. On Monday billionaire philanthropist Sean Parker, a known disrupter in the music and technology space, announced that he is backing initiative language filed Monday.
Wyoming Working Toward Medical Marijuana in 2016
Activists in the state of Wyoming have begun collecting signatures for a ballot initiative that would legalize medical marijuana.
ResponsibleOhio Meets Deadline for Signatures
On July 30, 2015, ResponsibleOhio submitted 95,572 signatures in an attempt to get its marijuana legalization ballot amendment to qualify for the 2015 election
Florida Medical Marijuana Movement Passes Milestone
The medical marijuana advocacy group United for Care has just passed a significant milestone in its pursuit to legalize medical marijuana in the state of Florida.
Marijuana Reform Measure Submitted in Massachusetts
As the 2016 election looms over our nation, dozens of marijuana groups are scrambling to get marijuana measures on their respective ballots.
At a Glance: Competing Marijuana Reform Efforts in California
In California, the race is on to legalize recreational marijuana in 2016. Multiple organizations are pushing for legalization, and the field is slowly becoming as crowded as the Republican field for presidential candidates.
Ohio House Passes Anti-Monopoly Bill
On June 24, 2015 the Ohio House of Representatives voted 81-12 to approve a bill aimed at thwarting a constitutional ballot initiative backed by the group ResponsibleOhio.