MARIJUANA MOMENT: TOP THINGS TO KNOW

MARIJUANA MOMENT: / TOP THINGS TO KNOW

Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) filed a bill to shield state marijuana laws from federal intervention.

Three Texas House committees held hearings on 11 separate bills concerning marijuana and hemp.

The district attorneys in Los Angeles County and San Joaquin County, Californiaannounced that they will use Code for America's tech to automatically expunge past marijuana convictions for tens of thousands of people.

A study found that marijuana use increases the likelihood of intimate partner experiences. / FEDERAL Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), a presidential candidate, spoke about racial disparities in marijuana law enforcement. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) spoke about how he worked with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) on hemp legalization. Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) tweeted, "We have never been closer to ending the archaic and counterproductive federal prohibition on marijuana than we are right now." Former Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R-FL)tweeted that recently enacted bipartisan sentencing reform legislation is "a model for other policy areas like the environment, immigration, the debt, cannabis reform, etc. This is something every American should celebrate." The Senate bill to require the Department of Veterans Affairs to study medical cannabis got one new cosponsor, for a total of four.

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New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) signed a hemp hill into law. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) said the legislature "will get marijuana done." He also spokeabout his personal evolution on the issue. The Iowa Senate passed legislation to lower the penalties for possessing small amounts of marijuana. The Montana Senate approved a bill to increase medical cannabis taxes. The Idaho Senate passed a hemp legalization bill. Oklahoma House and Senate committees approve hemp legislation. New Jersey regulators released a report arguing that the state needs more medical cannabis dispensaries to serve patient needs. Meanwhile, the state Senate president is opposedto expanding medical marijuana without it being attached to a broader legalization bill. Michigan regulators are seeking more participants for marijuana stakeholder work groups. Arkansas lawmakers filed a marijuana decriminalization bill. / MARIJUANA BILL TRACKING Marijuana Moment's Legislative Tracking Tools are already watching 999 cannabis bills in state legislatures and Congress for 2019 sessions. At least 17 marijuana bills are scheduled for committee hearings on Tuesday. In all of 2018, we tracked 915 pieces of marijuana-related legislation as they progressed through state capitols and on Capitol Hill. SUPPORT THE -- "MARIJUANA MOMENT" -- THROUGH PATREON