Decriminalization

Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed a drug reform bill that will re-classify nearly all drug possession charges from a felony to a misdemeanor.

Oregon activists have launched a campaign to decriminalize all drug possession in an effort to reduce unfairly harsh prison sentences and increase addiction treatment possibilities.

Virginia lawmakers have approved broad cannabis decriminalization legislation; lawmakers there, however, have no intention of addressing adult-use legalization in this session.

Former vice president and current Democratic presidential candidate said in a recording that cannabis is “at the point where it has to be, basically, legalized.”

The Austin, Texas City Council has approved a resolution that blocks police from using city funds on lab tests for low-level cannabis possession cases, effectively decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of cannabis.

A cannabis decriminalization bill has been introduced in Tennessee; the proposal would also allow counties to individually legalize adult-use cannabis.

The three new bills address cannabis decriminalization and creating a path forward for CBD & smokable hemp products.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has started a push for statewide cannabis decriminalization, even as lawmakers are positioning to put the legalization question to voters next year.

Wisconsin lawmakers are pushing to decriminalize up to an ounce of cannabis and expunge criminal cannabis possession records for up to 28 grams. Their proposal would also ban police from vehicle searches based only on the smell of cannabis.

Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring said in a tweet last week that it is time for Virginia to “move toward legal, regulated adult use” cannabis. 61 percent of Virginians support legalization.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has signed a bill into law that establishes an expungement process for low-level criminal charges and expands the state’s existing decriminalization rules.

Democratic Rep. Jerry Nadler and Sen. Kamala Harris are introducing a federal cannabis reform bill called the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act to both decriminalize cannabis and set up the expungement of prior cannabis convictions.

A cannabis decriminalization law in Hawaii has taken effect without Gov. David Ige’s signature; the governor, however, vetoed a bill allowing patients to transport medical cannabis products between islands and another bill that would have made permanent the state’s hemp program.

New York lawmakers, after failing to adopt adult-use legalization this session, have approved legislation expanding cannabis decriminalization in the state and establishing a framework for the automatic expungement of low-level cannabis convictions.

The last-minute efforts to legalize or decriminalize adult-use cannabis in New York before the legislature adjourns for the year have failed; lawmakers will have to pursue the issue again next year.

Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring called for the decriminalization of cannabis in an op-ed published on Saturday, arguing that prohibition is “needlessly creating criminals.”

Cincinnati will become the fourth municipality in Ohio to decriminalize cannabis possession, following Dayton, Toledo, and Norwood.

New Jersey Senate President Stephen Sweeney says he’s skeptical of a proposal to decriminalize cannabis possession in the state, saying he would rather pass a statewide legalization law.

Denver voters have passed a city initiative decriminalizing the adult possession and use of psilocybin (a.k.a. psychedelic) mushrooms. It is the first successful initiative of its kind in the U.S.

The new District Attorney for Dallas County, Texas says he will no longer prosecute low-level cannabis crimes for first-time offenders.

Connecticut lawmakers have advanced three cannabis bills out of committee: one to allow possession and expunge low-level possession charges, one establishing a regulated marketplace, and one to ensure employers can bar cannabis use from the workplace and to create a DUI test for cannabis.

Recent changes to New Mexico’s medical cannabis rules could potentially grant access to inmates throughout the state.

New rules in New Mexico will remove some criminal penalties for cannabis possession while another new law offers critical changes to the state’s medical cannabis program.