Tagged: lawmaker

Florida to Vote on Marijuana Legalization

Florida’s voters are embarking on the most crucial election of their lives — voting for or against the use of medically-authorized marijuana. That marijuana can be fully taxed and regulated, as with alcohol and tobacco, is a good choice for our state’s lawmakers to make.

Jeb Bush and most conservative politicians, of course, will resort to the think-of-the-children approach by attacking marijuana users and even seriously ill patients. It’s unsurprising that more than 80 percent of residents in Florida are overwhelmingly supporting the legalization of marijuana, while 10 percent oppose it.

Can Congress part ways with its narrow-mindedness and support legalization of marijuana for a better country?

Source: Sun Sentinel

N.H. lawmaker admits threatening student who wrote pro-weed email

A New Hampshire Republican lawmaker lashed out at a college student who wrote to urge him to reconsider his position on marijuana legalization.

The state House of Representatives passed a bill earlier this month that would allow New Hampshire to join Colorado and Washington in legalizing marijuana use, but it’s expected to face a tough fight in the state Senate.

The student asked Sen. Andy Sanborn (R) to be more responsive to his constituents, but he probably didn’t expect the prickly response he got.

Senator Sanborn threatening to jeopardize the student’s scholarship (via email):

I’m thinking if I call the [organization you received a scholarship from] and ask their opinion on legalization, they may have a different opinion (not to mention may be asking you for their scholarship money back…)

Read more at The Raw Story: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/01/27/exclusive-new-hampshire-lawmaker-admits-lashing-out-at-student-who-wrote-pro-pot-email/

New Jersey Considers Full Legalization

New Jersey state Senator Nicholas Scutari (D-Union) said last week he is planning to introduce a bill in the next month that will fully legalize marijuana in the state, much like it is in Colorado.

There are currently three medical marijuana dispensaries operating in New Jersey. The state legislature legalized cannabis to treat certain medical conditions in 2010. But advocates and some lawmakers have criticized the program for moving too slowly.

Scutari’s bill, by contrast, would allow marijuana to be sold to adults over age 21 for recreational or medical purposes. The lawmaker, who heads the state’s Senate Judiciary Committee, told The Wall Street Journal that he was modeling the legislation on Colorado’s law.

Scutari said his intention in crafting the law was to save valuable resources and to generate more money for the state. “Legalizing, regulating and taxing marijuana will generate revenue in the state while saving millions of dollars spent each year on law enforcement,” he told local radio station WCBS 880.

A recent poll in New Jersey, however, found that a majority of state residents (59%) were in favor of lifting the prohibition of cannabis so that the state could regulate and tax it.

New Mexico Lawmaker Introduces Bill Legalizing Recreational Marijuana

A New Mexico lawmaker has introduced a bill that would legalize recreational marijuana in the southwestern state.

State Senator Gerald Ortiz y Pino (D-Albuquerque) on Thursday introduced SJR 10, which would amend the state constitution to allow New Mexico to regulate the production, sale and taxation of cannabis. It would also legalize possession and personal use for residents 21 years of age and older.

“If it gets on the ballot, I think we have a good chance,” Oritz y Pino said of the legislation prior to its introduction.