Author: News Room

Once upon a time, Aleister Crowley tipped off a zealous decency society in Britain to the “conspicuous signs of prostitution” he’d observed in a tiny Scots town. Considering the source, Crowley himself, to be unimpeachable on such matters, the horrified do-gooders dispatched a morality squad to the spot, at considerable expense. When they presently reported no evidence at all of any such thing, Crowley explained, “It is conspicuous by its absence, fools.” This is not to say Crowley was entirely sane. After his first wife, whom he called the Ape of Thoth, went wholly crazy, he would hang her by…

The Minnesota Senate is holding a vote on final passage of a marijuana legalization bill—one day after the House signed off on the legislation. Friday’s action is the last step before the reform is sent to the governor’s desk to be signed into law. The 320-page measure from Rep. Zack Stephenson (D) and Sen. Lindsey Port (D) was finalized in a bicameral conference committee meeting on Monday before being sent back to the House and Senate, which had both previously passed differing versions of legalization bills, for reapproval. Watch the Senate take up the cannabis legalization bill in the video…

The governor of Minnesota has signed large-scale legislation that includes provisions to legalize drug paraphernalia possession, syringe services, residue and testing. As lawmakers prepare for a final vote on a separate marijuana legalization bill, Gov. Tim Walz (D) signed off on the criminal justice and public safety omnibus bill with harm reduction components on Friday. Effective August 1, the measure removes language from code that has criminalized the possession and delivery of drug paraphernalia. As revised, the new law only says that it is “unlawful for any person to intentionally manufacture drug paraphernalia for delivery,” omitting the previous possession language…

The governor of Maryland has signed a bill to make it so the lawful and responsible use of marijuana by parents and guardians will not be construed by state officials as child “neglect.” Gov. Wes Moore (D) gave final approval to the legislation from Sen. Jill Carter (D) and Del. Nicole Williams (D) on Tuesday. It will take effect starting on July 1, which is also when the state’s legalization law goes into force and retail sales could begin. After voters approved a legalization referendum at the ballot last year, lawmakers passed a bill to enact regulations for a commercial…

“The constitutionally protected right of the Legislative Branch to override a veto cannot be circumvented by the Executive Branch attempting to find a constitutional loophole.” By Blair Miller, Daily Montanan A bipartisan group of lawmakers including the two minority leaders and Sen. Mike Lang (R) is disputing the determination from the Legislative Services Division that lawmakers are unable to conduct a poll to try to override the governor’s veto of Senate Bill 442 because of the timing of the veto and the Senate’s adjournment. In the more than two weeks since the dramatic final day of the legislative session, the lawmakers who supported Lang’s…

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) again took to the floor to reiterate the “critical” importance of adding criminal justice reform provisions such as expungements to a bipartisan marijuana banking bill. In a speech about recent legislative accomplishments on Thursday, Schumer noted the reintroduction of the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act, which would “enable cannabis businesses to access critical banking infrastructure.” “Just last week, the [Senate Banking Committee] held its first hearing on this legislation,” he said. “And I will also work to make sure we include critical criminal justice provisions to SAFE Banking.” Watch Schumer discuss the…

“​​I was not trying to pass a law that says you can be stoned at work because that’s crazy.” By Piper Hutchinson, Louisiana Illuminator The Louisiana House Labor Committee advanced a bill Thursday that would protect employees who use medical marijuana from being disqualified from receiving unemployment benefits. House Bill 351, sponsored by Rep. Mandie Landry, D-New Orleans, barely passed the committee on a 6-5 vote, with several committee members agreeing to support the bill based on Landry’s promise to work out a compromise with the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI). Landry said she brought the bill because…

As states continue to legalize marijuana, it is “crucial” that cannabis products are regulated, a top federal health official says. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Director Nora Volkow said that while it might be “ideal” if states slowed down on enacting reform, the fact is that “states are legalizing it,” and “what we need to understand right now is what is it that we can do to minimize harmful effects.” “That means, among other things, regulating the products that are being sold [and] educating the public about the adverse effects,” Volkow told Fox News on Wednesday. “I think that…

The Minnesota House of Representatives is holding its final vote on a marijuana legalization bill that was recently completed in a conference committee. If approved, the measure will head to the Senate for one more vote before it hits the governor’s desk. Thursday’s House action comes just two days days after the lead sponsor of the legislation, Rep. Zack Stephenson (D), signed off on the 320-page conference report that was processed by non-partisan legislative staff following the final meeting of bicameral negotiators on Tuesday. 👀 https://t.co/fqUs8DV3zw — Minnesota House DFL Majority (@mnhouseDFL) May 18, 2023 Following House passage, the Senate…

A coalition of marijuana advocacy groups is asking that a bipartisan marijuana banking bill be expanded to include provisions ensuring that cannabis businesses have access to all forms of financial services—including the ability to be listed on senior U.S. stock exchanges. In a letter sent to Senate Banking Committee leadership on Thursday, the coalition SAFE Banking for Equity said that it appreciates that the panel is “treating this issue with the urgency it demands” by holding a hearing focused on cannabis industry financial barriers last week. But the groups—which include California Minority Alliance, Minorities for Medical Marijuana, Women Grow and…