Latest news with #NORML
Forbes
2 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Trump Budget Drops Protections For State Medical Cannabis Programs
The White House budget request for 2026 omits language that has protected state-regulated medical ... More cannabis operators from federal prosecution for more than decade. The Trump administration's budget request for the 2026 fiscal year drops provisions that have protected state medical cannabis programs for more than a decade, online cannabis news outlet Marijuana Moment reported on Monday. The budget provision has blocked federal law enforcement agencies from spending resources to investigate or prosecute businesses operating in compliance with state-authorized medical cannabis programs, despite the continued prohibition of marijuana under federal law. 'This provision, which has been in place since 2014, protects patients, caregivers, and medical cannabis providers in the 39 states that have legalized medical access from federal interference or criminal prosecution,' the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) wrote in a statement. 'Prior to the passage of this protection, federal prosecutors routinely took actions against patients and dispensaries in legal states.' The budget restriction was first adopted by Congress in 2014 and has been included in the federal budget every year since. But the Trump administration's budget request for the 2026 fiscal year released last week does not include the language. Similarly, the budget requests for each of the four years of President Donald Trump's first term omitted the protections for state-regulated medical cannabis operators. The administration of President Barack Obama also left the language prohibiting federal interference with regulated medical marijuana businesses out its budget requests following the initial adoption of the provisions. By contrast, the administration budget requests for all fours years of Joseph Biden's presidency included the protections for state-legal medical marijuana businesses. While the budget request illustrates the Trump administration's spending policies and priorities, Congress has the constitutional responsibility and authority for appropriations legislation. The congressional budget has included the language every year since 2014, despite attempts by both Democratic and Republican administrations to drop the provision. 'Today, more than half the country, including 36 states and Washington, D.C., have embraced medical marijuana, and for the past 10 years, the Rohrabacher-Farr Amendment has prevented the Department of Justice from using federal funds to stop states from implementing their medical marijuana programs,' Laura A. Bianchi, co-founding partner of the cannabis and psychedelics law firm Bianchi and Brandt, writes in an email. 'Rolling back these protections would mark a significant setback for marijuana reform. Ultimately, Congress will have the final say, and the industry remains hopeful that they will uphold these vital safeguards.' When Trump signed previous appropriations bill including the protections for medical cannabis operators after requesting they be removed, his administration issued a statement that it 'will treat this provision consistent with the President's constitutional responsibility to faithfully execute the laws of the United States.' The statement, which was issued on three separate occasions, was widely interpreted to suggest that the Trump administration might ignore the budget restriction. The omission of the protections for state-legal medical cannabis programs in the Trump administration's 2026 budget request is likely to disappoint supporters of cannabis policy reform who were encouraged by the president's apparent support for decriminalizing marijuana during the 2024 election campaign. In September, Trump suggested he supported reclassifying marijuana under federal drug laws and that he would back state efforts to legalize recreational cannabis. 'As President, we will continue to focus on research to unlock the medical uses of marijuana to a Schedule 3 drug, and work with Congress to pass common sense laws, including safe banking for state authorized companies, and supporting states rights to pass marijuana laws, like in Florida, that work so well for their citizens,' Trump wrote on Truth Social, according to a report from Marijuana Moment.
Indianapolis Star
28-04-2025
- Indianapolis Star
Scavenger hunt turned manhunt? Police say a man hid Easter eggs with weed in city parks
Texas police are searching for a man who they say hid plastic eggs full of marijuana in parks as part of a scavenger hunt, and offered clues to people who bought drugs from him the day of the event. The man, 23-year-old Avante Nicholson, posted about the eggs on Facebook, almost like he was hosting a 'scavenger hunt,' police said in a news release. The eggs were allegedly hidden on April 20 in three city parks and a motel in Lufkin, about 133 miles northeast of Houston. He also said those who bought drugs from him that day would get clues on how to find the eggs, police said. Police have issued four felony warrants for Nicholson's arrest: three for delivery of marijuana in a drug-free zone, and one for the delivery of marijuana. Man teased scavenger hunt clues Police said someone called in a tip about Facebook posts Nicholson allegedly made. Officers found eggs in Morris Frank, Winston and Grace Dunn Richardson parks, as well as one behind a Motel 6. According to police, Nicholson allegedly posted a photo of five plastic eggs inside a vehicle, as well as photos containing hints as to where participants could find the eggs. According to police, they found four eggs and the next day, a man and his granddaughter at Winston Park found a fifth egg and took it to the police station. Police searched the Facebook page that posted the clues, then confirmed it belonged to Nicholson. They also saw references on his page to selling narcotics, as well as posts that said customers who 'shopped' with him the day of the scavenger hunt would get clues about the eggs. Police said the eggs contained more than a quarter of an ounce of marijuana. What are the marijuana laws in Texas? According to the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), Texas marijuana laws are as follows: Sale or delivery of 7 grams of marijuana or less (as a gift) - Misdemeanor punishable by up to 180 days imprisonment and fines up to $2,000. Sale or delivery of 7 grams of marijuana or less - Misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment of up to 1 year and fines up to $4,000. Sale or delivery of between 7 grams and 5 pounds of marijuana - Felony punishable by a mandatory minimum sentence of 180 days imprisonment, a maximum of two years imprisonment, and fines up to $10,000. Sentences go up from there, according to the organization. Police still looking for Nicholson 'Incidents like this are a reminder of why (we) take seriously all information called into our offices,' Lufkin Police Chief David Thomas said in the news release. 'The safety of our community is at the forefront of everything we do. And in cases such as this, when it endangers children, we are even more vigilant.' Police ask that anyone with information about Nicholson's whereabouts contact CrimeStoppers at (936) 639-8477, or at
USA Today
28-04-2025
- USA Today
Scavenger hunt turned manhunt? Police say a man hid Easter eggs with weed in city parks
Scavenger hunt turned manhunt? Police say a man hid Easter eggs with weed in city parks Texas police are searching for a man who they say hid plastic eggs full of marijuana in parks as part of a scavenger hunt, and offered clues to people who bought drugs from him the day of the event. The man, 23-year-old Avante Nicholson, posted about the eggs on Facebook, almost like he was hosting a 'scavenger hunt,' police said in a news release. The eggs were allegedly hidden on April 20 in three city parks and a motel in Lufkin, about 133 miles northeast of Houston. He also said those who bought drugs from him that day would get clues on how to find the eggs, police said. Police have issued four felony warrants for Nicholson's arrest: three for delivery of marijuana in a drug-free zone, and one for the delivery of marijuana. Man teased scavenger hunt clues Police said someone called in a tip about Facebook posts Nicholson allegedly made. Officers found eggs in Morris Frank, Winston and Grace Dunn Richardson parks, as well as one behind a Motel 6. According to police, Nicholson allegedly posted a photo of five plastic eggs inside a vehicle, as well as photos containing hints as to where participants could find the eggs. According to police, they found four eggs and the next day, a man and his granddaughter at Winston Park found a fifth egg and took it to the police station. Police searched the Facebook page that posted the clues, then confirmed it belonged to Nicholson. They also saw references on his page to selling narcotics, as well as posts that said customers who 'shopped' with him the day of the scavenger hunt would get clues about the eggs. Police said the eggs contained more than a quarter of an ounce of marijuana. According to the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), Texas marijuana laws are as follows: Sale or delivery of 7 grams of marijuana or less (as a gift) - Misdemeanor punishable by up to 180 days imprisonment and fines up to $2,000. Sale or delivery of 7 grams of marijuana or less - Misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment of up to 1 year and fines up to $4,000. Sale or delivery of between 7 grams and 5 pounds of marijuana - Felony punishable by a mandatory minimum sentence of 180 days imprisonment, a maximum of two years imprisonment, and fines up to $10,000. Sentences go up from there, according to the organization. 'Incidents like this are a reminder of why (we) take seriously all information called into our offices,' Lufkin Police Chief David Thomas said in the news release. 'The safety of our community is at the forefront of everything we do. And in cases such as this, when it endangers children, we are even more vigilant.' Police ask that anyone with information about Nicholson's whereabouts contact CrimeStoppers at (936) 639-8477, or at Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Where do efforts to legalize, reschedule marijuana stand?
(NEXSTAR) — It's been nearly two years since the Department of Health and Human Services recommended the Drug Enforcement Administration reschedule marijuana in the U.S. That process has, however, stalled after the proceedings were put on pause in January. Despite the pause, some hoped the then-incoming administration could get the ball rolling again after President Donald Trump expressed support for marijuana legalization on the campaign trail. Less than 100 days into Trump's term, that hasn't happened. Efforts throughout the country to legalize marijuana, however, haven't slowed down. Here's what to know. Marijuana may still be rescheduled from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule III drug. The process has historically played out over years and even decades, Paul Armentano, the deputy director for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), told Nexstar. Can TSA stop you for marijuana in your luggage? In 1972, NORML petitioned the DEA — then the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs — to make cannabis a Schedule II drug. It wasn't until 1988 that a DEA law judge issued an opinion, which recommended cannabis be rescheduled. Two years later, the DEA rejected the decision. Following rounds of litigation, the petition ultimately died in 1994, more than two decades after it had been filed. There have been other attempts since, all taking roughly four to eight years to be resolved, Armentano said. That makes the current delay 'not surprising at all,' he added. What could get the case going again is Trump, Heather Trela, director of operations and fellow at the Rockefeller Institute. Trela's research is focused primarily on marijuana policy. If marijuana is rescheduled, will it be legalized nationwide? 'If President Trump made this a priority, I think this would move,' she explained, noting, however, that this does not appear to be one of his biggest priorities early in his administration. Armentano and Trela pointed to those Trump has appointed to lead key agencies don't have much of an appetite for taking up marijuana issues. 'I would have told you 25, 30 years ago that you would never have a situation where 39 states have legalized the use of medical marijuana and 24 states have legalized adult use of marijuana, in flagrant contradiction of federal law,' Armentano said. He pointed to a similar situation in the U.S.'s history: Prohibition. As Armentano explained, amid an 'unpopular' federal policy, states began defying the ban on alcohol. Ultimately, the federal government turned the decision over to the states while stepping in regarding aspects like taxation, advertising, and interstate commerce. A bill introduced in the House on Thursday could do just that, Lauren Daly, interim executive director for the Marijuana Policy Project, told Nexstar. The bipartisan STATES 2.0 Act would 'end the federal prohibition of cannabis and allow states to determine their own cannabis policies.' Bigger Social Security payments going out this month: Do you qualify? 'With 24 states that have already enacted adult-use legalization laws, it's long past time for Congress to move forward with federal cannabis reform,' Daly said. A national move to legalize marijuana may be further down the road, Trela suggested, depending on 'what else is going on in politics.' 'If we're facing other issues that are bigger and more immediate, I think some of this legalization is going to be pushed more to the side,' she explained. Other bills introduced in Congress thus far have called for the prohibition of tax deductions or credits for marijuana businesses to continue, regardless of whether it is rescheduled. No actions have been taken on those pieces of legislation. More than three dozen states have legalized some form of medical marijuana already. Nearly half have legalized it for recreational use among adults. This has all happened since 2010, marking 'a fairly amazing political achievement' for such a short period of time, according to Armentano, reflecting an increasingly positive opinion on cannabis. Four states had marijuana-related legislation on the ballot in November. In addition to Florida, voters in South Dakota, North Dakota, and Nebraska had a marijuana-related question on the ballot. Only Nebraska saw the measures pass. 'I would say success [for marijuana legalization] has slowed, but efforts have not slowed down,' Trela said. NORML is tracking over 120 pieces of state level marijuana-related legislation, Armentano noted. Hertz says some customers' personal info exposed in breach Meanwhile, some states that have already legalized marijuana are seeing efforts to roll back voter-approved laws or repeal them. That includes Ohio, where some have been trying to rewrite the recreational marijuana law voters approved two years ago. Other states are making adjustments to aspects of the law, like lowering legal potency levels, Trela said. In some cases, like Virginia, lawmakers have been unable to pass a sales bill, so while possessing cannabis is legal, there is nowhere in the state to legally purchase it. 'We're contending with a perception that many have that legalization is inevitable, but we still have a lot of work ahead of us,' Daly said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
20-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Where do efforts to legalize, reschedule marijuana stand?
(NEXSTAR) — It's been nearly two years since the Department of Health and Human Services recommended the Drug Enforcement Administration reschedule marijuana in the U.S. That process has, however, stalled after the proceedings were put on pause in January. Despite the pause, some hoped the then-incoming administration could get the ball rolling again after President Donald Trump expressed support for marijuana legalization on the campaign trail. Less than 100 days into Trump's term, that hasn't happened. Efforts throughout the country to legalize marijuana, however, haven't slowed down. Here's what to know. Will marijuana be rescheduled? Marijuana may still be rescheduled from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule III drug. The process has historically played out over years and even decades, Paul Armentano, the deputy director for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), told Nexstar. Can TSA stop you for marijuana in your luggage? In 1972, NORML petitioned the DEA — then the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs — to make cannabis a Schedule II drug. It wasn't until 1988 that a DEA law judge issued an opinion, which recommended cannabis be rescheduled. Two years later, the DEA rejected the decision. Following rounds of litigation, the petition ultimately died in 1994, more than two decades after it had been filed. There have been other attempts since, all taking roughly four to eight years to be resolved, Armentano said. That makes the current delay 'not surprising at all,' he added. What could get the case going again is Trump, Heather Trela, director of operations and fellow at the Rockefeller Institute. Trela's research is focused primarily on marijuana policy. If marijuana is rescheduled, will it be legalized nationwide? 'If President Trump made this a priority, I think this would move,' she explained, noting, however, that this does not appear to be one of his biggest priorities early in his administration. Armentano and Trela pointed to those Trump has appointed to lead key agencies don't have much of an appetite for taking up marijuana issues. What's the future of marijuana legalization, rescheduling? 'I would have told you 25, 30 years ago that you would never have a situation where 39 states have legalized the use of medical marijuana and 24 states have legalized adult use of marijuana, in flagrant contradiction of federal law,' Armentano said. He pointed to a similar situation in the U.S.'s history: Prohibition. As Armentano explained, amid an 'unpopular' federal policy, states began defying the ban on alcohol. Ultimately, the federal government turned the decision over to the states while stepping in regarding aspects like taxation, advertising, and interstate commerce. A bill introduced in the House on Thursday could do just that, Lauren Daly, interim executive director for the Marijuana Policy Project, told Nexstar. The bipartisan STATES 2.0 Act would 'end the federal prohibition of cannabis and allow states to determine their own cannabis policies.' Bigger Social Security payments going out this month: Do you qualify? 'With 24 states that have already enacted adult-use legalization laws, it's long past time for Congress to move forward with federal cannabis reform,' Daly said. A national move to legalize marijuana may be further down the road, Trela suggested, depending on 'what else is going on in politics.' 'If we're facing other issues that are bigger and more immediate, I think some of this legalization is going to be pushed more to the side,' she explained. Other bills introduced in Congress thus far have called for the prohibition of tax deductions or credits for marijuana businesses to continue, regardless of whether it is rescheduled. No actions have been taken on those pieces of legislation. Where do state legalization efforts stand? More than three dozen states have legalized some form of medical marijuana already. Nearly half have legalized it for recreational use among adults. This has all happened since 2010, marking 'a fairly amazing political achievement' for such a short period of time, according to Armentano, reflecting an increasingly positive opinion on cannabis. Four states had marijuana-related legislation on the ballot in November. In addition to Florida, voters in South Dakota, North Dakota, and Nebraska had a marijuana-related question on the ballot. Only Nebraska saw the measures pass. 'I would say success [for marijuana legalization] has slowed, but efforts have not slowed down,' Trela said. NORML is tracking over 120 pieces of state level marijuana-related legislation, Armentano noted. Meanwhile, some states that have already legalized marijuana are seeing efforts to roll back voter-approved laws or repeal them. That includes Ohio, where some have been trying to rewrite the recreational marijuana law voters approved two years ago. Other states are making adjustments to aspects of the law, like lowering legal potency levels, Trela said. In some cases, like Virginia, lawmakers have been unable to pass a sales bill, so while possessing cannabis is legal, there is nowhere in the state to legally purchase it. 'We're contending with a perception that many have that legalization is inevitable, but we still have a lot of work ahead of us,' Daly said.
