Category: Outlaw Report
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Virginia Bill Would Let Communities Opt Out of Cannabis Legalization
As Virginia’s 2021 cannabis legislation evolves and advances, one delegate sponsors a bill that would allow localities to opt out of legalization, potentially establishing a regulatory patchwork across the Commonwealth. HB 2315’s sole sponsor is Del. Daniel Marshall, a Republican from Virginia’s 14th District. Some advocates say allowing individual localities to opt out of legalization…
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Quick Hit: The Outlaw Report Turns One Year Old
Allow us all to boast a little bit: The Outlaw Report has been at it for a full year now. Across more than 50 newsletters, plenty of podcasts, and quite a few of these pithy quick hits (and probably to some readers, a little too many Andy Harris jokes), myself and our small, scrappy team…
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Legalization Must Accommodate the Illicit Cannabis Market, Advocates Say
The Maryland General Assembly is inevitably going to legalize cannabis possession and sales for adult-use, whether it be this year or next, and lawmakers will begin developing regulations for Maryland’s portion of a young, complicated and fragmented industry with an especially resilient illicit market. The pros to legalization—additional tax revenue, reducing the incarcerated population, preserving…
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Senate Democrats Announce Plans To Legalize Cannabis
On Monday Feb. 1, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senators Cory Booker and Ron Wyden announced that they would soon be releasing “a draft discussion bill outlining how best to legalize and regulate cannabis and cannabis commerce in a post-prohibition America.” The announcement arrived months after the House voted on the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment…
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Maryland General Assembly Will Consider Multiple Cannabis Bills in 2021
The General Assembly will consider passing a number of cannabis-related bills in 2021, that would further reduce the prosecution of individuals for cannabis use in the workplace or the justice system, including outright legalization. Despite the majority of Marylanders being in support of legal cannabis, it may be difficult for the legislature to establish an…
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Virginia Cannabis Debates: Summer Legalization and Equity Loopholes
As Virginia’s cannabis legislation moves through the 2021 General Assembly, lawmakers debate a legalization timeframe, and advocates call for stronger equity provisions. A delay of legalization until 2024 has been proposed in order to provide time to create a regulatory body and marketplace. On Jan. 26, Jenn Michelle Pedini, Virginia NORML executive director and NORML…
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Quick Hit: MMCC Debates Maryland Cannabis Legalization Bill
A fascinating debate about the future of cannabis in Maryland popped-up in the middle of last week’s Maryland Medicinal Cannabis Commission (MMCC) meeting. Director of the Office of Policy and Government Affairs Taylor Kasky highlighted a number of particularly notable cannabis bills introduced this legislative session (Kasky noted that in total there are about 35…
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The Virginia Cannabis Bills in Play in 2021
A cannabis legalization bill introduced by Governor Northam and top state Democrats is moving through the statehouse, along with a handful of other proposed cannabis bills in the 2021 Virginia General Assembly Session. The legislation deals with a wide range of topics including cannabis oil processing, taxing the new market, and record expungement. Northam’s recent…
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Quick Hit: Anti-Cannabis Andy Harris Brought a Gun Into the Capitol Last Week?
On Thursday Jan. 21, the day after President Joe Biden’s inauguration, Maryland Representative Andy Harris—who as we’re saying here at The Outlaw Report just about every week, is the main reason why there’s no regulated, commercial cannabis in Washington D.C.—set off the Capitol building metal detector because he had a gun on him. According to…
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Episode 13: What’s Next for Cannabis Reform in the DMV?
For the Season One finale, Scott and Brandon reflect on cannabis reform in 2020 and the recent coup attempt at the Capitol. They go on to discuss what’s next for cannabis reform in 2021 in the DMV, including the implications of potential DC statehood and the legalization bills working their ways through the legislatures in…
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Maryland General Assembly Considers Decriminalizing An Ounce Of Cannabis…Again
Last week the Maryland General Assembly held hearings in both the House and Senate to discuss increasing the amount of cannabis decriminalized for personal use from 10 grams to one ounce (26 grams). The House of Delegates passed this measure in 2020 as HB 550 but did not send the legislation to the Senate in…
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Clemency For 12 Cannabis Prisoners Thanks To Trump’s Last-Minute Pardons
President Donald Trump’s last-minute pardons of 143 people included 12 people currently or formerly incarcerated for cannabis. Primarily of course, the pardons made news for the numerous Trump associates who received clemency (such as Steve Bannon) and for the pop culture oddballs who did not receive clemency (such as Tiger King’s Joe Exotic)—all of which…