Activism Archives - TheJointBlog

Enough Signatures Collected to Put Cannabis Legalization to a Vote in 10 Michigan Cities, 1 County

April 2, 2014April 2, 2014

Advocates have collected enough signatures to put the legalization of recreational cannabis to a vote this year in 10 Michigan cities as well as a county.

“That state of Michigan is ripe for change,” says Tim Beck, co-founder of the Safer Michigan Coalition, the organization behind the initiative drives.

Oak Park, Hazel Park, Utica, Lapeer, Port Huron, Onaway, Harrison Township, East Lansing, Saginaw, Mount Pleasant and Benzie County are the jurisdictions in which enough signatures have been collected to put cannabis legalization to a vote, according to Beck.

Oklahoma Activists Plan Cannabis Legalization Rally and Lobby Day at State Capitol

February 11, 2014February 11, 2014

Advocates of cannabis legalization will gather at the Oklahoma State Capitol tomorrow at 9 A.M. to begin a full day of rallying and lobbying, in an effort to change strict anti-cannabis laws in the state, and to encourage legislators to support Senate Bill 2116 (a measure recently filed to legalize recreational cannabis for those over 21).

Oklahoma N.O.R.M.L. will be hosting a training session in Room 104 designed to inform citizens on the most effective way to lobby their lawmakers, and how to follow important bills through the legislature. The session will begin at 10 A.M., and will be located in Room 104.

Alaskans To Vote On Cannabis Legalization This August

February 27, 2014February 4, 2014

Residents of the State of Alaska will be voting on cannabis legalization this year. This morning, the Alaska Division of Elections announced that more than 31,593 valid signatures have been submitted for the legalization initiative run by the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana, confirming it will have a spot on the ballot in the next election.

Campaigners were required to reach a goal of 30,000 valid signatures on the initiative, gathered from at least 30 out of 40 House districts. 46,000 were turned in total, granting enough leeway to compensate for illegible or invalid signatures. State officials are still counting, with roughly 5,000 signatures left to go, after which the initiative will go to the Lieutenant Governor to sign off on, to certify its acceptance.

Proposal to Protect Medical Cannabis Filed in Washington

January 15, 2014January 14, 2014

A legislative proposal to protect medical cannabis patients and collectives in Washington has been filed in the state’s House of Representatives, according to the nonprofit organization Sensible Washington.

Under the proposed law – House Bill 2233 – medical cannabis patients would finally receive defined arrest protection, as would medical cannabis collectives who receive a simple business license from the state. The measure was formulated by Sensible Washington in conjunction with Americans for Safe Access.

End Marijuana Prohibition Demonstration in Phoenix Arizona

January 13, 2014January 12, 2014

By Steve Muratore, Safer Arizona

Cannabis activists working to put the Safer Arizona citizens initiative, to legalize marijuana possession and use, on the 2014 general election ballot will gather at the Arizona State Capitol for an “End Marijuana Prohibition Demonstration,” on Monday, January 13, 2014 from 9 am until 11 am.

Alaska Advocates Submit Enough Signatures to Put Cannabis Legalization to a Vote This August

January 11, 2014January 8, 2014

An organization aiming to put a cannabis legalization initiative on this August’s ballot in Alaska has submitted more than 46,000 signatures to the state’s election office today; 30,000 are required to put the proposal to a vote.

“It’s clear that Alaskans are eager to have an opportunity to express their displeasure with the current system and make a change,” says Tim Hinterberger, a professor in the School of Medical Education at the University of Alaska Anchorage, and the lead sponsor of the initiative.

Campaigners Near 1 Million Signature Mark for Florida Medical Cannabis Initiative

January 10, 2014January 5, 2014

Campaigners have gathered nearly 1 million signatures for an initiative to legalize medical cannabis in the State of Florida, according to Ben Pollara, Campaign Director for United for Care, the nonprofit organization behind the proposal. The organization has until February 1st to submit roughly 683,000 signatures from registered Florida voters.

If the initiative – which would be put to a vote this November – is approved into law, the possession and use of cannabis will become legal for qualifying individuals who receive a license from the Department of Health, with the prerequisite being a recommendation from a licensed physician.

Advocates in Florida Gather Enough Signatures to Put Medical Cannabis Legalization to a Vote

January 19, 2014December 26, 2013

The nonprofit organization United for Care has garnered enough signatures to put their medical cannabis legalization initiative to a vote of the people in 2014. In total, roughly 800,000 signatures have been collected, with 683,149 required to put the initiative to a vote. However, given that some of those 800,000 signatures may not be valid (from someone who isn’t a registered voter, for example), the group will continue to collect signatures until their February 1st deadline.

Under the proposed law, the possession and use of cannabis will be legal for qualified patients who receive a license from the Department of Health. In addition, state-licensed dispensaries will be authorized to distribute cannabis to patients or their caregivers. Although specific diseases such as cancer are mentioned as qualifying conditions, physicians would have the ability to prescribe cannabis to anyone who they thought would benefit from it.

Alaska to Vote on Cannabis Legalization in 2014

January 19, 2014December 23, 2013

In a step that puts Alaska on track to be the 3rd state in the U.S. to legalize cannabis, advocates have garnered enough signatures to put the issue to a vote of the people in 2014.

According to the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana, the organization behind the initiative, they’ve collected just under 45,000 (44,845) signatures from Alaska voters, roughly 15,000 more than required to put the initiative to a vote this coming August; the group officially has until the 21st of January, but will be submitting the signatures with the state once they reach their goal of 45,000.

Cannabis Philanthropist Peter Lewis Passes Away

December 5, 2013November 23, 2013

Peter Lewis, Chairman of Progressive insurance, has passed away today at the age of 80. Lewis was found in his home in Coconut Grove, Florida.

Peter Lewis is known within the cannabis community as one of the movements largest donors – in the past couple decades he’s donated millions of his own dollars to bring forth cannabis law reform throughout the U.S., including being instrumental in passing cannabis legalization initiatives in both Washington and Colorado last year. Lewis has also donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to successful medical cannabis legalization proposals, and millions of dollars to progressive organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union and MoveOn.org.