Michelle Rutter Friberg

The Power of the Ballot: Cannabis Reform Takes Center Stage in 2024

Ballot initiatives are as OG as it gets: nearly thirty years ago in 1996, California became the first state to legalize medical marijuana via Proposition 215, also known as the Compassionate Use Act. This provision exempted certain patients and their primary caregivers from criminal liability under state law for the possession and cultivation of cannabis…

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Update from D.C.: The Latest on Marijuana Rescheduling and the Farm Bill

There were two major cannabis policy developments from Washington, D.C. last week: language of the proposed rule for rescheduling became available (accompanied by a video from the President reaffirming his commitment to reform) and the long anticipated text of the farm bill was released. The text of the proposed rule confirmed that the Attorney General…

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The Federal Cannabis Reform Outlook 2024: Navigating the Cannabis Landscape

Congress (still) struggles to pass a number urgent bills that are related to border security, the budget, and aid for Ukraine and Israel. In a time of government dysfunction, it is important to remember the chaos that results in cannabis (and many other) issues having trouble gaining traction in Congress. Cannabis legislation and priorities are…

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