The big advances for marijuana reform still tend to come during election years when initiatives are put on the ballot, but there are already some promising signs for possible legislative victories in 2013. Across the country several marijuana reform bills have been introduced in the state legislatures that either stand a decent chance of becoming law this year or will at least significantly advance the issue of reform. Hopefully, the fact the voters in Colorado and Washington State recently came out so strongly for full legalization will convince politicians across the country that the electorate wants change.

Here is my list of the eight possible marijuana reforms in 2013 that look most promising. It is obviously still early in the year so other actions can still potentially emerge.

1) New Hampshire, medical marijuana – Medical marijuana was almost approved in New Hampshire last year but only failed because the bill was vetoed by then Governor John Lynch (D). Lynch has since retired and been replaced by Governor Margaret Hassan (D). Hassan is a supporter of medical marijuana and voted for it when she was serving in the state legislature.

2) Vermont, marijuana decriminalization – Governor Peter Shulmin (D) considers marijuana decriminalization a real priority for this legislative session and already bills have been introduced in the legislature. The legislature in Vermont is also controlled by Democrats so that chances are good something will be approved.

3) New York, decriminalizing marijuana in “public view” – Minor possession of marijuana in New York is already decriminalized as long as it is not in “open view.” This legal technicality is being exploited in a devastating way in New York City. In primarily low minority neighborhoods the police are using a stop and frisk tactic. They basically forcing random people to empty their pockets and then arrest them for having the marijuana in public view. The issue has received serious media attention and during his State of the State address Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) called decriminalizing the public view of 15 grams or less of marijuana a priority for 2013.

4) Illinois, medical marijuana – In the past the Illinois State House has come close to approving a medical marijuana bill but it ended up just a few votes short. In the 2012 election, though, Democrats made significant gains in the state legislature. Given that Democrats tend to be more supportive of marijuana reform, the election should have improved the chances of action this year. Gov. Pat Quinn (D) has previously said he would consider signing a medical marijuana law.

5) Washington State, vacating old marijuana convictions – It is idiotic and unfair for people to be burdened with a criminal record for something that is no longer even a crime. That why the bipartisan HB 1661 has recently been introduced in Washington State. It would allow people who were previously convicted of misdemeanor marijuana possession to have their record vacated. Hopefully, the fact that the people of the state overwhelming voted to legalize marijuana will encourage the legislature to act.

Even if it is not approved this session, it is important for support to start building around this issue as marijuana legalization continues to spread. The slow process of ending marijuana prohibition won’t be completed until the needless suffering it caused is also fixed as best it can be.

6) Kentucky, industrial hemp – One of the most absurd parts of the United State’s marijuana prohibition is that industrial hemp has been caught up in it. While the industrial hemp plant are technically related to marijuana it is only in the way that a Pomeranian is technically related to a grey wolf. Industrial hemp can’t get people high.

There is an effort underway to fix this problem to allow farmers to grow industrial hemp, which is an agricultural product with a variety of uses. Kentucky’s two senators, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R) and Rand Paul (R), are both pushing to allow local farmers to grow hemp. The recent backing of McConnell is very important. He is not only the unofficial leader of the GOP in Kentucky, but one of the most politically powerful people in Washington.

7) Hawaii, marijuana legalization – A bill was recently introduced in the Hawaii State House that would legalize marijuana. Even though the bill is probably not going to pass this year, what makes this effort significant is that the bill is sponsored by House Speaker Joe Souki (D), who holds the most powerful position in the chamber.

This will be an interesting test of how much support legalization currently has in the Hawaii state legislature and should help build support for reform going forward. Hawaii was the first state legislature to approve medical marijuana and it is possible that in a few years it might be the first state legislature to legalize marijuana.

8) Rhode Island, marijuana legalization – State Rep. Edith Ajello (D) introduced a bill to legalize marijuana for adults. While it is unlikely to be approved this year, the Rhode Island had recently adopted several marijuana reforms including both a marijuana decriminalization bill and a medical marijuana dispensary bill last year. This bill should test to see how much the recent election has changed the politics around the issue and help build support moving forward.

Long term, Rhode Island will be one the top targets for getting legalization approved through the state legislature. It is a very liberal state but doesn’t allow for ballot initiatives.

Image by medcannaman under Creative Commons license

It found that 66 per cent of people believe that “the possession of marijuana in small amounts” should be “decriminalized so that it no longer carries a penalty or fine.” Another 34 per cent opposed the idea.

Support for decriminalization is strongest in Atlantic Canada (72 per cent) followed by British Columbia, Saskatchewan/Manitoba and Ontario — in all three regions, support for decriminalization runs at 69 per cent.

Back in 1987 only 39 percent of Canadians supported decriminalization, but support for marijuana has grown steadily for decades. The people of Canada are becoming more familiar with marijuana; as a result they have become less hostile towards it.

This mirrors the same general trend in public opinion about marijuana seen in Canada’s neighbor to the South, the United States. In the USA ending marijuana prohibition was a fringe policy idea only 15 years ago, but now marijuana legalization is supported by a majority of adults.

Despite the strong public support for marijuana decriminalization in Canada, don’t expect the national government to improve its marijuana policies anytime soon. Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his Conservative Party remain firmly opposed to liberalizing the nation’s marijuana laws.

The proposed bill would decriminalize the possession of 15 grams or less of marijuana and marijuana related drug paraphernalia. A person caught with a small amount of marijuana would be subject to only a $150 civil penalty for a first offense. A second offense would result in a $200 fine, and all further offenses would result in a $500 fine. If a person over the age of 21 is caught three times they would be referred to a drug education program. The possession of marijuana related paraphernalia would also no longer be a criminal offense and would result in a $100 civil penalty.

Under current New Jersey law possession of a small amount of marijuana for personal use is a criminal offense that can result in up to six months in prison and a $1,000 fine.

New Jersey’s Republican governor Chris Christie has yet to take a position of the proposed bill one way or the other, but the bill has been cosponsored by three Republicans in the Assembly.

If New Jersey adopts this law it will be the latest state to reduce the punishment for minor marijuana possession. Last year Connecticut passed a law decriminalizing the possession of a small amount of marijuana, and in 2010 California reduced the penalty from a misdemeanor to a simple infraction.

Leaf (photo: Federacion de asociaciones cannabicas)

Earlier this month, both the Connecticut State Senate and House of Representatives approved SB 1014, a bill that would decriminalize minor possession of marijuana. Now newly released Quinnipiac polling taken immediately after the state legislature approved the bill shows the voters of the state overwhelmingly support the move by a margin of two-to-one. From Quinnipiac:

Voters also support 66 – 31 percent a law to de-criminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana. Support is 77 – 21 percent among Democrats, 49 – 45 percent among Republicans and 66 – 31 percent among independent voters. Support is slightly stronger among men, 69 – 28 percent, than among women, 64 – 33 percent.

There is a clear message in this poll for local and national politicians all across the country: Decriminalizing marijuana is not controversial.

Most American people support reducing the penalties for minor marijuana infractions. The American people don’t think harsh punishments for possessing a small amount of marijuana is either good policy or a smart use of government resources.

If politicians pass more sensible laws, the public will support it.

There is a proposal in the state legislature that would decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana. Low-level marijuana users would be punished with a fine, instead of a criminal charge. Do you think this is a good idea or a bad idea?

65% good idea
32 Bad idea
3 DK/NA

There is a proposal in the state legislature that would allow adults to legally use marijuana for medical purposes if their doctor prescribes it. Do you think this is a good idea or a bad idea?

79% good idea
17 Bad idea
3 DK/NA

While support for both medical marijuana and decriminalization was strongest among young people, and Democratic support for the changes was remarkably strong across the board, a majority of Republicans, Independents, and every age group in the poll thought the legal changes would be a good idea.

This poll should be a helpful boost to Governor Dan Malloy (D), who is actively pushing both to legalize medical marijuana and reduce the penalty for minor cannabis possession to a small fine. With a state legislature also controlled by Democrats, there is a good chance both reforms will happen during Malloy’s first term.

Unfortunately, Quinnipiac didn’t ask voters how they felt about actually legalizing and regulating marijuana, but given the strong support for decriminalization and the overall national trend on legalization, I wouldn’t be surprised if there was already majority support for such a move in Connecticut.