State Laws and Upcoming Votes
State
Laws: Although the federal government formally opposes
using marijuana for medicinal
purposes, many states have had laws enabling
such use since the mid-1970s. Driven by the attitudes of various medical,
professional, and policy groups, these state laws have evolved in support
of different positions, resulting in a patchwork of approaches. As of
December 31, 2009, 26 states and the District of Columbia had laws
enabling the medicinal use of marijuana under specific circumstances.
State Laws
| Alaska | California | Colorado | Hawaii |
| Maine | Michigan | Montana | Nevada |
| New Jersey | New Mexico | Oregon | Rhode Island |
| Vermont | Washington |
Upcoming State Votes: The Medical Marijuana Mall USA will keep a post on all upcoming medical marijuana legislations and votes that you need to be aware of. Currently there are 14 states trying to pass medical marijuana laws but Virginia falls into the same category as Arizona. Should their bill pass, marijuana would only be able to prescribed by a Physician and since Federal Law prohibits this, the bill is technically useless.
In the upcoming weeks we will start posting the actual documents of the Bills pertaining to each state. Our goal is to keep this page as up to date as possible. Should you be aware of any new laws or legislation not listed on this site please contact us.
Upcoming State Votes
| State | Summary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama House Bill |
"This bill would authorize the medical use of marijuana only for certain qualifying patients who have been diagnosed by a physician as having a debilitating medical condition." |
Introduced by Rep. Todd and referred to the House of Representatives committee on Judiciary (Jan. 12, 2010) |
|
Delaware |
"The Bill creates an
exception to a state's criminal laws to permit the doctor-advised
medical use of marijuana by patients with serious medical
conditions... |
Referred to Senate Health & Social Services Committee on May 13, 2009; Reported out of committee on June 3, 2009; Introduced to the Senate with amendments (June 23, 2009) |
|
Illinois |
"Compassionate Use
of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act: Provides that when a person
has been diagnosed by a physician as having a debilitating medical
condition, the person and the person's primary caregiver may be
issued a registry identification card by the Department of Public
Health that permits the person or the person's primary caregiver to
legally possess no more than 7 dried cannabis plants and 2 ounces of
dried usable cannabis." |
HB: Passed the Human
Services Committee on Mar. 3, 2009; Re-referred to the Rules
Committee (Apr. 3, 2009) Passed the Public Health Committee on Mar. 26, 2009; Amendments added and referred Assignments Committee, then to Public Health Committee. Passed third reading by a vote of 30-28 (May 27, 2009)
|
|
IowaS |
"An Act creating the medical marijuana Act including the creation of compassion centers, and providing for civil and criminal penalties and fees." |
Referred to Human Resources Subcommittee (Mar. 4, 2009) |
|
Kansas |
"An Act enacting the medical marijuana act; providing for the legal use of marijuana for certain debilitating medical conditions; providing for the registration and functions of compassion centers; authorizing the issuance of identification cards; providing for administration of the act by the department of health and environment." |
Introduced by Rep. Finney on Feb. 2, 2010; Referred to Health and Human Services committee (Feb. 3, 2010) |
|
Maryland |
"Requiring the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to issue a specified request for proposals to select authorized growers of marijuana for medical use; providing for specified requirements of authorized growers; requiring the Department to establish a specified registration program to authorize specified entities to distribute marijuana for medical purposes; authorizing the Department to charge a reasonable fee for the issuance of a specified permit; etc." "Requiring the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to issue a specified request for proposals to select authorized growers of marijuana for medical use; providing for specified requirements of authorized growers; requiring the Department to establish a specified registration program to authorize specified entities to distribute marijuana for medical purposes; authorizing the Department to charge a reasonable fee for the issuance of a specified permit; etc."
|
Introduced by Del. Morhaim and 47 co-sponsors on Feb. 4, 2010; First reading in Health & Government Operations Committee and Judiciary Committee (Feb. 4, 2010)
|
|
Massachusetts |
"The Massachusetts Medical Marijuana Act" is "an Act to regulate the medical use of marijuana by patients approved by physicians and certified by the department of public health... It is the purpose of this act is to protect patients with debilitating medical conditions, as well as their practitioners and designated caregivers, from arrest and prosecution, criminal and other penalties, and property forfeiture if such patients engage in the medical use of marijuana." |
Referred to Joint Committee on Public Health on Jan. 20, 2009; Public hearing held (May 19, 2009) |
|
Mississippi |
"An act to authorize the medical use of marihuana by seriously ill patients under a physician's supervision... to provide an exemption from criminal and civil penalties for the medical use of marihuana; to provide a legal defense for patients and primary caregivers..." |
Referred to Drug Policy Committee on Jan. 14, 2010; Died in committee (Feb. 2, 2010) |
|
Missouri |
"Changes the laws regarding the classification of marijuana as a controlled substance and allows the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes under certain conditions." |
Introduced and read the first time on Jan. 14, 2010; Read the second time in the House, no hearing scheduled and not currently on calendar (Jan. 19, 2010) |
|
New York |
"Legalizes the possession, manufacture, use, delivery, transfer, transport or administration of marihuana by a certified patient or designated caregiver for a certified medical use." Sets possession limits of 2.5 ounces; establishes registry identification card program." "Legalizes the possession, manufacture, use, delivery, transfer, transport or administration of marihuana by a certified patient or designated caregiver for a certified medical use." sets possession limits of 2.5 ounces and 12 plants; establishes registry identification card program. |
Referred to the
Committee on Health on June 19, 2009; Referred to the Committee on
Codes on June 22, 2009; Referred to the Committee on Health on Jan.
6, 2010; Referred to the Committee on Codes (Jan. 12, 2010) Referred to the Committee on Health on Apr. 8, 2009; Amended and re-referred to the Committee on Health on Apr. 17, 2009; Passed the Committee on Health and referred to the Senate Codes Committee on May 26, 2009; Amended and re-referred to the Senate Codes Committee on Aug. 24, 2009; Referred to the Committee on Health (Jan. 6, 2010) |
|
North Carolina |
"North Carolina Medical Marijuana Act;" "A qualified patient [and caregiver] shall not be subject to arrest, prosecution, or penalty in any manner, or denied any right or privilege... for the possession of or the medical use of marijuana if the quantity of marijuana does not exceed an adequate supply." |
Passed first reading in the House and referred to the Committee on Health on Apr. 13, 2009; Committee heard testimony from patients and medical professionals (June 18, 2009) |
|
Pennsylvania |
An Act providing for the medical use of marijuana; and repealing provisions of law that prohibit and penalize marijuana use. |
Referred to the Health and Human Services Committee on Apr. 30, 2008; Committee hearing held with testimonies for and against the legislation (Dec. 3, 2009 |
|
Tennessee |
"Medical Marijuana Act of 2009: This bill authorizes the medical use of marijuana for persons with a terminal illness or injury. Under this bill, no physician in this state may be punished, or denied any right or privilege, for having recommended marijuana to a terminal patient for medical purposes, and the criminal provisions relating to the possession and cultivation of marijuana would not apply to a terminal patient, or to the patient's primary caregiver..." "Establishes the 'Tennessee Medical Marijuana Act of 2009' which authorizes the use of marijuana for persons with certain debilitating conditions. Requires the Department of Health to create a system of accepting and reviewing applications including an application fee and issuing registry identification cards upon verification." |
Referred to the
Health and Human Resources Committee on Feb. 11, 2009; Assigned to
the Public Health and Family Assistance Sub-Committee (Feb. 18,
2009)
|
|
Wisconsin |
"This bill establishes a medical necessity defense to marijuana−related prosecutions and forfeiture actions. A person having or undergoing a debilitating medical condition or treatment (qualifying patient) may invoke this defense... The defense provided under the bill and the prohibition on arrest and prosecution contained in the bill apply also to a primary caregiver..." Sets possession limits and establishes registry and nonprofit distribution centers. "This bill establishes a medical necessity defense to marijuana−related prosecutions and forfeiture actions. A person having or undergoing a debilitating medical condition or treatment (qualifying patient) may invoke this defense... The defense provided under the bill and the prohibition on arrest and prosecution contained in the bill apply also to a primary caregiver..." Sets possession limits and establishes registry and nonprofit distribution centers. |
Introduced and referred to Public Health Committee on Nov. 5, 2009; Fiscal estimate received on Nov. 16, 2009; Public hearing held on Dec. 15, 2010; Fiscal estimate received (Dec. 23, 2009)
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