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Timeline of cannabis laws in the United States

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Map of cannabis laws in the US
Legality of cannabis in the United States
  Legal for recreational use
  Legal for medical use
  No comprehensive medical program
● Decriminalized
Notes:
· Reflects laws of states and territories, including laws which have not yet gone into effect. Does not reflect federal, tribal, or local laws.
· Map does not show state legality of hemp-derived cannabinoids such as CBD or delta-8-THC, which have been legal at federal level since enactment of the 2018 Farm Bill.
Timeline of medical marijuana legalization in the USA
(State-level legalization)
  • 1996: California
  • 1998: Alaska, Oregon, Washington
  • 1999: Maine
  • 2000: Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada
  • 2004: Montana, Vermont
  • 2006: Rhode Island
  • 2007: New Mexico
  • 2008: Michigan
  • 2010: Arizona, D.C., New Jersey
  • 2011: Delaware
  • 2012: Connecticut, Massachusetts
  • 2013: Illinois, New Hampshire
  • 2014: Maryland, Minnesota, New York
  • 2015: Louisiana
  • 2016: Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida, North Dakota, Arkansas
Total states: 29 and D.C.

The Legal history of cannabis in the United States began with federal prohibition in the early 20th century. Starting with Oregon in 1973, individual states began to liberalize marijuana laws through decriminalization and legalization of recreational marijuana, as well as the legalization of medical marijuana for non-recreational use.

Municipal

  • 1998: Washington D.C. attempts to legalize medical marijuana with the passage of Initiative 59, but was prevented by the Barr Ammendment from putting the new law into action until 2009, with the first legal medical sales occurring in 2013.[1]
  • 2005: Denver, Colorado legalized marijuana with 54% in favor.[2]
  • 2009: Breckenridge, Colorado legalized marijuana by a 3-to-1 margin.[3]
  • 2013: Portland, Maine legalized marijuana.[4]
  • 2014: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania decriminalized marijuana.[5]
  • 2014: Washington D.C.'s City Council decriminalized marijuana in July, and the electorate voted in November to legalize recreational marijuana with 69% in favor.[6] A Congressional rider prevented DC from permitting retail marijuana stores.[7] On 26 February 2015, marijuana became legal in D.C. for adults aged 21 and over to possess, gift and grow but not to sell.[8]
  • 2014: New York City, New York decriminalized marijuana possession in quantities of 25 grams or less.[9]

States

  • 1973: Oregon became the first e to decriminalize cannabis.[10]
  • 1975: Alaska removed all penalties for possession (not sale) of cannabis under 4 ounces in one's residence or home. Also, the ruling allowed up to 24 private, noncommercial growing plants. Sale of less than 28.349 grams became a misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in jail and up to a $5,000 fine;[11]
  • 1976: Maine decriminalized the possession of less than 2.5 ounces of marijuana, making it a civil violation punishable by fines ranging from $350 to $1,000.[12]
  • By 1978: Alaska, California, Colorado, Mississippi, New York, Nebraska, North Carolina, and Ohio had some form of cannabis decriminalization.[13] Certain cities and counties, particularly in California, have adopted laws to further decriminalize cannabis.
  • 1996: California legalized medical marijuana with California proposition 215.
  • 1998: Oregon legalized medical marijuana. (Oregon Medical Marijuana Act)
  • 1999: Maine voters approved Medical Marijuana with 61% approval, allowing patients to use, cultivate and possess marijuana if they had professional opinion by a physician that it would benefit them. Dispensaries and more qualifying illnesses were added in 2009, after 59% voter approval.[14]
  • 2000: Nevada legalized medical cannabis by amending the state constitution to sanction it.[15]
  • Colorado voters passed Amendment 20, amending the State constitution to allow the medical use of cannabis.[15]
  • 2004: Montana voters passed Initiative 148 on November 2, 2004 with 62% approval. It took effect immediately.[15]
  • 2007: New Mexico legalized the use of medical cannabis by patients authorized by the state.[15]
Vermont Senate Bill 7 went into effect July 1, 2007 further defining which patients qualify for medical cannabis and how much they may possess without penalty of law at the state level.[15] The amendment allows physicians licensed outside of Vermont to recommend medical cannabis for Vermont patients.[15]
  • 2008: Michigan voters passed the Michigan Medical Marijuana Initiative, also known as Proposal 1, a measure allowing the use of medicinal cannabis for patients with debilitating medical conditions (including cancer, multiple sclerosis and HIV). State-wide the measure passed with 63% voting yes. The measure was approved by voters in every one of Michigan's 83 counties. The measure also required Michigan's health department to create a registry of qualified patients. Growing cannabis was also approved, for registered individuals using secure facilities.[16]
  • 2010: New Jersey legislature approved medical cannabis.[17] Governor Corzine signed the bill into law on January 18.[18] Arizona's proposition 203, also called "Arizona Medical Marijuana Act", passes.[19]
  • 2012: Massachusetts voters passed the Massachusetts Medical Marijuana Initiative with 63% support, legalizing the use of medical marijuana. Massachusetts was the 18th state to legalize the medical use of marijuana.
  • 2012: Washington and Colorado became the first states to legalize recreational marijuana use for adults 21 years of age or older.
  • 2014: Maryland became the 18th state to decriminalize marijuana. Minnesota and New York became the 22nd and 23rd state to legalize medical marijuana in some form.[20][21][22]
  • 2014: Alaska, and Oregon voted to legalize recreational marijuana.[23] Alaska's law took effect on February 25th, 2015.[24] Oregon's initiative will begin on July 1, 2015.[25]

Territory

  • 2014: Guam became the first U.S. territory to legalize cannabis for medical use.[26]

Indian Reservations

  • 2014: The US Justice Department allowed recognized Indian Reservations to regulate cannabis laws within their reservation. The laws in the reservations are allowed to be different from state and federal laws. As with State and Territories, the Federal government will not intervene as long as the reservations regulate strict control over marijuana. Some domestic nations such as the Yakama Nation and the Oglala Sioux Tribal Council rejected the approval to allow marijuana on their reservation.[27]

Federal

  • 2014: The United States House of Representatives passed a bill prohibiting the DEA from using funds to arrest medical marijuana patients in states with medical marijuana laws.[28]

Public opinion

  • 2011: Gallup reported a record 50% of Americans surveyed supported legalization.[29]
  • 2013: The Pew Research Center presented U.S. survey results that showed prohibition support as a minority position for the first time in four decades: 52% supported legalization.[30] Gallup reported a record 58% of Americans support nationwide legalization.[31]
  • 2014: Research conducted by the Pew Research Center in February showed an increase in the percentage of legalization supporters, from 52% to 54%,[32] while the New York Times published its Editorial Boards series "High Time: An Editorial Series on Marijuana Legalization" in July.[33]

Presidential opinion

  • 2015: President Barack Obama declared his support of marijuana decriminalization but opposition to legalization.[34]

See also

References

  1. ^ http://blog.norml.org/2013/07/30/first-medical-marijuana-sale-reported-in-washington-dc/
  2. ^ "Denver votes to legalize marijuana possession". USA Today. Nov 3, 2005. Retrieved Oct 16, 2014.
  3. ^ "Breckenridge Pot Legalization Creates Big Buzz". ABC 7 Denver. Nov 5, 2009. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  4. ^ "Portland, Maine, Legalizes Recreational Marijuana". Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  5. ^ "Philadelphia Is Decriminalizing Marijuana Possession". Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  6. ^ "2014 Ballot Measures". Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  7. ^ "Congressional spending deal blocks pot legalization in D.C." Washington Post. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
  8. ^ "Pot now legal in D.C. despite threats from Congress". U.S.A Today. 26 February 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  9. ^ "Pot in NYC may soon net just a ticket, not an arrest". CNN. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
  10. ^ Suellentrop, Chris (2001-02-15). "Which States Have Decriminalized MJ Possession?". Cannabis News. Retrieved 2010-10-12.
  11. ^ "State by State Laws: Alaska". National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. 2006. Retrieved 2006-12-24.
  12. ^ Scott, Emilee (2010-05-05). "Marijuana Decriminalization". ABC News. Retrieved 2013-04-29.
  13. ^ Peter De Marneffe and Douglas N. Husak. The Legalization of Drugs, 2005. Page 8.
  14. ^ "Maine Medical Marijuana". Retrieved 2012-04-29.
  15. ^ a b c d e f "Active State Medical Marijuana Programs - NORML". norml.com. Retrieved 2008-06-04.
  16. ^ Cook, T (2008-11-05). "California Passes Gay Marriage Ban, Legal Challenges to Come". ABC News. Retrieved 2008-11-12. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  17. ^ "New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Ac". njleg.state.nj.us. Retrieved 2010-01-11.
  18. ^ Kocieniewski, David (2010-01-12). "New Jersey Lawmakers Pass Medical Marijuana Bill". nytimes.com. Retrieved 2010-01-11.
  19. ^ Bennett, Ken (August 19, 2010). "Ballot Measures". Retrieved August 24, 2010.
  20. ^ Warren, Pat (14 April 2014). "Jail Time Replaced With Fines: Gov. O'Malley Signs Marijuana Decriminalization Bill". CBC Baltimore. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
  21. ^ "Gov. Dayton Signs Medical Marijuana Bill Into Law". CBS Minnesota. May 29, 2014. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
  22. ^ Campbell, Jon (7 July 2014). "Cuomo signs New York's medical marijuana bill". USA Today. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  23. ^ "2014 Ballot Measures". Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  24. ^ "Alaska Becomes Third State to Legalize Marijuana". 24 February 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  25. ^ "Recreational Marijuana in General". Oregon.gov. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  26. ^ "Guam Legalizes Medical Marijuana". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
  27. ^ the D.O.J. allows indian reservations to grow and sell marijuana, nwherald.com, 12 December 2014, retrieved 2014-12-24
  28. ^ Reilly, Ryan (2014-05-30). "House Blocks DEA From Targeting Medical Marijuana". Huffington Post. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
  29. ^ http://www.gallup.com/poll/150149/record-high-americans-favor-legalizing-marijuana.aspx
  30. ^ Juliet Lapidos (26 July 2014). "The Public Lightens Up About Weed". The New York Times. Retrieved 28 July 2014.
  31. ^ "For First Time, Americans Favor Legalizing Marijuana". Gallup. 22 October 2013. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
  32. ^ "America's New Drug Policy Landscape". Pew Research Center. Pew Research Center. 2 April 2014. Retrieved 28 July 2014.
  33. ^ Editorial Board (July 2014). "Our Position: Repeal Prohibition, Again". The New York Times. Retrieved 28 July 2014.
  34. ^ Lopez, German. "President Obama wants to treat marijuana like tobacco but not legalize it. Wait, what?". Vox. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
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