Last updated: November 27, 2023
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State Medical Marijuana Laws |
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State/Territory |
Year Passed |
Relevant Statutes/Initiatives |
| Alaska |
1998 |
· Measure 8 (1998) · SB 94 (1999) |
| Arizona |
2010 |
· Proposition 203 (2010) |
| California |
1996 |
· Proposition 215 (1996) · SB 420 (2003) |
| Colorado |
2000 |
· Amendment 20 (2000) |
| Connecticut |
2012 |
· HB 5389 |
| Delaware |
2011 |
· SB 17 (2011) |
| Hawaii |
2000 |
· SB 862 (2000) |
| Illinois |
2013 |
· HB 1 (2013, effective January 1, 2014) |
| Maine |
1999 |
· Question 2 (1999) · LD 611 (2002) · Question 5 (2009) · LD 1811 (2010) · LD 1296 (2011) |
| Maryland* |
2003 |
· HB 702 (2003) · SB 308 (2011) · HB 180/SB 580 (2013) · HB 1101 – Chapter 403 (2013) |
| Massachusetts |
2012 |
· Question 3 (2012) · Regulations (2013) |
| Michigan |
2008 |
· Proposal 1 (2008) |
| Montana |
2004 |
· Initiative 148 (2004) · SB 423 (2011) · IR-124 (2012) |
| Nevada |
2000 |
· Question 9 (2000) · NRS 453A · NAC 453A |
| New Hampshire |
2013 |
· HB 573 (2013) |
| New Jersey |
2010 |
· SB 119 (2009) |
| New Mexico |
2007 |
· SB 523 (2007) |
| Oregon |
1998 |
· Oregon Medical Marijuana Act (1998) · SB 161 (2007) |
| Rhode Island |
2007 |
· SB 791 (2007) · SB 185 (2009) |
| Vermont |
2004 |
· SB 76 (2004) · SB 7 (2007) · SB 17 (2011) |
| Washington |
1998 |
· Initiative 692 (1998) · SB 5798 (2010) · SB 5073 (2011) |
| Washington, DC |
2010 |
· Initiative 59 (1998) · LR 720 (2010) |
* Maryland’s law allows for medical marijuana use as a legal defense in court. Possession of more than one ounce of marijuana and public consumption for medical reasons is still illegal.
In 2012, voters in Colorado and Washington state also passed initiatives legalizing marijuana for adults 21 and older under state law. It is important to note that Congress has determined that marijuana is a dangerous drug and that the illegal distribution and sale of marijuana is a serious crime. The Department of Justice (DOJ) is committed to enforcing the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) consistent with these determinations. On August 29, 2013, DOJ issued guidance to Federal prosecutors concerning marijuana enforcement under the CSA. The Department’s guidance is available on the DOJ Web site, and provides further detail.
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State Marijuana Legalization Laws |
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State/Territory |
Year Passed |
Relevant Initiatives |
| Colorado |
2012 |
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| Washington |
2012 |
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