Here’s a quick look at the 15 states (and Washington, D.C.) with medical cannabis laws on their books:
Alaska
Voters in the largest state in the union approved medical marijuana in 1999, with the passage of Ballot Measure 8. The law restricts use to patients suffering specifically outlined serious diseases, such as cancer and AIDS/HIV—use for other conditions have to be approved by the state’s health department.
Arizona
A slim majority of voters approved a medical marijuana program in 2010, enacting Ballot Proposition 203. Patients with a mandatory written physician’s certification and state ID card can obtain up to 2.5 ounces of pot from registered nonprofit dispensaries (capped at 124 statewide) following a 14-day waiting period.
California
Golden State voters set off the nationwide “Green Rush” by approving Proposition 215 in 1996, but a working medical marijuana program wouldn’t come until the enactment of Senate Bill 420 eight years later. Qualified patients and their primary caregivers may possess up to 8 ounces of dried marijuana and six mature plants or 12 immature ones. Both Prop. 215 and SB 420 are vague on the question of dispensaries.
Colorado
Ballot Amendment 20, approved by voters in 2001, allows qualified patients and their caregivers to possess up to 2 ounces of cannabis and no more than three mature plants or six immature ones. Patients must have a serious illness such as cancer, AIDS or multiple sclerosis, or suffer from severe pain or nausea.
Hawaii
The Aloha State’s legislature established a medical cannabis program in 2000, with the passage of Senate Bill 862. Patients with serious illnesses can obtain a state-issued ID card, which allows them and their caregivers to possess up to an once of cannabis, three mature plants and four immature plants.
Maine
Sixty-one percent of Maine’s voters approved Ballot Question 2 in 1999, legalizing cannabis for qualified patients. Subsequent ballot measures over a 10-year period set up the framework of the state’s medical cannabis program. Patients with such conditions as cancer, HIV/AIDS, Alzheimer’s and hepatitis may possess up to 2 ½ ounces of harvested cannabis and a total of six plants.
Michigan
Voters endorsed Proposal 1—quaintly titled the “Michigan Medical Marihuana Act”—in 2008. Patients with specific serious illnesses or severe and chronic pain or nausea may possess up to 2 ½ ounces of “usable” cannabis and 12 plaints—and state ID cars are mandatory.
Montana
Big Sky Country voters approved a medical marijuana program in 2004, with Initiative 148. A recent attempt by Republican legislators to repeal the law was rejected by the state’s senate. Qualified patients or their caregivers may possess up to an ounce of cannabis and six plants.
Nevada: Ballot Question 9, approved by voters in 2000, removed state marijuana penalties for patients with a physician’s recommendation for the drug. Patients or their primary caregivers may possess up to an ounce of cannabis and four plants, of which no more than three can be mature at any one time.
New Jersey
Then-Gov. Jon Corzine signed Senate Bill 119 into law last year, but opposition to the law by new Gov. Chris Christie has delayed its implementation until at least July of this year. Patients with specified medical conditions (or deemed to have less than 12 months) to live may possess up to 2 ounces in any 30-day period.
New Mexico
Considered by many advocates as a model medical marijuana program, Senate Bill 523—“The Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act”—was enacted by the state’s legislature in 2007. Qualified patients (including hospice patients) or their caregivers may possess up to 6 ounces of cannabis, four mature plants and six seedlings.
Oregon
The Beaver State has had a medical marijuana program on the books since 1998, when voters approved Ballot Measure 67. Patients with cancer or other specified conditions may register with the state’s health department and receive an ID card, which allows them or their caregivers to possess up to 24 ounces of “usable” cannabis, six mature plants and 18 seedlings.
Rhode Island
State lawmakers passed Senate Bill 0710 in 2005, setting up a battle between then-Gov. Don Carcieri, who vetoed the measure, and the legislators, who overrode the veto. The law allows qualified, state-registered patients to possess no more than 2 ½ ounces of cultivated cannabis and up to 12 plants.
Vermont
Lawmakers passed Senate Bill 76 and House Bill 645 in 2004—the measures were combined and approved three years later as Senate Bill 00007. Under the law, qualified and state-registered patients and their caregivers may collectively possess up to 2 ounces of marijuana, two mature plants and seven immature ones.
Washington: Voters endorsed Ballot Initiative I-692 in 1998, removing state marijuana “use, possession and cultivation” penalties for qualified patients. Severely ill patients or their primary caregivers may possess up to 24 ounces of cannabis and 15 plants—the state’s official “60-day supply.”
Compiled by David Burton
WASHINGTON, D.C.
D.C. last year unanimously approved Amendment Act B18-622, effectively legalizing cannabis for medical treatment. The U.S. Congress has supreme authority over the council and so could have rejected the measure—neither the Senate nor House of Representatives did so, and the law took effect in July. It allows seriously ill patients and their caregivers to possess up to 2 ounces of dried cannabis, and gave the district mayor the authority to raise the limit to 4 ounces if he or she saw fit to do so. No program for cannabis distribution or state registration has yet been established.
