The East Coast Cannabis Legalization Rundown

The
cannabis legalization movement continues to grow across the nation, fueled by
victories in Washington and Colorado, but the east coast still remains. Serious
legal reform is going to take a long time, compared to the west coast,
particularly because there are so many states on the other side of America.

Maine
has pretty much decriminalized cannabis, and hosts an active hemp industry
combined with a healthy array of options for patients. If you are not one,
possession of less than 2.5 oz is just a civil violation. The Maine Medical Use
of Marijuana Program was voted into existence in 2009, but in 2013 the Maine
State Legislature voted down a bill that would have taxed and legalized
recreational cannabis. Proponents will have to wait until 2015 to try again.

New
Hampshire is not the place to go if you require cannabis. Possession of any
amount is a misdemeanor with a fine of $2,000 and one year in jail. Their
medical cannabis program was signed into legislation in 2013, allowing patients
the use of cannabis, if their physician approves. At this point in time New
Hampshire has no state-sanctioned cannabis dispensing facilities for patients
to go to.

Massachusetts
has a healthy medical cannabis program, voted into effect in 2013 by a 63 percent
majority. Possession of 1oz or less by people who are not patients is just a
civil offense with a $100 fine and no jail time. They do offer mandatory
minimum sentences, including jail time, for bigger offenders.

Rhode
Island has allowed medical cannabis since 2006, when the “Edward O. Hawkins and
Thomas C. Slater Cannabis Act” came into law. However, patients must have a
letter from the doctor and can only be suffering from a small list of
illnesses. On the other hand, possession of less than an oz has been
decriminalized, although there is a maximum fine of $150.

Since
2012 Connecticut has largely decriminalized cannabis in the same way as Rhode
Island and Massachusetts. Patients diagnosed with an illness from a
state-approved list may use medical cannabis, as long as they have a letter
from their doctor and register with the state’s Department of Consumer
Protection. A recent poll hosted by Quinnipiac University showed that a solid
majority of voters in Connecticut support cannabis legalization.

Cannabis
is still technically illegal in New York, and they have no medical cannabis
program. While possession of less than 25g is treated like a traffic violation,
many bills are now in the works, including the “Compassionate Care Act,” to
legalize cannabis for medical patients who are certified and purchase their
medicine from registered organizations. Although Governor Mario Cuomo is
against this legislation, both Republicans and Democrats have been working
together to make it law.

New
Jersey voted the “New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Cannabis Act” into law
in 2010, but patients must be practically dying of a limited number of ailments,
and have a note from their doctor, to qualify. They cannot cultivate their own
medicine. As for recreational use, the laws are draconian, with criminal
charges, mandatory sentencing and fines. However, Senate Bill 2842, introduced
in 2013, allows children 18 years or younger to use cannabis-infused edibles.

The
laws in Delaware are as harsh as New Jersey’s, and you can go to jail for a
long time for cannabis. They do have a medical cannabis program, but a patient
must have a bona fide relationship with their doctor, and possess one of a
small list of ailments, to qualify. Home cultivation is not allowed, but
patients who are not registered may use their medical condition as an
affirmative defense at their trial.

Maryland
will put you in jail for just about any amount of cannabis, albeit with less
ferocity than Delaware or New Jersey. Medical cannabis patients can use their
illnesses as a defense at their trial, but a new law is in the works now to allow
registered, licensed patients to purchase cannabis at licensed facilities.

If
you enjoy recreational cannabis than Washington, DC would like to put you in
jail for a long time and make you pay all sorts of big fines. However,
Amendment Act B18-622, “Legalization of Cannabis for Medical Treatment
Amendment Act of 2010,” signed into law in 2010, allows patients who have a
doctor’s note and one of a few ailments to use cannabis.

Virginia
will put you into jail and fine you for cannabis, regardless of whether or not
you are a patient with a medical condition or an adult having a good time.
Mandatory minimum sentences await the repeat offender. They have no medical
cannabis program, either. In 2014 no politician in Virginia supported any
reform whatsoever for cannabis laws in their state.

North
Carolina has no medical cannabis program, although the state has decriminalized
use to a certain degree and has an active hemp industry. The mandatory minimum
sentences are pretty merciless. A poll conducted by Public Policy Polling this
year showed that 63 percent of the public supports a medical cannabis program.

South
Carolina is similar to North Carolina, although they have not decriminalized
anything in regards to cannabis, so don’t even think about it. They don’t have
a medical cannabis program here, either. In 2014 Representative Todd Rutherford
(D-Columbia) supported a bill (H-4879) that would enact a program for medical
patients.

Georgia
has no medical cannabis program, but they do have vicious laws, jail time,
mandatory minimum sentencing and serious fines for people who use cannabis.
This year House Bill 885, sponsored by Representative Allen Peake (R-Macon),
was unanimously approved by the Georgia Senate. The bill legalizes cannabis oil
for medical use, particularly seizures.

It
is currently illegal to use cannabis at all in Florida, and they have mandatory
minimum sentences to make it worse. This November, voters will decide upon a
ballot initiative entitled “Use of Cannabis for Certain Medical Conditions”
that will create a medical cannabis program for registered patients living in
the state.