State Marijuana Legislation

An honest reading of the Constitution with an original understanding of the Founders and Ratifiers makes it quite clear that the federal government has no constitutional authority to override state laws on marijuana.

All three branches of the federal government, however, have interpreted (and re-interpreted) the commerce clause of the Constitution to authorize them to engage in this activity, even though there’s supposedly no “legal” commerce in the plant. At best, these arguments are dubious; at worst an intentional attack on the Constitution and your liberty.

CLICK HERE – Podcast, “The Unconstitutional War on Pot”

Legend: Blue – Introduced. Yellow – Passed one or more houses.
Green – Became Law. Black – Failed Vote or Stalled in Committee.

2012 Legislation (scroll down for previous session activity)

2011 Legislation

View State Marijuana Legislation: 2011 in a larger map

Alaska
Senate Bill 94, which took effect on June 2, 1999, mandates all patients seeking legal protection under this act to enroll in the state patient registry and possess a valid identification card. Patien…
California
Fifty-six percent of voters approved Proposition 215 on November 5, 1996. The law took effect the following day. It removes state-level criminal penalties on the use, possession and cultivation of mar…
Colorado
Fifty-four percent of voters approved Amendment 20 on November 7, 2000, which amends the state’s constitution to recognize the medical use of marijuana. The law took effect on June 1, 2001. It removes…
Hawaii
Governor Ben Cayetano signed Senate Bill 862 into law on June 14, 2000. The law took effect on December 28, 2000. The law removes state-level criminal penalties on the use, possession and cultivation …
Maine
Sixty-one percent of voters approved Question 2 on November 2, 1999. The law took effect on December 22, 1999. It removes state-level criminal penalties on the use, possession and cultivation of marij…
Michigan
Sixty-three percent of voters approved Proposal 1 on November 4, 2008. The law took effect on December 4, 2008. It removes state-level criminal penalties on the use, possession and cultivation of mari…
Montana
Sixty-two percent of voters approved Initiative 148 on November 2, 2004. The law took effect that same day. It removes state-level criminal penalties on the use, possession and cultivation of marijuan…
Nevada
Sixty-five percent of voters approved Question 9 on November 7, 2000, which amends the states’ constitution to recognize the medical use of marijuana. The law took effect on October 1, 2001. The law r…
New Jersey
Enacted in 2010, the New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act authorizes patients with a physician’s recommendation to possess and obtain medical cannabis from state-authorized “alternative treatment centers.”
New Mexico
Governor Bill Richardson signed Senate Bill 523, “Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act,” into law on April 2, 2007. The new law took effect on July 1, 2007. The law mandates the state Department of Hea…
Oregon
Fifty-five percent of voters approved Measure 67 on November 3, 1998. The law took effect on December 3, 1998. It removes state-level criminal penalties on the use, possession and cultivation of marij…
Rhode Island
The Edward O. Hawkins and Thomas C. Slater Medical Marijuana Act took effect immediately upon passage on January 3, 2006. The law removes state-level criminal penalties on the use, possession and cult…
Vermont
Senate Bill 76 became law without Gov. James Douglas’ signature on May 26, 2004. The law took effect on July 1, 2004. The law removes state-level criminal penalties on the use, possession and cultivat…
Washington
Fifty-nine percent of voters approved Measure 692 on…