Timeline of cannabis laws in the United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Timeline of cannabis legalization in the United States)
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20170315182443im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6f/Map-of-US-state-cannabis-laws.svg/350px-Map-of-US-state-cannabis-laws.svg.png)
Cannabis laws in the United States1
1 Includes laws which have not yet gone into effect.
2 Marked states have only legal non-psychoactive medical cannabis.
* Cannabis remains a Schedule I substance under federal law as of 2015.
* Some cities and Indian Reservations have legalization policies separate from their surrounding states.
* Cannabis is illegal in all Federal enclaves.
Jurisdiction with legalized cannabis.
Jurisdiction with both medical and decriminalization laws.2
Jurisdiction with legal psychoactive medical cannabis.
Jurisdiction with legal non-psychoactive medical cannabis.
Jurisdiction with decriminalized cannabis possession laws.
Jurisdiction with cannabis prohibition.
1 Includes laws which have not yet gone into effect.
2 Marked states have only legal non-psychoactive medical cannabis.
* Cannabis remains a Schedule I substance under federal law as of 2015.
* Some cities and Indian Reservations have legalization policies separate from their surrounding states.
* Cannabis is illegal in all Federal enclaves.
Timeline of medical marijuana legalization in the USA | |
---|---|
(State-level legalization)
|
The legal history of cannabis in the United States began with state-level prohibition in the early 20th century, with the first major federal limitations occurring in 1937. Starting with Oregon in 1973, individual states began to liberalize cannabis laws through decriminalization. In 1996, California was the first state to legalize medical cannabis, sparking a trend that spread across most other US states. In 2012, Colorado and Washington became the first states to legalize cannabis for recreational use.
Contents
Federal[edit]
- 1937: The Marijuana Tax Act is passed, effectively prohibiting all use of cannabis on a federal level.
- 1970: The Controlled Substances Act is passed, prohibiting cannabis federally along with several other drugs and replacing the 1937 act.
- 2014: The Rohrabacher–Farr amendment passed the U.S. House and was signed into law. Requiring annual renewal, it prohibits the Justice Department from interfering with the implementation of state medical marijuana laws.[1][2]
States[edit]
Prohibition
- 1911: Massachusetts requires a prescription for sales of "Indian hemp"[3]
- 1913: Maine, Wyoming, and Indiana ban marijuana[3]
- 1915: Utah and Vermont ban marijuana[3]
- 1917: Colorado legislators made the use and cultivation of cannabis a misdemeanor;
- 1923: Iowa, Oregon, Washington, and Vermont ban marijuana[3]
- 1927: New York,[3] Idaho, Kansas, Montana, and Nebraska ban marijuana[4]
- 1931: Illinois bans marijuana.[5]
- 1931: Texas declared cannabis a "narcotic", allowing up to life sentences for possession.[6]
- 1933: North Dakota and Oklahoma ban marijuana.[4] By this year, 29 states have criminalized cannabis.[7]
Decriminalization begins
- 1973: Oregon decriminalized cannabis.[8][9]
- 1973: Texas law was amended to declare possession of four ounces or less a misdemeanor.[10]
- 1975: Alaska's Supreme Court establishes that the right to privacy includes possession of small amounts of marijuana[11]
- 1976: Maine decriminalized cannabis.[12]
- 1977: South Dakota decriminalized cannabis, but repealed that law "almost immediately" afterward.[13]
- 1973-1978: California, Colorado, Mississippi, New York, Nebraska, North Carolina, and Ohio decriminalized cannabis.[14] Certain cities and counties, particularly in California, adopted laws to further decriminalize cannabis.
- 1978: New Mexico passes the Controlled Substances Therapeutic Research Act, becoming the first state to pass legislation recognizing the medical value of marijuana.[15]
- 1979: Virginia passed legislation allowing doctors to recommend cannabis for glaucoma or the side effects of chemotherapy.[16][17]
- 1982: Alaska's legislature decriminalizes possession of cannabis[18]
- 1990: Alaska re-criminalizes cannabis by voter initiative, restoring criminal penalties for possession of any amount of cannabis[19]
Medical marijuana begins
- 1996: California legalized medical cannabis. (California Proposition 215)
- 1996: First marijuana dispensary, Marin Alliance for Medical Marijuana appears in Fairfax, California, USA.[20]
- 1998: Oregon, Alaska, and Washington legalized medical cannabis.[21][22]
- 1999: Maine legalized medical cannabis.[23][24]
- 2000: Hawaii, Nevada, and Colorado legalized medical cannabis.[22] Hawaii became the first state to do so by state legislature.[25]
- 2004: Montana and Vermont legalized medical cannabis.[22]
- 2007: New Mexico legalized medical cannabis.[22]
- 2008: Michigan legalized medical cannabis. Massachusetts decriminalized cannabis.[26]
- 2010: New Jersey and Arizona legalized medical cannabis.[27][28] (Arizona's proposition 203)[29]
- 2010: California decriminalizes possession to a civil infraction[30]
- 2012: Massachusetts legalized medical cannabis. (Massachusetts Medical Marijuana Initiative)
Recreational legalization begins
- 2012: Colorado and Washington legalized recreational marijuana for adults 21 years of age or older.[31]
- 2014: Maryland decriminalized cannabis. Minnesota and New York legalized medical cannabis.[32][33][34]
- 2014: Utah legalizes CBD oil, becoming the first state to legalize a cannabis-based medicine without legalizing medical cannabis entirely.[35]
- 2014: Oklahoma legalizes trials of CBD oil.[36]
- 2014: Alaska and Oregon legalized recreational cannabis.[37] Alaska's law took effect on February 25, 2015.[38] Oregon's initiative began on July 1, 2015.[39]
- 2015: Georgia and Texas legalized CBD oil.[40][41]
- 2015: Louisiana legalized medical cannabis.[42]
- 2015: Delaware decriminalized cannabis.[43]
- 2016: Ohio[44] and Pennsylvania [45] legalized medical cannabis via state legislature.
- 2016: Illinois decriminalized cannabis.[46]
- 2016: California, Nevada, Maine and Massachusetts legalized recreational cannabis via ballot initiative.
- 2016: Florida, North Dakota, and Arkansas legalized medical cannabis via ballot initiative.
Municipal[edit]
- 1906: Washington D.C. requires a prescription for cannabis drugs.[47]
- 1915: El Paso, Texas restricts cannabis.[48]
- 1974: Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti, Michigan, reduce cannabis possession to a civil infraction.[49][50]
- 1998: Washington D.C. attempted to legalize medical cannabis with the passage of Initiative 59, but was prevented by the Barr Amendment from putting the new law into action until 2009, with the first legal medical sales occurring in 2013.[51]
- 2004: Oakland, California passes Measure Z, making private adult cannabis offenses the lowest possible priority for law enforcement, establishing a system to regulate, tax, and sell cannabis pending state legalization, and urging legalization on the state and national levels.[52]
- 2005: Denver, Colorado legalized cannabis.[53]
- 2009: Breckenridge, Colorado legalized cannabis.[54]
- 2013: Portland, Maine legalized cannabis.[55]
- 2014: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania decriminalized cannabis.[56]
- 2014: Washington D.C.'s City Council decriminalized cannabis in July, and the electorate voted in November to legalize recreational marijuana with 69% in favor.[37] A Congressional rider prevented D.C. from permitting retail marijuana stores.[57] On February 26, 2015, marijuana became legal in D.C. for adults aged 21 and over to possess, gift and grow but not to sell.[58]
- 2014: New York City, New York decriminalized cannabis.[59]
- 2015: Wichita, Kansas, decriminalizes possession of cannabis.[60]
- 2015: Toledo, Ohio decriminalizes possession of 200 grams of cannabis or less to a citation.[61]
- 2016: Nashville and Memphis, Tennessee, decriminalize possession of small amounts of cannabis, with Memphis reducing punishment to a $50 fine.[62]
- 2016: the Ohio cities of Bellaire, Logan, Newark and Roseville decriminalize possession of 200 grams of cannabis or less to a citation.[61]
Territory[edit]
- 2014: Guam legalized medical cannabis.[63]
- 2014: United States Virgin Islands decriminalizes cannabis.[64]
- 2015: Puerto Rico legalizes medical cannabis by executive order.[65]
Indian Reservations[edit]
- 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 cannabis. Some domestic nations such as the Yakama Nation and the Oglala Sioux Tribal Council rejected the approval to allow cannabis on their reservation.[66]
- 2015: The Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe (South Dakota) voted to legalize recreational cannabis on its territory.[67]
Opinion[edit]
Presidential[edit]
- 2015: President Barack Obama declared his support of cannabis decriminalization but opposition to legalization.[68][69]
Public[edit]
- 1969: Gallup first begins to poll the public on support for legalizing marijuana; the 1969 result was 12% in favor.[70]
- 2011: Gallup reported a record 50% of Americans surveyed supported legalization.[71]
- 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.[72] Gallup reported a record 58% of Americans support nationwide legalization.[73]
- 2014: Research conducted by the Pew Research Center in February showed an increase in the percentage of legalization supporters, from 52% to 54%,[74] while the New York Times published its Editorial Boards series "High Time: An Editorial Series on Marijuana Legalization" in July.[75]
- 2015: Gallup reported a record 58% of Americans support marijuana legalization.[76]
- 2016: an October Gallup poll shows a record 60% of Americans in favor of legalizing recreational cannabis.[77]
See also[edit]
- Timeline of cannabis
- Decriminalization of non-medical cannabis in the United States
- Legality of cannabis by U.S. jurisdiction
External links[edit]
- CannabisLegality.com, live dynamic map
- Smokebits.com, Where is marijuana legal (US edition)?
- Smokebits.com, Where is marijuana legal (global edition)?
References[edit]
- ^ Reilly, Ryan (May 30, 2014). "House Blocks DEA From Targeting Medical Marijuana". Huffington Post. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
- ^ Sullum, Jacob (January 4, 2016). "The Federal Ban on Medical Marijuana Was Not Lifted". Reason. Retrieved January 22, 2017.
- ^ a b c d e Sarah E. Boslaugh (8 December 2015). The SAGE Encyclopedia of Pharmacology and Society. SAGE Publications. pp. 1758–. ISBN 978-1-5063-4618-2.
- ^ a b Richard Davenport-Hines (29 November 2012). The Pursuit of Oblivion: A Social History of Drugs. Orion Publishing Group. pp. 126–. ISBN 978-1-78022-542-5.
- ^ Also from Bruce Rushton (2012-02-09). "The war on weed". Illinoistimes.com. Retrieved 2016-11-11.
- ^ National Governors' Conference. Center for Policy Research and Analysis (1977). Marijuana: A Study of State Policies and Penalties. Department of Justice, Law Enforcement Assistance Administration, National Institute of Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice.
- ^ Beatriz Caiuby Labate; Clancy Cavnar (25 March 2014). Prohibition, Religious Freedom, and Human Rights: Regulating Traditional Drug Use. Springer Science & Business Media. pp. 236–. ISBN 978-3-642-40957-8.
- ^ Suellentrop, Chris (February 15, 2001). "Which States Have Decriminalized MJ Possession?". Cannabis News. Retrieved October 12, 2010.
- ^ Single, E.W. (1981). "The Impact of Marijuana Decriminalization". In Israel, Y.; Glaser, F.B.; Kalant, H.; et al. Research Advances in Alcohol and Drug Problems. Springer US. pp. 405–424. doi:10.1007/978-1-4615-7740-9_12. ISBN 9781461577409.
- ^ Emmis Communications (March 1976). Texas Monthly. Emmis Communications. pp. 22–. ISSN 0148-7736.
- ^ "State by State Laws: Alaska". National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. 2006. Retrieved December 24, 2006.
- ^ Scott, Emilee (May 5, 2010). "Marijuana Decriminalization". ABC News. Retrieved April 29, 2013.
- ^ David R. Bewley-Taylor (22 March 2012). International Drug Control: Consensus Fractured. Cambridge University Press. pp. 169–. ISBN 978-1-107-37907-7.
- ^ Doug Husak; Peter de Marneffe (August 29, 2005). The Legalization of Drugs. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-139-44585-6.
- ^ Lester Grinspoon; James B. Bakalar (1997). Marihuana, the Forbidden Medicine. Yale University Press. pp. 18–. ISBN 978-0-300-07086-6.
- ^ James A. Inciardi; Lana D. Harrison (11 October 1999). Harm Reduction: National and International Perspectives. SAGE. pp. 84–. ISBN 978-0-7619-0688-9.
- ^ February 02, 1997 | By SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE (1997-02-02). "Laws Passed In 1979 | Va. finds it legalized medical marijuana Law passed in 1979 with no controversy - tribunedigital-baltimoresun". Articles.baltimoresun.com. Retrieved 2017-01-12.
- ^ Matthew Lippman (22 August 2013). Essential Criminal Law. SAGE Publications. pp. 298–. ISBN 978-1-4833-2447-0.
- ^ Michael D. Lyman (25 September 2013). Drugs in Society: Causes, Concepts, and Control. Routledge. pp. 398–. ISBN 978-0-12-407167-4.
- ^ Owner Of First U.S. Marijuana Pharmacy Now Broke And Fighting IRS http://www.forbes.com/sites/janetnovack/2012/07/13/owner-of-nations-first-marijuana-pharmacy-now-broke-and-fighting-irs Forbes.com July 13, 2012
- ^ "Election Summary Report, State of Alaska 1998 General Election: Official Results". Election Results. State of Alaska Division of Elections. 1 December 1998. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
- ^ a b c d "Active State Medical Marijuana Programs - NORML". norml.com. Archived from the original on May 3, 2008. Retrieved June 4, 2008.
- ^ "1906 - Present Historical Ballot Initiatives and Referenda" (PDF). State of Montana. Retrieved May 18, 2015.
- ^ "Maine Medical Marijuana". Retrieved April 29, 2012.
- ^ "Hawaii Becomes First State to Approve Medical Marijuana Bill". The New York Times. Associated Press. June 15, 2000. Retrieved February 7, 2017.
- ^ Cook, T; Powell D; Bradley T (November 5, 2008). "California Passes Gay Marriage Ban, Legal Challenges to Come". ABC News. Retrieved November 12, 2008.
- ^ "New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Ac". njleg.state.nj.us. Retrieved January 11, 2010.
- ^ Kocieniewski, David (January 12, 2010). "New Jersey Lawmakers Pass Medical Marijuana Bill". nytimes.com. Retrieved January 11, 2010.
- ^ Bennett, Ken (August 19, 2010). "Ballot Measures". Archived from the original on July 25, 2010. Retrieved August 24, 2010.
- ^ "Bill Text - SB-1449 Marijuana: possession". Leginfo.legislature.ca.gov. Retrieved 2017-01-12.
- ^ "Marijuana Laws Washington".
- ^ Warren, Pat (April 14, 2014). "Jail Time Replaced With Fines: Gov. O'Malley Signs Marijuana Decriminalization Bill". CBC Baltimore. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
- ^ "Gov. Dayton Signs Medical Marijuana Bill Into Law". CBS Minnesota. May 29, 2014. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
- ^ Campbell, Jon (July 7, 2014). "Cuomo signs New York's medical marijuana bill". USA Today. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
- ^ Bacca, Angela (12 July 2014). "First CBD Law in Nation Goes Into Effect". Cannabis Now Magazine. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
- ^ Philip Ross (30 April 2015). "Marijuana Legalization Oklahoma: Gov. Fallin Signs Bill Allowing Clinical Trials Of Medical Cannabis Derivative". International Business Times.
- ^ a b "2014 Ballot Measures". Retrieved November 5, 2014.
- ^ "Alaska Becomes Third State to Legalize Marijuana". February 24, 2015. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
- ^ "Recreational Marijuana in General". Oregon.gov. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
- ^ "Georgia Gov. Deal signs medical marijuana bill into law". MSNBC. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
- ^ "Abbott signs bill to legalize medical cannabis for epilepsy". KHOU. Retrieved June 2, 2015.
- ^ Litten, Kevin (June 29, 2015). "Bobby Jindal signs marijuana bills that reform criminal penalties, medical marijuana access". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved February 3, 2017.
- ^ "Delaware is 18th state to allow possession of recreational marijuana". The Guardian. Retrieved June 19, 2015.
- ^ Farber Madeline (9 June 2016). "John Kasich Signs Bill Legalizing Medical Marijuana in Ohio". Fortune. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
- ^ "governor wolf signs medical marijuana legalization bill into law". wjactv. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
- ^ Katie Reilly (July 30, 2016), "Illinois Is the Latest State to Decriminalize Small Amounts of Marijuana", Time
- ^ United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on the Judiciary. Subcommittee to Investigate Juvenile Delinquency (1977). Marijuana decriminalization: hearing before the Subcommittee to Investigate Juvenile Delinquency of the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, Ninety-fourth Congress, first session, pursuant to S. Res. 72, section 12, Investigation of juvenile delinquency in the United States, S. 1450 ... May 14, 1975. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 286.
- ^ Aaron Martinez, El Paso 4:10 p.m. MDT June 2, 2015 (2015-06-02). "100 years after El Paso becomes first city in U.S. to outlaw pot, debate remains the same". Elpasotimes.com. Retrieved 2016-10-27.
- ^ Marwil, Jonathan (1990), A History of Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, pp. 161–162.
- ^ "Ann Arbor Votes $5 Fine for the Use of Marijuana", The New York Times, April 3, 1974, p. 10.
- ^ Altieri, Erik (2013-07-30). "First Medical Marijuana Sale Reported in Washington, DC | NORML Blog, Marijuana Law Reform". Blog.norml.org. Retrieved 2016-11-20.
- ^ "Measure Z Home Page". Oaksterdam Cannabis Museum. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
- ^ "Denver votes to legalize marijuana possession". USA Today. November 3, 2005. Retrieved October 16, 2014.
- ^ "Breckenridge Pot Legalization Creates Big Buzz". ABC 7 Denver. November 5, 2009. Retrieved October 1, 2014.
- ^ "Portland, Maine, Legalizes Recreational Marijuana". Retrieved October 1, 2014.
- ^ "Philadelphia Is Decriminalizing Marijuana Possession". Retrieved October 1, 2014.
- ^ "Congressional spending deal blocks pot legalization in D.C.". Washington Post. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
- ^ "Pot now legal in D.C. despite threats from Congress". U.S.A Today. February 26, 2015. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
- ^ "Pot in NYC may soon net just a ticket, not an arrest". CNN. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
- ^ "Vote to decriminalize marijuana passes in Wichita". KSN-TV.
- ^ a b Janice Williams (2016-11-14). "Marijuana Legalization In Ohio: Several Cities Vote In Favor Of Decriminalization Laws". Ibtimes.com. Retrieved 2016-11-30.
- ^ "Arkansas follows nationwide trend to legalize marijuana". dailyhelmsman.com. Retrieved 2016-11-05.
- ^ "Guam Legalizes Medical Marijuana". The Huffington Post. Retrieved January 11, 2015.
- ^ "Marijuana Possession Now Decriminalized In US Virgin Islands". The Daily Chronic.
- ^ Alexandra Sifferlin. "Puerto Rico Governor Signs Executive Order to Legalize Medical Pot". TIME.com. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
- ^ the D.O.J. allows indian reservations to grow and sell marijuana, nwherald.com, December 12, 2014, retrieved December 24, 2014
- ^ "Tribe Bets on Legal Pot". US News. June 16, 2015. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
- ^ Lopez, German. "President Obama wants to treat marijuana like tobacco but not legalize it. Wait, what?". Vox. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
- ^ Wheaton, Sarah (March 16, 2015). "Obama snuffs stoner dreams of legalization". Politico. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
- ^ Smith, Michael. "Support for Legal Marijuana Use Up to 60% in U.S.". Gallup. Retrieved 2016-11-20.
- ^ Newport, Frank. "Record-High 50% of Americans Favor Legalizing Marijuana Use". Gallup. Retrieved 2016-11-20.
- ^ Juliet Lapidos (July 26, 2014). "The Public Lightens Up About Weed". The New York Times. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
- ^ "For First Time, Americans Favor Legalizing Marijuana". Gallup. October 22, 2013. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
- ^ "America's New Drug Policy Landscape". Pew Research Center. Pew Research Center. April 2, 2014. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
- ^ Editorial Board (July 2014). "Our Position: Repeal Prohibition, Again". The New York Times. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
- ^ "In U.S., 58% Back Legal Marijuana Use". Retrieved October 21, 2015.
- ^ Gates, Gary J. "Support for Legal Marijuana Use Up to 60% in U.S.". Gallup. Retrieved 2017-01-12.