State Laws

and

Legislation Status

2009

AL – Bill HB642 - The Michael Phillips Compassionate Care Act of Alabama - introduced by Rep. Patricia Todd (D-Birmingham) to be heard in the House Judiciary Committee later in March 2010.

AK – Legal since 1999. Ballot Measure 8 approved Nov. 1998. Alaska Bureau of Vital Statistics is responsible for the patient registry – no statistics available.

AZ – Ballot Proposition 200 passed in Nov. 1996. Flawed due to Dr’s "prescription". Work has begun on a 2010 initiative.

AR – Nothing pending

CA – Proposition 215, initiative passed in Nov. 1996 with 56% approval. As of May 9, 2009 there are more than 30,000 patients

CO – Amendment 20, initiative passed in 2000. As of Aug. 2009 – 5920 registered patients

CN– Governor Jodi Rell (R) vetoed 2007 legislation. Introduced in 2009: HB 6156 by Rep. Penny Bacchioch (R – Sommers) and HB 5175 by Rep. Mary Mushinsky (D-Wellingford)

DE– SB 94 introduced by Sen. Marg. Rose henry (D-Wilmington) – possibly up for vote in Jan 2010.

DC – Bill passed in 1998 by 69%, but Barr Amendment blocked implementation. In 2009, the bill was finally approved.  For local help contact the District of Columbia Patient Advocacy Coalition .

FL – No medical bills pending. People United for Medical Marijuana circulating petition to build support for a bill

GA – Nothing pending

HI – Bill signed into law 7/12/2000. In 2007 there were 3240 patients registered.

ID – Rep. Tom Trail (R – Moscow) expected to introduce a bill

IL – Senate passed Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act SB 1381 up for vote in Nov 2009 or Jan 2010.

IN – Nothing pending

IA– Sen. Joe Bolkcam (D –Iowa City) introducing SF 293 (Senate Human Resources Subcommittee)

KA – SB 556 died in 2009 – would have allow affirmative defense.

KY – Nothing pending

LA – Nothing pending. In July 1991, HB 1187 passed to allow cannabis for paralyzed victims a "prescription" – bill is void

ME – Maine Medial Marijuana Act 1998 passed as Ballot Question 2. Maine Citizens for Patients’ Rights. 11/2009 Question 5 passed – allows for patient registry and state licensed nonprofit dispensaries

MD– Darrell Putman Compassionate Use Act SB 502 passed in 2003 – allows medical necessity defense.

MA– HB 2160 Rep. Frank Smizik (D-Fifteenth Norfolk) – like RI’s new law. Massachusetts Patient Advocacy Alliance. Additional legislation for marijuana legalization: HB2929 and SB 1801

MI – Proposal I – Michigan Medical Marijuana Act passed Nov. 2008 by 63%. Active by 12/4/08. + reciprocity.

MN– Governor Pawlenty (R) vetoed the 2009 bill. Constitutional amendment – hoping to get on Nov 2010 ballot

MS – Nothing pending

MO – HB 277 stuck in committee

MT– Initiative 148 passed Nov. 2004 with 62%. SB 326 will add more acceptable conditions. HB 13 will allow NPs and PAs to recommend cannabis.

NC– HB 1380 - North Carolina Medical Marijuana Act - Rep. Earl Jones (D – Guilford), Rep. Pricey Harrison & Rep. Nick Mackey. The bill is currently in the Health Committee. HB 1383 is the referendum bill for medical marijuana. NC Cannabis Patient Network

NE – Nothing pending

NV – Question 9 passed in Nov. 2007. $200/patient registration

NH – Governor John Lynch (D) vetoed HB 648 on 7/10/09. Will try to override in Sept. – need 2/3 vote. Oct. 28, 09 – Senate vote 14-10 (not enough). New Hampshire Coalition for Common Sense Marijuana Policy

NJ–  NJ Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act was signed by outgoing Governor Corzine on Jan. 18, 2010, making NJ the 14th state to guarantee legal access to medicinal cannabis. Coalition for Medical Marijuana New Jersey, Inc.

NM – SB 523, the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act became the 12^{th  _{legal medical marijuana state, signed by Gov. Bill Richardson (D) April, 2007. 9/8/09 – hearing for medical cannabis producers. Consistently uses "cannabis" throughout the law.}}

NY – Assembly Bill A.9016 introduced by Assembly Health Committee Chair Richard Gottfried (D – Manhattan) in June 2009 (no personal growing) pending. Assembly bill A07542 and SB S04041A

ND – Nothing pending

OH – SB 343

OK – Nothing pending

OR – Ballot Initiative 67 passed in Nov. 1998 – Oregon Medical Marijuana Act. 2009 – hearings to add MH conditions. As of April, 2009 there were 20,974 patients registered.

PA– Rep. Mark Cohen (D –Philadelphia) and Rep. Phyllis Mundy (D- Kingston) introduced HB 1393 in April, 2009 – Barry Busch Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act. – Pennsylvanians for Medical Marijuana.

RI – SB 0710 passed in Jan. 2006. Rep. Thomas Slater died summer 2009 from aggressive breast cancer. Bill vetoed by governor, but overridden. 6/12/09 bill to allow for growing operations vetoed, but overridden. Rhode Island Patient Advocacy Coalition– exec dir. Stephen Hogan, Jr. Rhonda O’Donnell – nurse with MS and one of the first legal Patients Out of Time

SC– Sen. William Mescher (R – Berkley Co) introduced S 220 in 2007 (wife died of lung cancer). April 8. 2007 he died from a stroke

SD – SD Safe Access Act – initiative for 2010 ballot. SD Coalition for Compassion - www.sdcompassion.org 

TN – Sen. Beverly Marrero (D –Memphis) – SB 209, Rep. Jeanne Richardson (D- Memphis) – HB 368

TX – Bill introduced in 2007, died in committee. HB 164 would allow affirmative defense. Poll shows 75% Texans support medical marijuana

UT – Nothing pending

VT – SB 76/HB 645 became law July, 2004

VA – Old law allows for physicians to prescribe for cancer and glaucoma Patients Out of Time

WA – Measure 692 passed in Nov. 1998. Oct. 2, 2008 – allow a 60 day supply of 24 oz. and 15 plants

WV – Nothing pending

WI– Jacki Rickert Medical Marijuana Act – Assembly Bill 554 / Senate Bill 368 -  75% Wisconsins support medical marijuana. Is My Medicine Legal Yet? and  http://jrmma.org/

WY – Nothing pending