Other States

This year saw a flurry of activity revising state marijuana laws. Most notably Washington, California, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Massachusetts debated bills to legalize and tax marijuana. Also, 18 states looked at medical marijuana bills and six states considered proposals to reduce penalties for those convicted of marijuana offenses.

A HISTORY OF MARIJUANA LAWS

1972
	A commission led by former Pennsylvania governor Raymond Shafer recommends to President Richard Nixon that marijuana be decriminalized.
1973
	Oregon decriminalizes possession of less than one ounce of marijuana.
1975
	Colorado decrminalizes possession of one ounce or less of marijuana.
	Ohio decriminalizes possession of 100 grams or less of marijuana.
1976
	California decriminalizes possession of 28.5 grams or less of marijuana.
	Maine decriminalizes possession of 1.25 ounces or less of marijuana.
	Minnesota decriminalizes possession of 42.5 grams or less of marijuana.
1977
	Mississippi decriminalizes possession of 30 grams or less of marijuana.
	New York decriminalizes possession of 25 grams or less of marijuana.
	North Carolina decriminalizes possession of half an ounce or less of marijuana.
1978
	Nebraska decriminalizes possession of one ounce or less of marijuana.
1981
	Ronald Reagan becomes president. His administration would take a tough stand against drugs, discouraging states from softening their marijuana policies.
1996
	California legalizes medical marijuana.
1998
	Oregon legalizes medical marijuana.
	Washington legalizes medical marijuana.
1999
	Alaska legalizes medical marijuana.
	Maine legalizes medical marijuana.
2000
	Hawaii legalizes medical marijuana.
2001
	Colorado legalizes medical marijuana.
	Nevada legalizes medical marijuana and decriminalizes possession of one ounce or less of marijuana.
2003
	Maryland establishes a defendant's medical condition as an affirmative defense in marijuana prosecutions.
2004
	Montana legalizes medical marijuana.
	Vermont legalizes medical marijuana.
2005
	The U.S. Supreme Court found that the federal government could take steps prohibiting cultivation and distribution of marijuana despite state laws allowing medical marijuana inGonzales v. Raich. The ruling reinforced the federal government’s supremacy over states in this area.
2006
	Rhode Island legalizes medical marijuna.
2007
	New Mexico legalizes medical marijuana.
2008
	Massachusetts decriminalizes possession of one ounce or less of marijuana.
	Michigan legalizes medical marijuana.
2009
	The U.S. Department of Justice signals it will not aggressively prosecute suppliers or users of marijuana if they are complying with state medical marijuana laws.
Passed but not implemented
	Washington, D.C., has passes a law legalizing medical marijuana.
	New Jersey has passes a law legalizing medical marijuana.

Source:The National Conference of State Legislatures, the Marijuana Policy Project and the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws