List of 2019 United States cannabis reform proposals

In 2019, twenty seven U.S. states proposed cannabis reform legislation for medical marijuana and non-medical adult use.[1] State-level legalization remains at odds with cannabis' status as a Schedule I narcotic under the Controlled Substances Act at the Federal level.

Legality of cannabis in the United States
  Legal
  Legal for medical use
  Legal for medical use, limited THC content
  Prohibited for any use
  D  Decriminalized
Notes:
· Includes laws which have not yet gone into effect.
· Cannabis remains a Schedule I drug under federal law.
· Some Indian reservations have legalization policies separate from the states they are located in.
· Cannabis is illegal in all federal enclaves (other than hemp).

Major publications predicted several state legislatures would propose legislation in 2019, or voters would do so directly via initiative. These included Connecticut, Hawaii, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island and Illinois.[2][3][4] Ohio Marijuana Legalization Initiative (filed in 2018) may appear on the 2019 ballot.[5]

Legislation and initiatives passed in 2019
  • Delaware Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 37 (SB 37), expungement of one cannabis related felony or misdemeanor, became law June 30[6]
  • Georgia HB 324, allowing medical cannabis to be grown and sold (ratified by governor April 17)[7][8]
  • Hawaii HB 1383, decriminalization (passed state House of Representatives March 7, amended bill passed Senate April 9, reconciled April 26)[9][10][11][12]
  • Illinois Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act (Illinois House Bill 1438), legalization and regulation; passed by state legislature on May 31.[13] Effective January 1, 2020.[14]
  • New Mexico Senate Bill 323, decriminalization[15]
  • North Dakota HB 1050, partial decriminalization (criminal infraction without jail)[16]
  • Texas HB 3703, expansion of medical cannabis program qualifying conditions[17]
  • Texas HB 1325, legalized hemp[18]

Legislation and initiatives introduced in 2019

State
  • Arkansas HB 1972, proposed decriminalization[19]
  • Alabama SB98, proposed decriminalization (approved by Senate Judiciary Committee[20])
  • Arizona 2020 legalization initiative "Cannabis Justice Act"[21][22]
  • Smart and Safe Arizona Act (initiative introduced August 2019, reviewed by Legislative Council in n September)[23][24]
  • Connecticut House Bill 7371, proposed legalization and regulation, and SB 1085, legalizing possession, and expunging past convictions (approved by finance, general law, and judiciary committees)[25][26][27]
  • Delaware HB 110 legalization (approved by House Revenue & Finance Committee June 5[28])
  • Florida initiatives for 2020
    • Regulate Marijuana in a Manner Similar to Alcohol, sponsored by Sensible Florida, is a proposed constitutional amendment.[29][30][31] The state supreme court took up a review of whether the initiative was compliant with legal requirements in September.[32]
    • The Florida Marijuana Legalization and Medical Marijuana Treatment Center Sales Initiative, sponsored by Make It Legal Florida, is also a constitutional amendment that would allow non-medical sales through the retail points authorized by Florida Amendment 2 in 2016.[29][30][33] It gathered 100,000 signatures in 20 days.[34]
  • Hawaii SB 686, proposed legalization
  • Idaho hemp and medical cannabis initiative (filed)[35][36]
  • Idaho medical cannabis initiative filed with Secretary of State July 3[37]
  • Louisiana House Bill 509, proposed legalization and regulation[11]
  • Missouri HB 1095, proposed decriminalization[38]
  • New Hampshire House Bill 481, proposed legalization (passed House of Representatives April 4[39])
  • New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory and Expungement Aid Modernization Act, proposed legalization and regulation, to become 2020 voter referendum
  • New Jersey A-5325, proposed decriminalization (passed appropriations committee on May 20[40])
  • New Mexico House Bill 356, proposed legalization and regulation (failed)
  • New Mexico Governor's working group proposal (October 16, for January 2020 session) – legalization and expungement[41]
  • New York Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (S1527/A1617), legalization and regulation[42]
  • Pennsylvania H.B. 1899, adult use legalization and sales through state liquor stores; introduced October 1, 2019[43]
  • Pennsylvania H.B. 350, adult use and expungement[44]
  • South Dakota constitutional amendment petition, proposed legalization and regulation (cleared by Secretary of State September 11, 2019[45], over 50,000 voter signatures submitted on November 4[46])
  • South Dakota Initiated Measure 26, approved for 2020 ballot on December 19, 2019
  • Texas House Bill 63, proposed decriminalization (passed Criminal Jurisprudence Committee on March 25,[47] passed in House of Representatives April 29[48])
  • Virginia House Bill 2371 proposed legalization; it was defeated in the Courts of Justice committee.[49]

Federal

See also

References
  1. Reid Wilson (July 22, 2019). "Record number of states considered marijuana legalization in 2019". The Hill.
  2. Amanda Chicago Lewis (January 2, 2019), "Weed in 2019: What to expect", Rolling Stone
  3. Kyle Jaeger (January 28, 2019), These 10 states are most likely to pass marijuana legalization bills in 2019, Marijuana Moment – via Boston Globe
  4. Alexandra Hutzler (January 1, 2019), "Marijuana legalization 2019: which states will consider legal weed in year experts predict will be 'real game-changer'", Newsweek
  5. "Ohio Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2019)". Ballotpedia.
  6. Melissa Steele (July 3, 2019). "Sentencing, expungement changes signed into law". Cape Gazette. Lewes, Delaware.
  7. Devan Cole (April 3, 2019). "Georgia on cusp of legalizing medical marijuana". CNN.
  8. Sanya MANSOOR (April 17, 2019). "Georgia Gov. Kemp signs medical marijuana bill". Associated Press.
  9. Kristen Consillio (March 7, 2019). "Hawaii state House passes bill decriminalizing possession of marijuana". Star-Advertiser. Honolulu.
  10. Casey Harlow (March 19, 2019). "Measure to decriminalize cannabis possession moves forward". Hawaii Public Radio.
  11. Carly Wolf (April 12, 2019). "Weekly Legislative Roundup". NORML.
  12. Sophie Cocke (April 26, 2019). "Hawaii close to decriminalizing marijuana possession". Star-Advertiser.
  13. "Lawmakers Vote To Legalize Marijuana In Illinois". CBS Local. May 31, 2019.
  14. "Illinois legalizes marijuana and other new state laws in 2020". NPR. January 1, 2020.
  15. Herreria, Carla (April 4, 2019). "New Mexico Decriminalizes Possession Of Marijuana". HuffPost. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
  16. Claire Hansen (May 10, 2019). "North Dakota Gov. Burgum Signs Bill to Decriminalize Marijuana". US News and World Report.
  17. Lauren McGaughy (June 14, 2019). "Texas expands access to medical marijuana". Associated Press – via Dallas Morning News]].
  18. https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/texas/articles/2019-07-03/new-texas-hemp-law-causing-problems-with-marijuana-cases<
  19. A.J. Herrington (April 2, 2019). "Arkansas Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Decriminalize Marijuana". High Times.
  20. "Alabama Senate committee passes marijuana decriminalization" (blog). Marijuana Policy Project. April 17, 2019.
  21. Arizona Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2020), Ballotpedia
  22. Sonu Wasu (July 2, 2019). "Supporters preparing push for marijuana legalization initiative on 2020 ballot". Phoenix: KNXV-TV.
  23. Randazzo, Ryan (August 9, 2019). "Group backing legal marijuana in Arizona releases ballot measure details". Arizona Republic.
  24. Randazzo, Ryan (September 9, 2019). "Arizona marijuana ballot measure will advance with minor changes after review". Arizona Republic.
  25. "Marijuana legalization: New Jersey takes step back, Connecticut Moves Forward, New York Stays In Neutral". CBS Local New York. March 25, 2019.
  26. Mike Massaro (May 15, 2019). "Supporters of Recreational Marijuana to Rally at State Capitol". WVIT NBC Connecticut.
  27. Christopher Keating (May 1, 2019). "Marijuana taxation clears committee, setting the stage for final legalization bill". Hartford Courant.
  28. Randall Chase  (June 5, 2019). "Marijuana legalization bill clears first legislative hurdle".  Associated Press – via Washington Post.
  29. Ostrowski, Jeff (September 25, 2019). "Florida marijuana: 2 initiatives to legalize pot aim for 2020 ballot". Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
  30. Peters, Xander. "Why Marijuana Could Be Legal in Florida as Soon as 2020". Rolling Stone.
  31. Florida Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2020), Ballotpedia, accessed October 28, 2019
  32. Florida Supreme Court Docket. Case Number: SC19-1536 ADVISORY OPINION TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL vs. RE: REGULATE MARIJUANA IN A MANNER SIMILAR TO ALCOHOL TO ESTABLISH AGE, LICENSING, AND OTHER RESTRICTIONS, accessed October 28, 2019
  33. Florida Marijuana Legalization and Medical Marijuana Treatment Center Sales Initiative (2020), Ballotpedia, accessed October 28, 2019
  34. Swisher, Skyler (October 4, 2019). "Supporters have high hopes for recreational marijuana in Florida as petition drive kicks off". Sun-Sentinel. Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
  35. Cynthia Sewell (March 8, 2019). "Effort underway to get medical marijuana and hemp initiative on Idaho ballot in 2020". Idaho Statesman.
  36. Quinn Welsch (March 28, 2019). "Idaho's marijuana fight in 2019 will likely be all uphill". Inlander. Spokane.
  37. Betsy Z. Russell (July 3, 2019). "New version of Idaho medical marijuana initiative clears first hurdle". Idaho Press – via KBOI.
  38. Jared Austin and Alex Arger (March 1, 2019). "A new bill would make Missouri the 14th state to decriminalize weed". Columbia, Missouri: KOMU-TV.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
  39. A.J. Herrington (April 8, 2019), "New Hampshire House Passes Cannabis Legalization Bill", High Times
  40. Sam SUTTON (May 20, 2019). "ride through Assembly". Politico.
  41. Boyd, Dan (October 16, 2019). "Task force releases NM cannabis legalization plan". Albuquerque Journal.
  42. "Warren M. Anderson Legislative Breakfast Seminar Series: Challenges of Legalization of Marijuana" (PDF). Albany Law School. February 12, 2019.
  43. "Delaware County lawmaker introduces bill to legalize marijuana, sell at Pa. stores". Philadelphia: WTXF-TV. October 1, 2019.
  44. Sam Wood (October 15, 2019). "'Gold standard' bill to legalize recreational weed in Pa. introduced in Harrisburg". Philadelphia Enquirer.
  45. 2020 ballot questions, South Dakota Secretary of State, accessed September 21, 2019
  46. "SD Groups File Petitions for Medical, Recreational Marijuana". Associated Press.
  47. Caitlin Donohue (March 26, 2019). "Marijuana Decriminalization Bill Approved by Texas House Committee". High Times.
  48. Alex Samuels (April 29, 2019). "Texas House passes bill that reduces penalties for Texans caught with small amounts of marijuana". The Texas Tribune.
  49. Tyree, Elizabeth (March 25, 2019). "Bills to legalize, decriminalize marijuana defeated in Virginia". WSET.
  50. Top Democrats to Introduce Bill Removing Marijuana from Controlled Substances List, Claire Hansen,  May 9, 2019, US News
  51. Kyle Jaeger (June 6, 2019). "Bipartisan marijuana banking bill quietly advances in House as floor vote approaches". Boston Globe.
  52. Andrew Taylor and Michael Balsamo (June 20, 2019), House would block Feds from interfering with state pot laws, Associated PressCS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
  53. Angelica LaVito (July 23, 2019), Nadler, Harris to introduce bill decriminalizing pot, expunge marijuana convictions, CNBC
  54. Rodrigo, Chris Mills (March 7, 2019). "Tulsi Gabbard, Don Young introduce marijuana reform bill". TheHill.
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