In 2019, twenty seven U.S. states proposed cannabis reform legislation for medical marijuana and non-medical adult use. State-level legalization remains at odds with cannabis' status as a Schedule I narcotic under the Controlled Substances Act at the Federal level.
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. Ohio Marijuana Legalization Initiative (filed in 2018) may appear on the 2019 ballot.
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 Georgia HB 324, allowing medical cannabis to be grown and sold (ratified by governor April 17) Hawaii HB 1383, decriminalization (passed state House of Representatives March 7, amended bill passed Senate April 9, reconciled April 26) Illinois Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act (Illinois House Bill 1438), legalization and regulation; passed by state legislature on May 31. Effective January 1, 2020. New Mexico Senate Bill 323, decriminalization North Dakota HB 1050, partial decriminalization (criminal infraction without jail) Texas HB 3703, expansion of medical cannabis program qualifying conditions Texas HB 1325, legalized hemp
Legislation and initiatives introduced in 2019 State
State Title DetailArkansasHB 1972Arkansas HB 1972, proposed decriminalizationAlabamaSB98Alabama SB98, proposed decriminalization (approved by Senate Judiciary Committee)ArizonaProposition 207Arizona Proposition 207, Smart and Safe Arizona Act: a legalization initiative on the 2020 ballotArizona Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2020), BallotpediaConnecticutHouse Bill 7371Connecticut House Bill 7371, proposed legalization and regulation, and SB 1085, legalizing possession, and expunging past convictions (approved by finance, general law, and judiciary committees)DelawareHB 110Delaware HB 110 legalization (approved by House Revenue & Finance Committee June 5)FloridaFlorida initiatives for 2020 Regulate Marijuana in a Manner Similar to Alcohol, sponsored by Sensible Florida, is a proposed constitutional amendment.Florida Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2020), Ballotpedia, accessed October 28, 2019 The state supreme court took up a review of whether the initiative was compliant with legal requirements in September.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 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.Florida Marijuana Legalization and Medical Marijuana Treatment Center Sales Initiative (2020) , Ballotpedia, accessed October 28, 2019 It gathered 100,000 signatures in 20 days.HawaiiHawaii SB 686, proposed legalizationIdahoIdaho hemp and medical cannabis initiative (filed) Idaho medical cannabis initiative filed with Secretary of State July 3 Louisiana House Bill 509, proposed legalization and regulationMissouriHB 1095Missouri HB 1095, proposed decriminalization New HampshireHouse Bill 481New Hampshire House Bill 481, proposed legalization (passed House of Representatives April 4)New JerseyNew 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)New MexicoHouse Bill 356New Mexico House Bill 356, proposed legalization and regulation (failed) New Mexico Governor's working group proposal (October 16, for January 2020 session) – legalization and expungementNew YorkNew York Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (S1527/A1617), legalization and regulationPennsylvaniaH.B. 1899Pennsylvania H.B. 1899, adult use legalization and sales through state liquor stores; introduced October 1, 2019 Pennsylvania H.B. 350, adult use and expungementSouth DakotaSouth Dakota constitutional amendment petition, proposed legalization and regulation (cleared by Secretary of State September 11, 2019,2020 ballot questions, South Dakota Secretary of State, accessed September 21, 2019 over 50,000 voter signatures submitted on November 4) South Dakota Initiated Measure 26, approved for 2020 ballot on December 19, 2019TexasHouse Bill 63Texas House Bill 63, proposed decriminalization (passed Criminal Jurisprudence Committee on March 25, passed in House of Representatives April 29)VirginiaHouse Bill 2371Virginia House Bill 2371 proposed legalization; it was defeated in the Courts of Justice committee.
Federal Marijuana Freedom and Opportunity Act, would deschedule cannabis, cosponsored by Chuck SchumerTop Democrats to Introduce Bill Removing Marijuana from Controlled Substances List, Claire Hansen, May 9, 2019, US News SAFE Banking Act, moved out of committee and placed on Union Calendar June 6 STATES Act FY2020 spending bill rider, recognizing state-legal cannabis passed in House on June 20, 267 to 165 Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act introduced in Congress by House Judiciary Committee chairman Jerry Nadler and Presidential candidate Senator Kamala Harris, would provide for de-scheduling, federal legalization and expungement Marijuana Justice Act Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act
References
External links Marijuana on the ballot at Ballotpedia