Reports & Media

Status: Medical only

History:

1975: Possession of small amounts of cannabis decriminalised to a small misdemeanour carrying a fine of $US100
2016: Legalisation of medical cannabis
2019: The first legal sales of medical cannabis began in January 2019

Policy Framework:

Patients must have a qualifying condition in order to obtain medical cannabis legally (there are 21 listed);
There is no allowance for patients to cultivate their own cannabis;
Medical cannabis can only be obtained from a state-licensed dispensary;
There are an estimated 57,589 registered medical cannabis patients in Ohio, according to the Ohio Board of Pharmacy;
Possession of less than 100g (3.5oz is a misdemeanour punishable by a fine of up to $US150;
Possession of more than 200g (7oz) and under 40,000g (1410oz) is a felony punishable by up to eight years in prison and fines of up to $US15,000;
Possession of more than 40,000g is a felony punishable by at least eight years in prison and a fine of up to $US20,000;
Gifting less than 20g (0.7oz) of cannabis is a misdemeanour punishable by up to 60 days in prison and fines of up to $US350;
Outcomes:

Between 2005 and 2017, cannabis use disorder in people over the age of 12 decreased from 1.7% to 1.3%.

Source:  https://crime-data-explorer.fr.cloud.gov/explorer/state/ohio/crime Read more

Status: Medical Use History: 2015: CBD (cannabidiol) oil legalised for over-the-counter use 2018: Medical cannabis legalised Policy Framework: Medical cannabis must be recommended by a licensed doctor for patients who wish to obtain it legally; Patients can possess 3oz (85g) of cannabis, 72oz (2kg) of edible cannabis, 6 mature cannabis plants, six immature cannabis plants, and 1oz (30g) of concentrated cannabis; Patients are permitted to use smokable forms of medical cannabis; Medical cannabis can only be obtained from state-licensed medical cannabis dispensaries; There are an estimated 178,173 registered medical cannabis patients in Oklahoma, according to the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority; Possession of any amount of cannabis for recreational use is a misdemeanour punishable by up to a year in prison and a fine of up to $US1000; Sale or distribution of any amount of cannabis is a felony punishable by up to life in prison and fines of up to $US500,000. Outcomes: Between 2005 and 2017, cannabis use in people over the age of 12 decreased from 1.9% to 1.0%. Read more

Status: Prohibited History: 2013-2015: Attempts to legalise medical cannabis fail Policy Framework: Possession of any amount less than 450g (15oz) is a misdemeanour punishable by a $US1000 fine and six months in prison; Possession of 450g or more is a felony punishable by 42 months in prison at a minimum and a fine of $US100,000; Sale or distribution of less than 25g (0.8oz) is a felony punishable by at least 51 months in prison and a fine of $US300,000; Cultivation or sale is punishable by up to 204 months in prison and a fine of up to $US500,000. Source: Norml Outcomes: Between 2005 and 2017, cannabis use disorder in people over the age of 12 decreased from 1.5% to 1.0%. Read more

Status: Prohibited History: 1970 - 2015: Failed attempts at decriminalisation and deprioritisation 2014: Legalisation of CBD (Cannabidiol) oil (although no way of legally obtaining CBD oil in-state) Policy Framework: Possession of any amount is a misdemeanour, the punishment for which depends on prior possession offences. Possession for personal use is punishable by up to two years in prison and fines of up to $US6250; Distribution or cultivation is a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to $US100,000. Read more

Status: Prohibited History: 2015: Failed attempts to legalise cannabis for medical use 2017: CBD legalised for epilepsy 2018: CBD legalised for any use Policy Framework: Possession of any amount is a misdemeanour punishable by 150 days in prison and a $US1000 fine; Possession of less than 30g (1oz) of cannabis and a prior drug conviction is a misdemeanour punishable by a year in prison and a fine of $US5000; Possession of 30g or more and a prior drug conviction is a felony punishable by up to 2.5 years in prison and a fine of $US10,000; Sale or cultivation of less than 30g is a misdemeanour punishable by a year in prison and a fine of $US5000; Sale or cultivation of any more than 30g is a felony punishable by up to 2.5 years in prison and fines of up to $US10,000. Source: Norml Outcomes: Between 2005 and 2017, cannabis use disorder in people over the age of 12 decreased from 1.8% to 1.1%. Read more

Status: Legal History: 1973: Oregon decriminalised possession of small amounts of cannabis to a fine 1998: Oregon legalises medical cannabis 2015: Oregon legalises cannabis for recreational use 2017: Licensed sales begin Consumers: Must be 21-years-of-age or older to purchase, possess or consume cannabis; Can possess up to 8oz (226g) of usable cannabis (dried leaves and flowers), 1oz (30g) of cannabis concentrate, 16oz (453g) of a cannabinoid product in solid form, 72oz (2kgs) of cannabinoid produce in liquid form, 10 cannabis seeds, and four cannabis plants; An individual 21-years-of-age or older can gift cannabis products to another adult so long as it falls within the personal possession limit; May not drive while under the influence of cannabis; May not consume cannabis in public spaces; 17% sales tax on all cannabis-containing products; Possession of more than 1lb (16oz) is a misdemeanour punishable by up to a year in prison and fines of up to $US6250; Unlicensed manufacturing is a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $US375,000. Outcomes 10% decrease in violent crime; Counts of marijuana-related calls to the Oregon Poison Center increased across all age groups from 2014 to 2018, with the largest increase among those aged 21 years and older; 13% drop in the murder rate; In 2017, more than half (57%) of adults reported to have used marijuana and 19% reported to use marijuana in the past 30 days; In 2018, 8% of Oregon 8th graders and 20% of Oregon 11th graders reported current marijuana use in the past 30 days; Since 2014, current marijuana use has increased among all age groups; In 2019, tax revenue generated from marijuana totalled $US102.1 million; Increased cannabis-related calls to poison centre; $US70 million in state revenue; $US250 million in sales; In 2017, 57% of Oregon residents report current use of cannabis (used in the past 30 days), 39% of which report daily usage; Between 2005 and 2017, cannabis use disorder in people over the age of 12 increased from 1.9% to 2.4%. Read more

Status: Medical Use History: 2015: Municipal reforms begin (decriminalisation in some cities and regions) 2016: Medical cannabis legalised Policy Framework: Patients must have a qualifying condition (there are 23 listed); Patients must be certified by a doctor and register to the programme to obtain medical cannabis legally; 30-day supply as prescribed by a doctor; No allowance made for patients to cultivate their own cannabis at home; Pennsylvania can have up to 25 licensed medical cannabis growers and up to 50 dispensaries; Medical cannabis can only be obtained from a dispensary; There are an estimated 116,000 registered medical cannabis patients in Pennsylvania, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health; Possession of less than 30g (1oz) of cannabis for recreational use is a misdemeanour punishable by up to 30 days in prison and a fine of up to $US500; Possession of over 30g of recreational cannabis is a misdemeanour punishable by up to a year in prison and fines of up to $US5000; Sale or distribution of less than 30g of cannabis without remuneration is a misdemeanour punishable by up to 30 days in prison and fines of up to $US500; Sale or distribution of more than 30g of cannabis is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison and fines of up to $US15,000; Cultivation of any number of plants is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison and fines of up to $US15,000. Outcomes: Between 2005 and 2017, cannabis use disorder in people over the age of 12 decreased from 1.5% to 1.4%. Read more

Status: Legal History: 2013 - Medical cannabis legalised 2016 - Possession of recreational cannabis decriminalised to a misdemeanour crime 2018 - Medical cannabis laws liberalised (patients to no longer undergo criminal background checks or be fingerprinted. More conditions were added to the qualifying conditions list in 2019) 2020 - Recreational cannabis legalised Policy Framework: Medical cannabis patients must have a qualifying condition to obtain medical cannabis legally (prior to recreational cannabis being legalised in 2020); Medical cannabis patients must have a recommendation from a doctor before they can obtain medical cannabis; Under the new legislation, over 700,000 residents of Illinois will be eligible for expungement of cannabis possession criminal records; “Social equity” dispensary license applicants can meet criteria to obtain a special license aimed to benefit historically disenfranchised communities; Individuals must be 21 years or older to purchase, possess, or consume cannabis; Only state-registered medical cannabis patients may grow their own cannabis at home with a limit of five plants per household; No consuming cannabis in a public place; There are currently 55 dispensaries in the state of Illinois; Possession limit of 30g (1oz) of cannabis flower; There are an estimated 39,808 registered medical cannabis patients in Illinois. Read more

Status: Prohibited History: 1927: Idaho banned cannabis 2013: Idaho legislature made a statement about its opposition to cannabis legalisation 2012-2020: Failed medical cannabis legalisation attempts Policy Framework: Possession of 3oz (85g) or less is a misdemeanour punishable by up to a year in prison and a fine of up to $US1000; Possession of more than 3oz but less than 1lb (16oz) is a felony punishable by up to a $US10,000 fine and five years in prison; Possession of any amount with intent to sell is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison and up to a $US50,000 fine; Sale, delivery or cultivation of cannabis is a felony punishable by five years in prison and fines of up to $US50,000. Source: Norml Outcomes: Between 2005 and 2015, cannabis use disorder in people over the age of 12 decreased from 1.2% and 1.5%. Read more

Status: Medical only, recreational use decriminalised (new status) History: 2000 - Medical cannabis legalised (No legal way to obtain cannabis) 2015 - Dispensary system implemented 2017 - Medical cannabis sales start 2020 - Possession of small amounts of cannabis was decriminalised Policy Framework: Patients must be registered to obtain cannabis; Patients can only obtain cannabis with a doctor’s recommendation that cannabis will best treat their condition; There are 15 qualifying conditions; Hawaii has eight medical cannabis dispensaries; Patients can possess up to 4oz (113g) of medical cannabis between them and their primary caregiver; There are an estimated 26,125 registered medical cannabis patients in Hawaii according to the State of Hawaii, Department of Health; Possession of fewer than 3g (0.1oz) of cannabis is decriminalised to a violation (like a speeding ticket) punishable by a fine of $US130; Possession of less than 1lb (16oz) is a misdemeanour punishable by up to a year in prison and fines of up to $US2000; Possession of more than 1lb is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison and fines of up to $US10,000; Sale or delivery of less than 1oz (28g) of cannabis is a misdemeanour punishable by up to a year in prison and fines of up to $US2000; Sale or delivery of more than 1oz of cannabis is a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $US50,000; Cultivation of any amount of cannabis is a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $US50,000. Source: Norml Outcomes: Between 2005 and 2017, cannabis use disorder in people over the age of 12 decreased from 2.0% to 1.4%; In 2018, sales of medical marijuana reached $US17.2 million. Read more

Status: Medical only History: 2014: Medical cannabis legalised 2015: Medical cannabis sales begin Policy Framework: Patients must have a qualifying condition; Patients must register for the programme; Medical cannabis only available in liquid, pill or vaporised form - dried cannabis flowers and leaves are not legally obtainable even for registered patients; Dispensary system; Patients must re-enrol in the programme annually; Patients must pay an annual registration fee in order to continue obtaining cannabis legally; Patients may not possess more than a 30 day supply, as prescribed by their doctor; There are an estimated 18,000 registered medical cannabis patients in Minnesota according to the Minnesota department of health. Outcomes: Between 2005 and 2017, Cannabis use disorder in people over the age of 12 decreased from 2.0% to 1.1%; In 2018, sales of medical marijuana reached $US9.6 million. Read more

Current Status: Medical only History: 2012: Failed medical cannabis initiative 2016: Medical cannabis legalised May 2019: Medical cannabis sales begin Policy Framework: Patients must have one of 12 qualifying conditions and a doctor’s recommendation to legally obtain medical cannabis; State-licensed cannabis dispensary system for medical cannabis; 32 dispensaries and five cultivators; No allowance has been made for rural patients to cultivate medical cannabis in their own home; Possession of fewer than 4oz (113g) of cannabis for the first offence is a misdemeanour punishable by up to one year in prison and fines of up to $US2500; Possession of less than 4oz of cannabis for a subsequent offence is a felony punishable by up to six years in prison and fines of up to $US10,000; Possession of more than 4oz is a felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison and fines of up to $US15,000. Outcomes: Past-year cannabis use disorder in Arkansas aged 12 years and above decreased between 2005 and 2017 (from 1.6% to 1.4%). Read more

Status: Legal History: 1907: Cannabis criminalised 1996: Medical use legalised 2009: Full legalisation 2010: Decriminalisation Policy Framework: Must be 21-years-of-age or older to purchase, possess or consume cannabis; Driving under the influence of cannabis is prohibited; It is prohibited to consume cannabis in any form in public spaces; Illegal to consume cannabis in areas where smoking tobacco is prohibited; 15% excise tax on all cannabis purchasers; Possession of over an ounce of cannabis is a misdemeanour punishable by up to six months in prison and fines of up to $US500; Distribution or sale of cannabis without a license is a misdemeanour punishable by six months and a fine of $US500; Cultivation of more than six plants is a misdemeanour punishable by up to six months in prison and fines of up to $US500; From January 1, 2019, cannabis possession charges were expunged from criminal records; Cannabis suppliers must obtain a license before they are permitted to engage in cannabis-related commercial activity; Employees of any commercial cannabis business must be 21-years-of-age or older to handle cannabis goods; Cultivation tax of up to $US10 per ounce. Sources: Norml, California Cannabis Portal Outcomes: Legal market underperforms and does not meet estimates; The black market continues to flourish; The state of California raised $US317 million in tax revenue from marijuana products for the 2018/19 year; In 2018, the total market value of marijuana sales in California was worth $US2.5 billion; Regulatory compliance costs and taxes make legal cannabis too expensive to be competitive with the black market price; From 2005 to 2011, the percent of adults who reported using marijuana in the past year remained relatively unchanged (8.2% and 8.5%, respectively). Read more

Current Status: Medical only Policy history: 1996: Failed proposition to legalise medical cannabis 2002: Failed proposition to decriminalise recreational cannabis 2010: Legalised for medical use only Policy framework: With a practitioner’s recommendation, patients can possess up to 2.4oz (68g) of medical cannabis at a time, from dispensaries; Patients who live far away from dispensaries can cultivate their own medical cannabis; Dispensary system; 6.6% excise tax; Possession of any amount of cannabis is a felony punishable by up to 3.75 years and fines of up to $US150,000; Sale or distribution of cannabis is a felony punishable by up to 12.5 years in prison and fines of up to $US150,000; Cultivation of cannabis is a felony punishable by up to 12.5 years in prison and fines of up to $US150,000. Outcomes: $US705 million of cannabis profit in 2019 according to a report by Arcview Market Research and BDS analytics; In 2018, sales of medical marijuana reached $US406.7 million; Past-year cannabis use disorder in people in Arizona aged 12 or above decreased between 2005 and 2017 (from 2.0% to 1.5%). Read more

Status: Legal History: 1917: cannabis prohibited in Colorado 2000: Medical cannabis legalised (approval by a doctor, with a qualifying condition. Dispensary system with allowance for home cultivation) 2012: Recreational use legalised 2013: Sales began in September Policy Framework: Only people 21-years-of-age or older can possess, purchase or consume cannabis; Possession is limited to 1oz (28g) at a time per adult; Public use is illegal; Driving under the influence is illegal; Excise tax of 15% applies to all cannabis-containing products; Adults over 21 can give up to an ounce of cannabis to another adult but cannot sell it; Minor packaging requirements - resealable and not transparent, must have required symbol on the package; 10% sales tax applies to all cannabis-containing products on top of Colorado’s standard 2.9% sales tax; Only licensed retailers can sell cannabis; Possession of more than 1oz of cannabis is a petty offense (like a speeding ticket) punishable by a fine of up to $US100; Possession of more than 2oz (56g) of cannabis is a misdemeanour punishable by up to 18 months in prison and fines of up to $US5000; Possession of more than 12oz (340g) of cannabis is a felony punishable by up to two years in prison and fines of up to $US100,000; Unlicensed distribution with remuneration or more than 1oz is a misdemeanour punishable by up to 18 months in prison and fines of up to $US5000; Unlicensed distribution of more than 6oz (170g) is a felony punishable by up to 32 years in prison and fines of up to $US1,000,000; Cultivation of more than six plants is a felony punishable by up to six years in prison and fines of up to $US500,000; Sources: Norml, Colorado Department of Health and the Environment Outcomes: Youth marijuana use increased by 20% between 2013 and 2014, while usage among adults increased by 17% during the same period; According to the Department of Revenue, the Colorado marijuana tax brought in about $US302 million in 2019; Total cannabis sales across the state rose from $US699.2 million in 2014 to $US1.51 billion in 2017; Data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis shows Colorado's GDP increased by roughly $US41 billion since legalisation; Visits to emergency room related to cannabis increase; Car crash rate increase, but no increase in fatalities; $US1.55 billion in sales, 98% of which were purchased for recreational use; Rate of 12-17-year-olds using cannabis is the lowest it has been since 2008; The number of drivers involved in fatal crashes who were tested above the level of impairment limit decreased from 52 to 35; Organised crime rates have tripled in five years; Between 2005 and 2017, cannabis use disorder in people over the age of 12 increased from 1.7% to 2.3%. Read more