Reports & Media

Status: Legal History: 1976: Possession of small amounts of cannabis was decriminalised 1999: Medical cannabis legalised 2009: Possession of less than 2.4oz (68g) of cannabis was decriminalised to a civil infraction (fine only, no criminal record) 2013 - 2014: Municipal legalisation began 2016: State legalises cannabis (sales did not begin until early 2020) Policy Framework: Patients must have a qualifying condition to obtain medical cannabis from a licensed dispensary; Patients are permitted to cultivate cannabis in their homes and possess no more than six cannabis plants; Patients may possess no more than 2.5oz (70g) of cannabis or its equivalent; The legalisation of recreational cannabis law imposes a 10% excise tax on all commercial cannabis-containing products. Legal sales began in March 2020; Possession of any more than 2.5oz is a crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to $US10,000; Distribution of any amount of cannabis without a license is a crime punishable by up to 30 years in prison and fines of up to $US50,000. Read more

Status: Medical Cannabis Only History: 2004: Medical cannabis legalised 2016: Medical cannabis laws took effect, “effectively kicking 93% of the state’s medical cannabis patients off the state programme and into the illicit market,” taxes doubled to pay for enforcement 2017: Added compulsory testing and sales tracking for medical cannabis suppliers Policy Framework: Patients must be diagnosed with a qualifying condition; Medical cannabis can only be obtained from a state-licenced dispensary; Patients must have a Montana medical cannabis card and register to a dispensary to purchase medical cannabis; Patients may possess up to 1oz (30g) of cannabis flower or its equivalent; Providers must obtain three separate licenses in order to be able to open a dispensary in Montana. Licences to sell cannabis differ in price according to how many medical cannabis card-holders have registered an individual as their main provider; Patients may cultivate their own medical cannabis at home; There are an estimated 32,240 registered medical cannabis patients in Montana, according to the Montana Department of Health & Human Services. Read more

Status: Medical only History: 2010: Medical cannabis legalised 2017: Liberalised medical cannabis laws by adding more conditions that qualify for medical cannabis treatment 2017 and 2019: Failed attempts at legalising cannabis for recreational use Policy Framework: Patients must be diagnosed with a qualifying condition to obtain medical cannabis; Medical cannabis can only be obtained from a state-licenced “alternate treatment" centres; Caregivers for patients are permitted to collect medical cannabis for card-holding patients but must undergo criminal background checks; Patients may possess up to 3oz (85g) per month; Patients are not permitted to cultivate their own cannabis at home; Possession of cannabis for recreational use is a crime punishable by up to 1.5 years in prison and fines of up to $US25,000; Distribution of any amount of cannabis is a crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $US300,000; Cultivation of cannabis is a crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $US300,000; There are an estimated 51,000 registered medical cannabis patients in New Jersey, according to the New Jersey Department of Health. Outcomes: Between 2005 and 2017, cannabis use disorder in people over the age of 12 decreased from 1.4% to 1.0%; In 2018, sales of medical marijuana reached $US37 million. Read more

Status: Medical use History: 2013: Medical cannabis legalised 2014: Attempt at legalising recreational cannabis failed 2017: Possession of small amounts of cannabis for recreational use is decriminalised in small amounts to a $US100-200 fine Policy Framework: Patients must be diagnosed with a “physically debilitating” condition and should only be recommended cannabis by a physician if all other treatments fail; Medical cannabis can only be obtained from a state-licensed dispensary; Patients can possess up to 2oz (56g) of medical cannabis at a time; Patients may not grow their own cannabis at home; Selling or intent to sell remains a serious felony; Possession of less than 0.75oz (21g) for recreational use is decriminalised to a civil infraction (like a speeding ticket) punishable by a fine of about $US100; Sale or possession with intent to sell less than 1oz (30g) is a felony; Sale or possession with intent to sell of any amount is a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $US300,000; There are an estimated 7120 registered medical cannabis patients in New Hampshire, according to the New Hampshire Department of Health & Human Services. Outcomes: Between 2005 and 2017, cannabis use disorder in people over the age of 12 decreased from 2.2% to 1.9%; In 2018, sales of medical marijuana reached $US7.2 million. Read more

Status: Legal for recreational use Policy history: 2001: Medical cannabis legalised 2001: Possession of small amounts of cannabis for recreational use was no longer a felony 2013: Medical cannabis sales began 2016: Recreational legalised 2017: Recreational cannabis laws come into force Policy Framework Consumers: Must be 21-years-or-older to purchase consume or possess cannabis; Can possess up to 1 ounce of cannabis at one time and up to 0.8oz (22g) of cannabis concentrate; Cannot consume cannabis in a public place; Cannot drive (or be a passenger) under the influence of cannabis; Can purchase up to 2.4oz (68g) over a two week period; Home cultivation of cannabis is illegal unless the cultivator lives 25 miles (40km) away from a licensed dispensary - they may grow no more than six plants per person and a household may contain no more than 12 plants; Unlicensed distribution or possession with intent to sell is still a felony punishable by up to life in prison and fines of up to $US200,000; Cultivation of 12 plants or more is a felony punishable by up to life in prison and fines of up to $US200,000. Expungement: Manual record-sealing as of June 2019 Suppliers must be licensed; 15% excise tax on wholesale sales (paid by the cultivator); 10% excise tax on retail sale; Employees of cannabis businesses must be over the age of 21. Read more

Status: Prohibited History: 1979: Possession of small amounts of cannabis for first-time offenders was decriminalised 2015: Failed attempt to legalise medical cannabis Policy Framework: Possession of less than 1oz (30g) of cannabis for a first-time offence is a civil infraction punishable by $US300; Possession of less than 1oz for a second or third offence is a misdemeanour punishable by up to seven days in prison and a fine of up to $US300; Possession of more than 1oz but less than 1lb is a misdemeanour punishable by three months in prison and a fine of $US500; Possession of more than 1lb of cannabis is a felony punishable by five years in prison and a fine of $US10,000; Sale or cultivation is a felony punishable by up to life in prison, and a fine of up to $US25,000. Outcomes: Between 2005 and 2017, cannabis use disorder in people over the age of 12 decreased from 1.5% to 1.2%. Read more

Status: Prohibited History: 2014: Legalisation of CBD (cannabidiol) Policy Framework: Possession of under 30g (1oz) for the first offence is decriminalised to a $US250 fine; Possession of 30g or less (following offences) is a misdemeanour punishable by up to six months in prison and a fine of up to $US1000; Possession of more than 30g is a felony punishable by up to up to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $US1,000,000; Sale of any amount is a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $US20,000. Outcomes: Between 2005 and 2017, cannabis use disorder in people over the age of 12 decreased from 1.4% to 1.3%. Read more

Status: Legal History: 2008: Medical cannabis was legalised 2014: Possession of small amounts of cannabis for recreational use decriminalised 2018: Cannabis legalised for recreational purposes (sales aren’t projected to begin until mid-2020) Policy Framework: Expungement: Manual Must be over the age of 21 to consume, purchase or possess cannabis; Driving under the influence is prohibited; Consuming cannabis in a public space is prohibited; Possession in excess of 2.5oz (70g) is prohibited unless the excess is concealed in a container equipped with locks; Recreational cannabis will be subject to a 15% excise tax on top of the standard sales tax; Distribution of less than 5oz (141g) but more than 2.5oz (without remuneration) is a civil infraction punishable by a fine; People may cultivate their own cannabis at home as long as it remains under the home plant possession limit of 12 plants; Distribution of more than 5oz with remuneration is a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison and fines of up to $US10,000,000. Outcomes: Too early to determine outcomes of recreational cannabis legalisation; In 2018, sales of medical marijuana reached $US633 million; Between 2005 and 2017, cannabis use disorder in people over the age of 12 decreased from 2.0% to 1.6%. Read more