How many states decriminalized

In comparison, a marijuana joint weighs about half a gram. A Cato Institute report found that more people with drug use disorders sought treatment services because the country decriminalized all drugs and, as a result, removed the fear of arrest.

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By choosing I Accept , you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. Share this story Share this on Facebook Share this on Twitter Share All sharing options Share All sharing options for: 15 states have decriminalized — but not legalized — marijuana. NCSL has sent a letter to Congress in in support of a recently introduced bill to protect state sovereignty with respect to marijuana regulation.

NCSL also sent a letter in support of language prohibiting the DOJ from using justice funding for enforcement actions against states with legal medical marijuana laws. Under federal law, marijuana is still a Schedule I illegal substance. Twenty-seven states and the District of Columbia have decriminalized small amounts of marijuana.

This generally means certain small, personal-consumption amounts are a civil or local infraction, not a state crime or are a lowest misdemeanor with no possibility of jail time. In and preceding the successful legalization ballot measure, the District of Columbia enacted legislation, which passed congressional review, and made possession or transfer without remuneration of one ounce or less of marijuana a civil violation.

Other state actions have reduced criminal penalties for marijuana convictions, generally following a trend to reduce adverse consequences of some marijuana crimes. In the past decade, legislation in at least 16 states have amended marijuana penalties. Forty-one states, two territories, and the District of Columbia all have record clearing laws which may apply to cannabis. Of these, seven states record clearing laws specifically address cannabis offenses.

For additional information see our Cannabis Record Clearing resource. Lexis Nexis Terms and Conditions. Create Account. Arizona in voted to legalize cannabis for all adults over the age of The ballot measure was backed by a number of cannabis giants, including Curaleaf, Cresco, and Harvest Enterprises.

The Arizona Department of Health Services began accepting applications for adult-use licenses on January Approvals were issued just three days later on January Sales began immediately. Arizona rolled out adult-use sales faster than any other state that voted to pass recreational cannabis in the November elections. Companies already operating in the state's medical market had a first crack at recreational customers.

In , California became the first state to legalize medical marijuana. California became even more pot-friendly in when it made it legal to use and carry up to 1 ounce of marijuana.

The law also permits adults 21 and over to buy up to 8 grams of marijuana concentrates, which are found in edibles, and grow no more than six marijuana plants per household.

In Colorado, there are more marijuana dispensaries than Starbucks and McDonald's combined. The state joined Washington in becoming the first two states to fully legalize the drug in Residents and tourists over the age of 21 can buy up to 1 ounce of marijuana or 8 grams of concentrates.

Some Colorado counties and cities have passed more restrictive laws. On June 18, the Connecticut legislature legalized cannabis for adults 21 and over and the law took effect on July 1.

Recreational cannabis is now legal in the state and adults are allowed to possess or consume up to 1. Sales aren't expected to begin until next year.

Illinois lawmakers in June passed a bill that legalized the possession and commercial sale of marijuana in the state starting on January 1, Pritzker, who made marijuana legalization a core component of his campaign for the governor's office, signed the bill into law.

Illinois is the one of the few states to legalize marijuana sales through a state legislature, rather than a ballot initiative. A ballot initiative in gave Maine residents the right to possess up to 2. Massachusetts was the first state on the East Coast to legalize marijuana after voters approved the measure in Marijuana dispensaries opened their doors to consumers in November Adults over the age of 21 can purchase up to 1 ounce of marijuana but cannot consume it in public.

Voters in Michigan passed Proposition 1 in , making it the first state in the Midwest to legalize the possession and sale of marijuana for adults over the age of Adults can possess up to 2.

The law is more permissive than other states with legal marijuana: Most allow residents to possess only up to 1 ounce at a time.

Montana in voted to legalize recreational marijuana for adults 21 and over. Montana residents are officially allowed to use marijuana as of January 1, A year later, the state will begin to open up applications for dispensaries. Residents and tourists who are 21 and over can buy 1 ounce of marijuana or one-eighth of an ounce of edibles or concentrates in Nevada.

There's bad news if you want to grow your own bud, though. Nevada residents must live 25 miles outside the nearest dispensary to be eligible for a grower's license.

In February, Gov. Phil Murphy signed the legalization legislation, after months of back-and-forth arguments about criminal penalties for minors possessing marijuana and the proper way to set up a licensing framework for cannabis sales in the state, among other details. Sales of cannabis for adult use could start in the second half of this year, analysts at Cowen said.

Michelle Lujan Grisham signed the state's legalization bill in April, after convening a special session of the legislature to hammer out the details.