"This bill would authorize the medical use of marijuana only for certain qualifying patients who have been diagnosed by a physician as having a debilitating medical condition."
Introduced by Rep. Todd and referred to the House of Representatives committee on Judiciary (Jan. 12, 2010)
"The Bill creates an exception to a state's criminal laws to permit the doctor-advised medical use of marijuana by patients with serious medical conditions...
Patients would be allowed to possess up to 6 ounces and to cultivate up to 12 plants for their medical use...
The Bill would also provide a medical necessity affirmative defense that patients who needed more marijuana than was provided for by rule or who did not possess their ID cards can raise in court."
Referred to Senate Health & Social Services Committee on May 13, 2009; Reported out of committee on June 3, 2009; Introduced to the Senate with amendments (June 23, 2009)
"Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act: Provides that when a person has been diagnosed by a physician as having a debilitating medical condition, the person and the person's primary caregiver may be issued a registry identification card by the Department of Public Health that permits the person or the person's primary caregiver to legally possess no more than 7 dried cannabis plants and 2 ounces of dried usable cannabis."
Passed the Human Services Committee on Mar. 3, 2009; Re-referred to the Rules Committee (Apr. 3, 2009)
SB 1381 arrived in the House after being passed by the Senate on May 27, 2009; Referred to Rules Committee then Human Services Committee on May 28, 2009; Re-referred to Rules Committee (Dec. 1, 2009)
"Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act: Provides that when a person has been diagnosed by a physician as having a debilitating medical condition, the person and the person's primary caregiver may be issued a registry identification card by the Department of Public Health that permits the person or the person's primary caregiver to legally possess no more than 7 dried cannabis plants and 2 ounces of dried usable cannabis."
Passed the Public Health Committee on Mar. 26, 2009; Amendments added and referred Assignments Committee, then to Public Health Committee. Passed third reading by a vote of 30-28 (May 27, 2009)
"The Massachusetts Medical Marijuana Act" is "an Act to regulate the medical use of marijuana by patients approved by physicians and certified by the department of public health... It is the purpose of this act is to protect patients with debilitating medical conditions, as well as their practitioners and designated caregivers, from arrest and prosecution, criminal and other penalties, and property forfeiture if such patients engage in the medical use of marijuana."
Referred to Joint Committee on Public Health on Jan. 20, 2009; Public hearing held (May 19, 2009)
"An act to authorize the medical use of marihuana by seriously ill patients under a physician's supervision... to provide an exemption from criminal and civil penalties for the medical use of marihuana; to provide a legal defense for patients and primary caregivers..."
"Changes the laws regarding the classification of marijuana as a controlled substance and allows the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes under certain conditions."
Introduced and read the first time on Jan. 14, 2010; Read the second time in the House, no hearing scheduled and not currently on calendar (Jan. 19, 2010)
"Legalizes the possession, manufacture, use, delivery, transfer, transport or administration of marihuana by a certified patient or designated caregiver for a certified medical use." Sets possession limits of 2.5 ounces; establishes registry identification card program.
Referred to the Committee on Health on June 19, 2009; Referred to the Committee on Codes on June 22, 2009; Referred to the Committee on Health on Jan. 6, 2010; Referred to the Committee on Codes (Jan. 12, 2010)
"Legalizes the possession, manufacture, use, delivery, transfer, transport or administration of marihuana by a certified patient or designated caregiver for a certified medical use." sets possession limits of 2.5 ounces and 12 plants; establishes registry identification card program.
Referred to the Committee on Health on Apr. 8, 2009; Amended and re-referred to the Committee on Health on Apr. 17, 2009; Passed the Committee on Health and referred to the Senate Codes Committee on May 26, 2009; Amended and re-referred to the Senate Codes Committee on Aug. 24, 2009; Referred to the Committee on Health (Jan. 6, 2010)
"North Carolina Medical Marijuana Act;" "A qualified patient [and caregiver] shall not be subject to arrest, prosecution, or penalty in any manner, or denied any right or privilege... for the possession of or the medical use of marijuana if the quantity of marijuana does not exceed an adequate supply."
Passed first reading in the House and referred to the Committee on Health on Apr. 13, 2009; Committee heard testimony from patients and medical professionals (June 18, 2009)
An Act providing for the medical use of marijuana; and repealing provisions of law that prohibit and penalize marijuana use.
Referred to the Health and Human Services Committee on Apr. 30, 2008; Committee hearing held with testimonies for and against the legislation (Dec. 3, 2009)
"Medical Marijuana Act of 2009: This bill authorizes the medical use of marijuana for persons with a terminal illness or injury. Under this bill, no physician in this state may be punished, or denied any right or privilege, for having recommended marijuana to a terminal patient for medical purposes, and the criminal provisions relating to the possession and cultivation of marijuana would not apply to a terminal patient, or to the patient's primary caregiver..."
Referred to the Health and Human Resources Committee on Feb. 11, 2009; Assigned to the Public Health and Family Assistance Sub-Committee (Feb. 18, 2009)
"Establishes the 'Tennessee Medical Marijuana Act of 2009' which authorizes the use of marijuana for persons with certain debilitating conditions. Requires the Department of Health to create a system of accepting and reviewing applications including an application fee and issuing registry identification cards upon verification."
Referred to the General Welfare, Health and Human Resources Committee (Feb. 11, 2009)
"This bill establishes a medical necessity defense to marijuana−related prosecutions and forfeiture actions. A person having or undergoing a debilitating medical condition or treatment (qualifying patient) may invoke this defense... The defense provided under the bill and the prohibition on arrest and prosecution contained in the bill apply also to a primary caregiver..." Sets possession limits and establishes registry and nonprofit distribution centers.
Introduced and referred to Public Health Committee on Nov. 5, 2009; Fiscal estimate received on Nov. 16, 2009; Public hearing held on Dec. 15, 2009; Fiscal estimate received (Dec. 23, 2009)
"This bill establishes a medical necessity defense to marijuana−related prosecutions and forfeiture actions. A person having or undergoing a debilitating medical condition or treatment (qualifying patient) may invoke this defense... The defense provided under the bill and the prohibition on arrest and prosecution contained in the bill apply also to a primary caregiver..." Sets possession limits and establishes registry and nonprofit distribution centers.
Introduced and referred to Health, Health Insurance, Privacy, Property Tax Relief, and Revenue Committee on Oct. 27, 2009; Fiscal estimate received on Nov. 4, 2009; Public hearing held on Dec. 15, 2009; Fiscal estimate received and amendment proposed (Dec. 17, 2009)
"Provides that no person shall be prosecuted for the possession of marijuana or tetrahydrocannabinol when that possession occurs pursuant to a valid prescription issued by a medical doctor in the course of his professional practice. The bill also provides that no medical doctor or pharmacist shall be prosecuted for dispensing or distributing marijuana or tetrahydrocannabinol for medical purposes when such action occurs in the course of his professional practice. Currently medical marijuana can only be prescribed for cancer and glaucoma."
[Editor's Note: Federal law prohibits physicians from writing prescriptions for illegal drugs, including marijuana. If passed, the bill would have no practical effect (similar to Arizona), and Virginia therefore is not counted as a state with pending legislation to legalize medical marijuana.]
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice on Jan. 13, 2010; Assigned to Courts of Justice Criminal Sub-Committee (Jan. 19, 2010)
Although there are petition drives underway in states such as Florida and South Dakota, ballot initiatives will only be added once a measure has been officially added to a state ballot. For more information about the states that have already legalized medical marijuana, visit our page on the 14 Legal Medical Marijuana States.
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