List of 2020 United States cannabis reform proposals

Legalization of cannabis was considered in several U.S. states in 2020. States considered likely to legalize it for recreational use included Arizona, Florida, New Jersey, New Mexico, and New York.[1][2][3][4]

Legality of cannabis in the United States
  Legal
  Legal for medical use
  Legal for medical use, limited THC content
  Illegal for any use
  D  Decriminalized
Notes:
· Includes laws which have not yet gone into effect.
· Cannabis remains a Schedule I drug under federal law.
· Some local jurisdictions and Indian reservations have decriminalization or legalization policies separate from the states they are located in.
· Cannabis is illegal in all federal enclaves (other than hemp).

At the beginning of 2020, 11 U.S. states had fully legalized cannabis, creating a "quasi post-Prohibition landscape" according to CNN.[5] Politico reported that the number of states with some form of legalization could reach 40 by year's end.[4] This remained at odds with Federal prohibition at the beginning of the year (see List of Schedule I drugs (US)), although the House of Representatives held hearings in January on bills that could reschedule the substance or deschedule it entirely.[6]

Cannabis legalization was ultimately approved via November ballot measures in four states: Arizona (Proposition 207, 60% Yes), Montana (Initiative 190, 57% Yes), South Dakota (Amendment A, 54% Yes), and New Jersey (Question 1, 67% Yes). Additionally, medical cannabis was legalized via ballot measures during the same election in Mississippi and South Dakota; South Dakota became the first state to legalize medical and recreational cannabis simultaneously. Observers noted that cannabis legalization was approved in states with both conservative and liberal electorates, making it one of the few issues to gain broad bipartisan support in an otherwise highly divisive election.[7]

Vermont, which had previously legalized marijuana possession and home growing, legalized retail marijuana sales in 2020.[8]

Once all ballot measures take effect in 2021, a total of 15 states will have legalized cannabis for recreational use.

Legislation and initiatives introduced in 2020

State
  • Alabama SB165, medical cannabis, approved by Senate judiciary committee on February 19[9]
  • Two Arkansas initiatives, both of which are a proposed constitutional amendment for legalized adult cannabis use, were cleared to receive electronic signatures in May.[10]
  • Arizona Proposition 207, legalizing and regulating adult use, was approved by the state Secretary of State for the 2020 ballot on August 10.[11]
  • Connecticut bills to enable adult-use legalization were introduced on February 6 by Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney and House Speaker Joe Aresimowicz, the day after Governor Ned Lamont called for legalization in the State of the State address.[12]
  • Signature gathering for Idaho Medical Marijuana Act was derailed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the sponsors abandoned it in March. A June federal court ruling on another case raised the possibility for electronic signature gathering to continue or for the initiative to be placed on the ballot by fiat.[13]
  • Kentucky medical cannabis bill HB136 was pre-filed in November 2019 for the early 2020 legislative session[14][15] It was passed by the House Judiciary Committee 17-1 on February 12.[16]
  • Minnesota HF 4632 was introduced by state House of Representatives majority leader Ryan Winkler (DFL) on May 6. It was a comprehensive 222 page bill including adult-use legalization and regulation via the establishment of a Cannabis Management Board, and expungement of past cannabis-related convictions. There were 33 cosponsors the day it was introduced.[17][18]
  • Mississippi removed from the state schedule, FDA-approved drugs derived from cannabis.[19] At the time it was enacted, this comprised only Epidiolex.
  • Mississippi medical cannabis initiative qualified for the November ballot on January 8, 2020.[20]
  • The Missouri Secretary of State had approved four adult-use legalization initiatives for signature gathering by the end of January.[21]
  • Montana I-190 submitted by New Approach Montana to the Montana Secretary of State in January. On August 13, the Montana Secretary of State announced it had qualified for the November ballot.[22]
  • Sponsors for a Nebraska medical cannabis initiative announced in early July that they had gathered sufficient signatures to appear on the November ballot.[23] On August 27, the Nebraska Secretary of State approved the measure for the November ballot.[24]
  • New Hampshire SB 420, passed in the Senate on February 6, would allow qualified adults to grow cannabis for their own medical use or for those under their care.[25]
    • New Hampshire House Bill 1648 was approved in a committee on January 28. The bill allows adults to possess up to 3/4 ounce of cannabis and five grams of hashish; growing up to six plants; and gifting of cannabis products between adults. Selling cannabis would remain illegal.[26][27] The bill was passed in the House on February 20.[28]
  • New Jersey S2535, decriminalization for possession of up to 16 ounces of cannabis, was introduced June 4 by state senators Sandra Cunningham, Teresa Ruiz and Ron Rice.[29][30]
    • On June 15, the New Jersey Assembly Community Development and Affairs Committee advanced A1897/4269, a bill to decriminalize possession of up to two ounces of cannabis, and reduce penalties for possession of up to five pounds.[31] The bill was passed by the entire Assembly on June 18, 63-10.[32]
  • New Mexico SB115, adult use legalization, was introduced January 16, 2020 for a 30-day session beginning later in the month. The plan included a low-income medical cannabis user fund.[33][34] The bill was approved in the Senate Public Affairs Committee on January 28,[35] then tabled by the Judiciary Committee on February 12.[36]
  • The budget proposal to the New York Assembly by Governor Andrew Cuomo included legalization–regulation framework based on 2019's Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act with anticipated annual revenue to the state of up to $300 million.[37][38] S.7509 and A.9609 included the cannabis provisions, and creation of New York Office of Cannabis Management.[39]
    • A New York bill sponsored by Senator Liz Krueger and Assemblymember Crystal Peoples-Stokes would set the legal cannabis possession limit for adults at 3 ounces, the highest limit in the nation, and three times the amount preferred by Governor Cuomo.[40]
  • Ohio Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Amendment initiative was filed for state Attorney General approval on March 2.[41] A federal judge ruled in May that the state must accept electronic signatures for the initiative.[42]
  • Oklahoma State Question 807, an initiated amendment to the Constitution of the State of Oklahoma that would legalize adult-use ("recreational") cannabis, was filed on December 27, 2019 for the November 2020 ballot.[43][44]
  • South Dakota Constitutional Amendment A, adult-use legalization, was announced as qualified for the ballot by the Secretary of State on January 6.[45]
    • South Dakota HB1008, legalizing hemp agriculture, was passed in the House of Representatives on February 11, and was supported by the state governor.[46][47]
  • Tennessee SB1849, legalizes possession of half ounce or less, introduced in January[48]
  • Vermont S.54, allowing taxed and regulated sale of cannabis to adults, under a state Cannabis Control Commission, was reconciled by the House and Senate and passed by the House of Representatives 92–56 on September 17.[49]
  • Governor of the United States Virgin Islands Albert Bryan requested the territorial legislature to pass an amendment to the existing medical cannabis bill, allowing use by all adults, in order to shore up the government employees retirement system. The proposal included a $10 "day pass" for tourists.[50]
  • Virginia House Bill 972, decriminalization of possession of half ounce or less cannabis, was referred by committee on February 5 for a full House of Delegates vote.[51][52] Senate Bill 2, with similar provisions, was referred out of committee in January.[53] Both bills passed in their respective chamber by February 10.[54] The bills were reconciled and sent to the governor on March 8.[55] It was signed by the state governor on April 11, with a proposed change of due date for a legalization report.[56] According to National Law Review in mid May, it was likely to become law, with implications for allowable pre-employment questions.[57] The governor signed the bill into law on May 21.[58]
    • Virginia SJ67, a resolution to direct the legislature's Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study cannabis legalization and regulation by 2022, was passed by the Senate on February 6,[59] and by both House and Senate by February 26.[60]

Federal

Legislation introduced in 2019 and advanced in 2020

State
  • Delaware HB110, legalization[61]
  • Vermont S.54, authorizing taxed and regulated cannabis sales in the state that legalized possession in 2018, was approved by the Vermont Senate in 2019.[62][63] It was approved by the House Committee on Government Operations on January 31, 2020,[64] by the House Ways and Means on February 5, and by the Appropriations Committee on February 24, clearing its way for a full House vote.[65][66] It was approved by the House on February 26.[67] S.54 became law without the state governor's signature in October.[68]

Federal

Initiatives and referenda qualified in 2019

The following was qualified by the initiative process in 2019 for the 2020 ballot.

The following was approved by the state legislature in 2019 for the 2020 ballot.

2020 U.S. Presidential election

28 candidates challenging the United States President in the 2020 election declared positions on cannabis reform. None of them were for continuing prohibition, with positions including Federal legalization (22 candidates, including Republican challenger William Weld), states' choice (five candidates), and Federal decriminalization (one candidate).[71][72] Legalization was among the executive orders drafted by candidate Bernie Sanders for his first 100 days in office,[73] and candidate Elizabeth Warren promised executive action to deschedule marijuana if Congress did not do so by passing the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act.[74][75] Presumptive Democratic candidate Joe Biden reaffirmed his pursuit of national decriminalization in a "Plan for Black America" announced in May.[76]

See also

References
  1. Taylor Seely (June 26, 2019). "Why Arizona will probably legalize recreational marijuana in 2020". Arizona Republic – via azcentral.com.
  2. Don Jergler (January 2, 2020). "2020 Predictions from Cannabis Industry Experts: More Insurance Business". Insurance Journal. San Diego: Wells Media Group.
  3. Sean Williams (November 17, 2019). "6 States Trying to Legalize Recreational Marijuana in 2020". Motley Fool.
  4. Mona Zhang (January 20, 2020), Marijuana legalization may hit 40 states. Now what?, Politico
  5. ""Cannabis Policies for the New Decade:" House subcommittee holds 1st hearing, explores lifting some restrictions". CNN wire service. January 15, 2020 – via WITI (fox6now.com).
  6. Jon Blistein (January 14, 2020), "Hot Box the House: Inside the Marijuana Bills Congress Will Debate This Week", Rolling Stone
  7. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/marijuana-legalization-is-defying-the-partisan-divide/
  8. https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2020/10/8/21507594/vermont-marijuana-legalization-sales
  9. "Medical marijuana bill clears Alabama Senate committee". Associated Press. February 19, 2020 – via WTVM.
  10. John Moritz (May 31, 2020). "Marijuana advocates recommit to ballot quest". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
  11. https://www.kold.com/2020/08/10/marijuana-legalization-be-placed-general-election-ballot-november/
  12. Ken Dixon (February 6, 2020). "Lamont offers wide-ranging bill for marijuana legalization". ctinsider.com.
  13. https://localnews8.com/news/2020/06/24/reclaim-idaho-and-medical-marijuana-petitioners-celebrate-a-win-for-citizen-initiatives/
  14. "Kentucky lawmaker prefiles bill to legalize medical marijuana". Louisville, Kentucky: WLKY. November 1, 2019.
  15. Adam Drury (November 4, 2019), "Kentucky May Soon Legalize Medical Marijuana", High Times
  16. "Medical marijuana bill passes Kentucky House committee". February 12, 2020.
  17. Tommy Wiita (May 6, 2020), House Majority Leader introduces adult-use cannabis legislation for Minnesota, KSTP-TV
  18. "HF 4632 status in the House for the 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020)". Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Archived from the original on May 6, 2020. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  19. Melissa Schiller (October 13, 2020), "Mississippi Governor Signs Legislation Allowing FDA-Approved Cannabis Medications", Cannabis Business Times, retrieved 2020-10-15
  20. Melvin Carlock (January 8, 2020). "Medical marijuana initiative added to November ballot in Mississippi". Tupelo, Mississippi: WTVA.
  21. Jack Suntrup (January 17, 2020). "Missouri medical pot sales haven't started, but some are already eyeing full legalization". St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
  22. "Marijuana Legalization Measure to Appear on November Ballot". Associated Press. August 13, 2020 – via U.S. News & World Report.
  23. Grant SCHULTE (July 2, 2020). "Medical marijuana, gambling likely headed to Nebraska ballot". Associated Press – via Albany Times-Union.
  24. "Medical marijuana OK'd for Nebraska ballot, lawsuit expected by". Associated Press. August 27, 2020.
  25. Kyle Jaeger (February 6, 2020). "New Hampshire Senate approves bill to let medical marijuana patients grow their own plants". Boston Globe.
  26. "Home grow marijuana bill picks up more support in House". Concord Monitor. Concord, New Hampshire. January 28, 2020.
  27. Kevin Landrigan (Jan 23, 2020). "Campaign to end pot prohibition in NH shifting gears in 2020". New Hampshire Union Leader. Manchester, New Hampshire.
  28. "Marijuana Legalization Bill Passes N.H. House". New Hampshire Public Radio. February 20, 2020.
  29. Amanda Hoover (June 4, 2020). "Arrests for having up to 1 pound of weed would be banned in N.J. under new bill". NJ.com. Advance Publications.
  30. Sam Wood (June 12, 2020). "Holding one pound of weed would be legal in N.J. if this social justice bill becomes a law". The Philadelphia Inquirer.
  31. Amanda Hoover (June 15, 2020). "N.J. lawmakers advance second bill to decriminalize weed". NJ.com.
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  33. Cannabis Regulation Act, New Mexico Legislature official website, retrieved 2020-01-17
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  36. Justin Matthews (February 12, 2020). "Legal cannabis fails session – The Senate Judiciary Committee voted to table SB 115, the Cannabis Regulation Act". Albuquerque: KOAT-TV.
  37. Joe Mahoney (February 12, 2020). "Legal pot advances in Albany as Cuomo keeps measure in budget". Press-Republican.
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  40. RYAN TARINELLI and MARINA VILLENEUVE (January 28, 2020). "NY pot bill could bring higher possession threshold". Associated Press.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
  41. "New effort begun to legalize recreational marijuana in Ohio". Associated Press. March 2, 2020.
  42. Jackie Borchardt (May 20, 2020). "Coronavirus: Judge orders state to accept electronic signatures for ballot initiatives". Cincinnati Enquirer.
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  44. Oklahoma State Question 807, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2020), Ballotpedia, accessed 2020-01-09
  45. "South Dakotans to vote on legalizing recreational marijuana". Associated Press. January 6, 2020.
  46. Stephen Groves (February 6, 2020). "Hemp bill approved by House committee with Noem's support". Associated Press.
  47. "Hemp bill passes the South Dakota House, next step is the state Senate". Sioux Falls, South Dakota: KELO-TV. February 11, 2020.
  48. Adrian Mojica (January 24, 2020). "Tennessee bill would allow 1/2 ounce sale of marijuana taxed for schools, infrastructure". Nashville: WZTV.
  49. "House OKs cannabis compromise, passes to Senate". The Bennington Banner. Bennington, Vermont. September 17, 2020.
  50. Ernice Gilbert (May 20, 2020). "Bryan Applies Pressure on Senate to Legalize Marijuana to Save Retirement". Virgin Islands Consortium.
  51. "Virginia will not legalize marijuana, talks of decriminalization underway". Richmond, Virginia: WWBT. February 6, 2020.
  52. HB 972 Marijuana; possession and consumption, penalty, State of Virginia legislation information system bill tracker, accessed 2920-02-09
  53. Lia Tabackman (January 29, 2020). "Virginia's marijuana decriminalization bill is one step closer to becoming law". Richmond, Virginia: WTVR-TV.
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  56. http://wset.com/news/at-the-capitol/gov-northam-signs-criminal-justice-reform-laws-and-proposes-study-on-legalizing-marijuana
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  59. SJ 67 Marijuana; JLARC to study legalization of growth, sale, and possession, Virginia Legislature, accessed 2020-02-19
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  65. Ben Adlin (February 5, 2020). "Another Vermont House committee OKs bill to legalize marijuana sales". Boston Globe.
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  75. Allison Borden (February 23, 2020). "Warren Unveils Plan To Legalize Marijuana During Denver Visit". Colorado Public Radio.
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