1 Passed Legislation in 2017 West Virginia

Indiana

Senate Bill

SB 255 Status:

Summary

“Establishes a medical marijuana program (program), and permits caregivers and patients who have received a physician recommendation to possess a certain quantity of marijuana for treatment of certain medical conditions. Establishes the department of marijuana enforcement (DOME) as a state agency to oversee the program, and creates the DOME advisory committee to review the effectiveness of the program and to consider recommendations from DOME. Authorizes DOME to grant research licenses to research facilities with a physical presence in Indiana.” History (last action date)

Introduced, first reading, and referred to Committee on Tax and Fiscal Policy on Jan. 9, 2017; failed to advance before session ended (Apr. 21, 2017)

House Bill

HB 1316 Status:

Summary

“Establishes a medical marijuana program (program), and permits caregivers and patients who have received a physician recommendation to possess a certain quantity of marijuana for treatment of certain medical conditions. Establishes the department of marijuana enforcement (DOME) as a state agency to oversee the program, and creates the DOME advisory committee to review the effectiveness of the program and to consider recommendations from DOME. Authorizes DOME to grant research licenses to research facilities with a physical presence in Indiana.” History (last action date)

Introduced, first reading, and referred to Committee on Public Policy on Jan. 10, 2017; failed to advance before session ended (Apr. 21, 2017)

House Bill

HB 1303 Status:

Summary

“Establishes the medicinal marijuana excise tax, and requires a medicinal marijuana dispensary to transfer the tax to the department of state revenue for deposit in the system for teacher and student advancement grant fund and the local infrastructure revolving fund. Requires the executive board of the state department of health to adopt rules to regulate registered medicinal marijuana cardholders, medicinal marijuana dispensaries, and registered medicinal marijuana dispensary employees. Requires that medicinal marijuana sold in a medicinal marijuana dispensary must be harvested and processed in Indiana.” History (last action date)

Introduced, first reading, and referred to Committee on Public Policy on Jan. 10, 2017; failed to advance before session ended (Apr. 21, 2017)

Iowa

House File

HF 198 Status:

Summary

“A person may knowingly or intentionally recommend, process, produce, possess, use, dispense, deliver, transport, or administer cannabis” in accordance with the act. History (last action date)

Introduced and referred to Human Resources Committee on Feb. 2, 2017; no longer viable for 2017 because session has ended, but bill carries over to 2018 (Apr. 22, 2017)

House File

HF199 Status:

Summary

“An Act relating to the compassionate use of medical cannabis Act, reclassifying marijuana, including tetrahydrocannabinol, from a schedule I controlled substance to a schedule II controlled substance… A person may knowingly or intentionally recommend, possess, use, dispense, deliver, transport, or administer medical cannabis” in accordance with the act. History (last action date)

Introduced and referred to Human Resources Committee on Feb. 2, 2017; no longer viable for 2017 because session has ended, but bill carries over to 2018 (Apr. 22, 2017)

Kansas

Senate Bill

SB 187 Status:

Summary

“An Act enacting the Kansas safe access act; providing for the safe, legal, humanitarian and therapeutic use of cannabis for medical conditions; providing for the registration and functions of compassion centers; authorizing the issuance of identification cards; establishing the compassion board; providing for administration of the act by the department of health and environment.” History (last action date)

Introduced on Feb. 10, 2017; referred to Committee on Public Health and Welfare Feb. 13, 2017; died in committee (Feb. 23, 2017)

House Bill

HB 2348 Status:

Summary

“An Act enacting the Kansas safe access act; providing for the safe, legal, humanitarian and therapeutic use of cannabis for medical conditions; providing for the registration and functions of compassion centers; authorizing the issuance of identification cards; establishing the compassion board; providing for administration of the act by the department of health and environment.” History (last action date)

Introduced and referred to Committee on Health and Human Services Feb. 10, 2017; died in committee (Feb. 23, 2017)

Kentucky

Senate Bill

SB 57 Status:

Summary

Cannabis Compassion Act establishes “a comprehensive system for medical cannabis, including provisions for medical verification of need; persons allowed to cultivate, use, and possess the drug; organizations allowed to assist in providing the drug; regulation by the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Control.” History (last action date)

Pre-filed Dec. 6, 2016; introduced to Senate Jan. 3, 2017; referred to Licensing, Occupations, & Administrative Regulations Committee on Jan. 7, 2017; failed to advance before session ended (Mar. 30, 2017)

Mississippi

House Bill

HB 179 Status:

Summary

“An act to be known as the Mississippi Medical Marijuana Pilot Program Act … to allow the therapeutic use of marijuana for certain patients who have debilitating medical conditions.” History (last action date)

Introduced and referred to Drug Policy Committee and Public Health and Human Services Committee on Jan. 3, 2017; died in committee (Jan. 31, 2017)

Missouri

Senate Bill

SB 56 Status:

Summary

“This act allows the Department of Health and Senior Services to grant licenses for the cultivation, manufacture, distribution, and sale of marijuana for medical use.” History (last action date)

Pre-filed Dec. 1, 2016; first reading Jan. 4, 2017; second reading and referred to General Laws Committee on Jan. 10, 2017; hearing conducted in General Laws Committee on Apr. 26, 2017; failed to advance before session ended (May 30, 2017)

Senate Bill

SB 153 Status:

Summary

“Permits the use of medical marijuana for the treatment of certain impairments.” History (last action date)

Pre-filed Dec. 1, 2016; first reading Jan. 4, 2017; second reading and referred to General Laws Committee on Jan. 11, 2017; failed to advance before session ended (May 30, 2017)

Nebraska

Legislative Bill

LB 622 Status:

Summary

“A bill for an act relating to cannabis… to adopt the Medical Cannabis Act.” History (last action date)

Introduced Jan. 18, 2017; referred to Judiciary Committee Jan. 20, 2017; amendment filed Mar. 13, 2017; amendment filed on Mar. 20, 2017; amendment pending as of Apr. 19, 2017; no longer viable for 2017 because session has ended, but bill carries over to 2018 (May 23, 2017)

North Carolina

House Bill

H 185 Status:

Summary

North Carolina Medical Cannabis Act would establish a medical marijuana program with registry identification cards and a regulated cannabis supply system. History (last action date)

Filed Feb. 22, 2017; passed first reading and referred to Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House on Feb. 27, 2017; no longer viable for 2017 because session has ended, but bill carries over to 2018 (July 2017)

Oklahoma

House Bill

HB 1877 Status:

Summary

“An Act relating to medical marijuana; creating the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Act of 2017… providing exemption from criminal, civil and disciplinary actions for qualifying patients and caregivers who use or transfer to another marijuana for medical purposes;… allowing dispensaries to accept and transfer marijuana products from certain entities.” History (last action date)

First reading Feb. 6, 2017; second reading, referred to Appropriations and Budget Committee, and referred to Appropriations and Budget Health Subcommittee on Feb. 7, 2017; no longer viable for 2017 because session has ended, but bill carries over to 2018 (May 26, 2017)

South Carolina

Senate Bill

S 212 Status:

Summary

“A bill… to enact the ‘South Carolina Compassionate Care Act’… to authorize the medical use of cannabis by certain individuals with certain diseases and medical conditions;… to authorize physicians to recommend the medical use of cannabis under certain conditions; to create a confidential registry of applicants and holders of registry cards; to require the development of a verification system for use by law enforcement and medical cannabis establishments; to provide certain defenses and other protections to, among others, qualifying patients, designated caregivers, physicians, and licensed medical cannabis establishment principals and agents; to provide for the operation and regulation of medical cannabis establishments.” History (last action date)

Introduced, read first time, and referred to Committee on Medical Affairs on Jan. 10, 2017; no longer viable for 2017 because session has ended, but bill carries over to 2018 (June 9, 2017)

House Bill

H 3128 Status:

Summary

“A bill… to enact the ‘Put Patients First Act’… to authorize registered patients to use marijuana for medical purposes, physicians to recommend the medical use of marijuana for those patients, and individuals to act as registered caregivers for those patients;… to create a confidential registry through which to issue identification cards to registered patients and registered caregivers;… to authorize the operation of dispensaries to cultivate, grow, and dispense marijuana for medical use.” History (last action date)

Pre-filed Dec. 15, 2016; introduced, read first, and referred to Committee on Judiciary on Jan. 10, 2017; no longer viable for 2017 because session has ended, but bill carries over to 2018 (June 9, 2017)

House Bill

H 3521 Status:

Summary

“A bill… to enact the ‘South Carolina Compassionate Care Act’… to authorize the medical use of cannabis by certain individuals with certain diseases and medical conditions;… to authorize physicians to recommend the medical use of cannabis under certain conditions; to create a confidential registry of applicants and holders of registry cards; to require the development of a verification system for use by law enforcement and medical cannabis establishments; to provide certain defenses and other protections to, among others, qualifying patients, designated caregivers, physicians, and licensed medical cannabis establishment principals and agents; to provide for the operation and regulation of medical cannabis establishments.” History (last action date)

Introduced, read first time, and referred to Committee on Medical, Military, Public, and Municipal Affairs Jan. 18, 2017; new sponsors added in Mar. and Apr. 2017; no longer viable for 2017 because session has ended, but bill carries over to 2018 (June 9, 2017)

Tennessee

Senate Bill

SB 1119 Status:

Summary

“Generally, this bill decriminalizes the use of medical cannabis by a qualifying patient who is enrolled in the safe access program established by this bill… The program must issue program identification cards to patients who receive a certification for medical cannabis and complete the program enrollment process at a participating pharmacy or regulated dispensary.” History (last action date)

Introduced, passed on first consideration Feb. 9, 2017; passed on second consideration and referred to Senate Judiciary Committee Feb. 13, 2017; assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Judiciary Committee on Mar. 28, 2017; no longer viable for 2017 because session has ended, but bill carries over to 2018 (May 10, 2017)

House Bill

HB 830 Status:

Summary

“Generally, this bill decriminalizes the use of medical cannabis by a qualifying patient who is enrolled in the safe access program established by this bill… The program must issue program identification cards to patients who receive a certification for medical cannabis and complete the program enrollment process at a participating pharmacy or regulated dispensary.” History (last action date)

Filed for introduction Feb. 8, 2017; assigned to Criminal Justice Subcommittee Feb. 14, 2017; placed on Criminal Justice Subcommittee calendar and action deferred three times between Mar. 15 and Apr. 4, 2017; taken off notice for calendar in Criminal Justice Subcommittee of Criminal Justice Committee on Apr. 11, 2017; no longer viable for 2017 because session has ended, but bill carries over to 2018 (May 10, 2017)

Texas

Senate Bill

SB 269 Status:

Summary

“Relating to authorizing the possession, use, cultivation, distribution, transportation, and delivery of medical cannabis for medical use by qualifying patients with certain debilitating medical conditions and the licensing of dispensing organizations and testing facilities; authorizing fees.” History (last action date)

Received by the Secretary of the Senate Dec. 6, 2016; read first time and referred to Health and Human Service Committee on Jan. 30, 2017; did not advance before the session ended (May 29, 2017)

House Bill

HB 2107 Status:

Summary

“Relating to authorizing the possession, use, cultivation, distribution, transportation, and delivery of medical cannabis for medical use by qualifying patients with certain debilitating medical conditions and the licensing of dispensing organizations and testing facilities; authorizing fees.” History (last action date)

Filed Feb. 20, 2017; read first time and referred to Public Health Committee on Mar. 13, 2017; reported favorably out of committee on May 5, 2017; sent to Calendars but failed to meet deadline for advancement (May 11, 2017)

Constitutional Amendment

HJR 111 Status:

Summary

“Proposing a constitutional amendment to authorize and regulate the possession, cultivation, and sale of cannabis for medical use.” History (last action date)

Filed Mar. 9, 2017; read first time and referred to Public Health Committee on Mar. 22, 2017; failed to advance before session ended (May 29, 2017)

Constitutional Amendment

SJR 18 Status:

Summary

“Proposing a constitutional amendment to authorize and regulate the possession, cultivation, and sale of cannabis for medical use.” History (last action date)

Received by the Secretary of the Senate Nov. 14, 2016; read first time and referred to Health and Human Services Committee on Jan. 30, 2017; failed to advance before session ended (May 29, 2017)

Utah

Senate Bill

SB 211 Status:

Summary

“This bill: authorizes the cultivation, production, possession, use, and sale of cannabis and cannabinoid products under certain circumstances.” History (last action date)

Numbered bill publicly distributed Feb. 13, 2017; first reading in Senate Rules Committee Feb. 14, 2017; referred to Senate Health and Human Services Committee Feb. 15, 2017; favorable recommendation from Senate Health and Human Services Committee by a vote of 5-0 (3 absent) Feb. 27, 2017; passed second reading by a vote of 27-0 (2 absent) Feb. 28, 2017; third reading Senate Rules Committee Mar. 6, 2017; bill labeled “strike enacting clause” and filed with bills not passed (Mar. 9, 2017)

Virginia

House Bill

HB 2135 Status:

Summary

“Allows a person to possess marijuana or tetrahydrocannabinol pursuant to a valid written certification issued by a physician for the treatment of any medical condition and allows a physician or pharmacist to distribute such substances without being subject to prosecution.” History (last action date)

Prefiled and referred to Committee for Courts of Justice Jan. 11, 2017; assigned to Criminal Law Subcommittee Jan. 16, 2017; Subcommittee recommended laying on the table by voice vote Jan. 30, 2017; left in Court of Justice Committee (Feb. 7, 2017)

West Virginia

Senate Bill

SB 386 Status:

Summary

“An Act… relating to medical cannabis generally; authorizing, under limited conditions, the use, possession, growing, processing and dispensing of cannabis for serious medical conditions; creating the West Virginia Medical Cannabis Act .” History (last action date)

Filed for introduction, referred to Health and Human Resources and Judiciary Committees Feb. 21, 2017; read first time Mar. 25, 2017; reported “do pass” with amendment and read second time Mar. 28, 2017; read third time and passed Senate with amended title by a vote of 28-6 on Mar. 29, 2017 Introduced in House and read first time Mar. 30, 2017; read second time and several amendments adopted and rejected Apr. 3, 2017; read third time and passed House by a vote of 76-24 then communicated to Senate Apr. 4, 2017 Senate amended and passed bill by a vote of 28-6 Apr. 5, 2017; House concurred and passed bill by a vote of 74-24 (2 abstentions) and legislative action completed Apr. 6, 2017; signed into law by Gov. Jim Justice (D) (Apr. 19, 2017)

House Bill

HB 2677 Status:

Summary

“[C]reating the ‘Patient Freedom Act’; providing a regulatory scheme for the production, distribution and use of medical cannabis; providing protections for the medical use of cannabis;… providing selection processes for permitting registered cannabis distribution centers.” History (last action date)

Introduced and referred to Prevention and Treatment of Substance Abuse then Health and Human Resources then Judiciary Committees on Feb. 22, 2017; session ended (Apr. 8, 2017)

Wisconsin

Senate Bill

SB 38 Status:

Summary

“This bill creates a medical use defense to such marijuana-related prosecutions and forfeiture actions for persons who are registered with the Department of Health Services as having specified debilitating medical conditions or treatments and, if applicable, their primary caregivers. This bill also prohibits the arrest or prosecution of such persons for those offenses… Under the bill, DHS must establish a registry for persons who use marijuana for medical use.” History (last action date)

Introduced, read first time, and referred to Committee on Health and Human Services Feb. 15, 2017; fiscal estimates received six times throughout Mar. 2017 and on May 19, 2017; session ended but the bill will carry over to 2018 (Dec. 31, 2017)

Assembly Bill

AB 75 Status:

Summary

“This bill creates a medical use defense to such marijuana-related prosecutions and forfeiture actions for persons who are registered with the Department of Health Services as having specified debilitating medical conditions or treatments and, if applicable, their primary caregivers. This bill also prohibits the arrest or prosecution of such persons for those offenses… Under the bill, DHS must establish a registry for persons who use marijuana for medical use.” History (last action date)

Introduced, read first time, and referred to Committee on Health Feb. 20, 2017; fiscal estimates received six times throughout Mar. 2017 and on May 19, 2017; session ended but the bill will carry over to 2018 (Dec. 31, 2017)

Additional Resources:

1. Legal Medical Marijuana States and DC

2. 2016 States with Legislation or Ballot Measures to Legalize Medical Marijuana

3. 2014 States with Legislation or Ballot Measures to Legalize Medical Marijuana

Information about pending legislation comes directly from the state legislature website for each state. ProCon.org gives special thanks to Karen O’Keefe, JD, Director of State Policies for Marijuana Policy Project (MPP), for her updates on pending legislation.

Note: Ballot initiatives will only be added once a measure has been officially added to a state ballot. This page tracks legislation that would legalize use of the whole marijuana plant for medical purposes. Legislation that would limit use to the nonpsychoactive cannabis extract called cannabidiol (CBD) is not included on this list. States whose legalization laws would require physicians to “prescribe” marijuana (an illegal act under federal law) as opposed to “recommend” marijuana (considered protected free speech between doctor and patient) are not included on this list either.