Oregon. The state House is considering a bill that would legalize, regulate, and tax marijuana, USA Today reported last week. House Speaker Tina Kotek says passing the bill this session would be a "heavy lift." Voters rejected a ballot initiative to legalize it last fall.

Maine. Medical marijuana is so well-established in Maine that workers at a major pot dispensary protested last week because they said owners were blocking their efforts to unionize. A bill to legalize marijuana has 35 co-sponsors. "There's a momentum building and it's clear it's coming to the Northeast and to Maine," state Rep. Diane Russell, who introduced the bill, said Sunday. "I would rather see us get ahead of the curve and be ready. The train is coming and if we bury our heads in the sand, we're going to get hit."

Illinois. The state House is working on a medical marijuana bill that would allow patients with certain diseases—like cancer, HIV/ AIDS, and multiple sclerosis—to use the drug if their doctor prescribed it and the Department of Health approved. Last week, two state representatives wrote an op-ed saying Illinois' bill "can serve as a national model."

Vermont. A state House judiciary committee held hearings last week on a marijuana decriminalization bill. Originally supporters wanted to decriminalize possession of 2 ounces, but that has been lowered to 1 ounce. The bill is expected to be voted out of committee next week.

Elsewhere: Alabama rejected medical marijuana in February, but in April, a state legislator introduced a bill to legalize 1 ounce for recreational use. Several states have pending medical marijuana legislation. Kentucky's legalization of hemp will become law.

(Weed map GIF by Philip Bump.)

This article is from the archive of our partner The Wire.

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