Marijuana, By the Numbers…
Fourteen states (with a population base of 115 million Americans) have decriminalized cannabis possession; fourteen states (with a population base of 75 million Americans) now have medical cannabis laws. Additionally, more states than ever before are debating cannabis law reform, including California and Massachusetts where legalization legislation have been introduced.

Since 1965, over 20 million Americans have been arrested on cannabis-related charges—90% for possession-only; over 900,000 cannabis arrests are expected again this year.

According to numerous survey and polls, approximately 75% of Americans support medical access to cannabis; 73% favor decriminalizing cannabis possession for adults and 42% of Americans support legalizing cannabis.

 

Fourteen states have enacted laws that legalized medical marijuana:

1. Alaska  1998   Ballot Measure 8 (58%)    $25/$201 oz usable; 6 plants (3 mature, 3 immature)

2. California  1996  Proposition 215 (56%)  $66/$338 oz usable; 18 plants (6 mature, 12 immature)

3. Colorado  2000  Ballot Amendment 20 (54%)    $902 oz usable; 6 plants (3 mature, 3 immature)

4. Hawaii  2000  Senate Bill 862 (32-18 House; 13-12 Senate)    $253 oz usable; 7 plants (3 mature, 4 immature)

5. Maine  1999  Ballot Question 2 (61%)    1.25 oz usable; 6 plants (3 mature, 3 immature)

6. Michigan  2008  Proposal 1 (63%)    $100/$252.5 oz usable; 12 plants

7. Montana  2004  Initiative 148 (62%)    $25/$101 oz usable; 6 plants

8. Nevada  2000  Ballot Question 9 (65%)    $150 +1 oz usable; 7 plants (3 mature, 4 immature)

9. New Mexico  2007  Senate Bill 523 (36-31 House; 32-3 Senate)    $06 oz usable; 16 plants (4 mature, 12 immature)

10. Oregon  1998  Ballot Measure 67 (55%)    $100/$2024 oz usable; 24 plants (6 mature, 18 immature)

11. Rhode Island  2006  Senate Bill 0710 (52-10 House; 33-1 Senate)    $75/$102.5 oz usable; 12 plants

12. Vermont  2004  Senate Bill 76 (22-7) HB 645 (82-59)    $502 oz usable; 9 plants (2 mature, 7 immature)

13. Washington  1998  Initiative 692 (59%)     24 oz usable; 15 plants

14.  New Jersey  2010 In the end, however, it passed by comfortable margins in both houses: 48-14 in the General Assembly and 25-13 in the State Senate.

[All 14 states require proof of residency to be considered a qualifying patient for medical marijuana use.]