Cannabis: Laws, Regulations & Policy

Federal Law vs. State Law

It is important to understand that marijuana is still illegal under federal law, specifically Title 21 United States Code Controlled Substances Act.

Title 21 United States Code, Section 812: Controlled Substances Act
Marijuana Legalization
This 2018 article from CQ Researcher provides an overview of marijuana legalization and the tension between federal and state law.

State Cannabis Programs 2019

List of States with Recreational, Medical, or No Access Programs
Recreational & Medical Marijuana	Medical Marijuana	CBD/Low THC Marijuana	No Access
Alaska California Colorado District of Columbia Maine Massachusetts Michigan Nevada Oregon Vermont Washington	Arizona Arkansas Connecticut Delaware Florida Hawaii Illinois Louisiana Maryland Minnesota Missouri Montana New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Pennsylvania Rhode Island Utah West Virginia	Alabama Georgia Virginia Wyoming Iowa Wisconsin Texas Mississippi Indiana North Carolina South Carolina Tennessee	Idaho Kansas Nebraska South Dakota

Source: National Conference of State Legislatures. (2018). State Medical Marijuana Laws. Retrieved from: http://www.ncsl.org/research/health/state-medical-marijuana-laws.aspx

Oregon Law & Policy Resources

Marijuana and Hemp (Cannabis) Law
Information from the Oregon State Bar
Recreational Marijuana: Personal Use FAQs
Published by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission, the governing agency for the state.

Selected Research Articles Related to Marijuana Legalization

“Good moral characters”: how drug felons are impacted under state marijuana legalization laws.
Research by Beverly Yuen Thompson, published in Contemporary Justice Review. Sep 2017, Vol. 20 Issue 3, p. 211-226.
Marijuana, federal power, and the states
By Jonathan Alder, published in Case Western Reserve Law Review, Spring 2015, Vol. 65 Issue 3, p. 505-539.
What will federal marijuana reform look like?
By Alex Kreit, published in
Case Western Reserve Law Review. Spring 2015, Vol. 65 Issue 3, p.689-718.

Policy Related Advocacy Groups

Marijuana Policy Project
MPP, which was founded in January 1995, is the largest organization in the U.S. that’s focused solely on ending marijuana prohibition.