President Joe Biden announced Thursday he would pardon people federally convicted of simple possession of marijuana, a measure seen as a strong statement on how such offenses should be handled.
The president’s historic gesture could affect more than 6,500 people but does not affect those convicted at the state level, where most such convictions occur. Biden is hoping states will follow suit.
the notion of legalizing marijuana at the federal level has been gaining steam in recent years, and many states have already approved the substance for medicinal purposes, with a handful giving the OK to recreational use.
Before he was elected, Biden had called for marijuana criminalization on the campaign trail and in April pardoned nine federal offenders.
Where in the US is medical marijuana allowed?
According to the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), 37 states and the District of Columbia all have laws permitting marijuana for medical use, as do four US territories – Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands .
A dozen states allow limited access to products with low THC, the substance with the greatest impact on a person’s mental state.
Where in the US is recreational use of marijuana permitted?
Nineteen states and the District of Columbia have approved adult possession and consumption of marijuana, as have Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, according to NORML.
Which states have criminalized marijuana offenses?
According to NORML, 27 states have partially or fully decriminalized some offenses for marijuana possession. That means that possession of small amounts of marijuana for personal consumption is treated similarly to a minor traffic violation, with no arrest, prison time or criminal record for first-time offenders.
Four states – Minnesota, North Carolina, North Dakota and Ohio – have partially decriminalized possession, meaning that while the acts are still considered criminal offenses, they carry no threat of jail time.
Where does my state stand on marijuana use?
Here’s where each state stands on marijuana use, according to NORML:
Alabama – medical marijuana use permitted
Alaska – allows personal possession and consumption of marijuana by adults, medical marijuana use permitted
Arizona – allows personal possession and consumption of marijuana by adults, medical marijuana use permitted
Arkansas – medical marijuana use permitted
California – allows personal possession and consumption of marijuana by adults, medical marijuana use permitted
Colorado – allows personal possession and consumption of marijuana by adults, medical marijuana use permitted
Connecticut – allows personal possession and consumption of marijuana by adults, medical marijuana use permitted
Delaware – medical marijuana use permitted
District of Columbia – allows personal possession and consumption of marijuana by adults, medical marijuana use permitted
Florida – medical marijuana use permitted
Georgia – allows only limited access to low-THC products
Hawaii – medical marijuana use permitted
Idaho – marijuana use illegal
Illinois – allows personal possession and consumption of marijuana by adults, medical marijuana use permitted
Indiana – allows only limited access to low-THC products
Iowa – allows only limited access to low-THC products
Kansas – allows only limited access to low-THC products
Kentucky – allows only limited access to low-THC products
Louisiana – medical marijuana use permitted
Maine – allows personal possession and consumption of marijuana by adults, medical marijuana use permitted
Maryland – medical marijuana use permitted
Massachusetts – allows personal possession and consumption of marijuana by adults, medical marijuana use permitted
Michigan – allows personal possession and consumption of marijuana by adults, medical marijuana use permitted
Minnesota – medical marijuana use permitted
Mississippi – medical marijuana use permitted
Missouri – medical marijuana use permitted
Montana – allows personal possession and consumption of marijuana by adults, medical marijuana use permitted
Nebraska – marijuana use illegal
Nevada – allows personal possession and consumption of marijuana by adults, medical marijuana use permitted
New Hampshire – medical marijuana use permitted
New Jersey – allows personal possession and consumption of marijuana by adults, medical marijuana use permitted
New Mexico – allows personal possession and consumption of marijuana by adults, medical marijuana use permitted
New York – allows personal possession and consumption of marijuana by adults, medical marijuana use permitted
North Carolina – allows only limited access to low-THC products
North Dakota – medical marijuana use permitted
Ohio – medical marijuana use permitted
Oklahoma – medical marijuana use permitted
Oregon – allows personal possession and consumption of marijuana by adults, medical marijuana use permitted
Pennsylvania – medical marijuana use permitted
Rhode Island – allows personal possession and consumption of marijuana by adults, medical marijuana use permitted
South Carolina – allows only limited access to low-THC products
South Dakota – medical marijuana use permitted
Tennessee – allows only limited access to low-THC products
Texas – allows only limited access to low-THC products
Utah – medical marijuana use permitted
Vermont – allows personal possession and consumption of marijuana by adults, medical marijuana use permitted
Virginia – allows personal possession and consumption of marijuana by adults, medical marijuana use permitted
Washington – allows personal possession and consumption of marijuana by adults, medical marijuana use permitted
West Virginia – medical marijuana use permitted
Wisconsin – allows only limited access to low-THC products
Wyoming – allows only limited access to low-THC products
www.usatoday.com
George is Digismak’s reported cum editor with 13 years of experience in Journalism