Reports & Media

Status: Medical Use History: 2015: Municipal reforms begin (decriminalisation in some cities and regions) 2016: Medical cannabis legalised Policy Framework: Patients must have a qualifying condition (there are 23 listed); Patients must be certified by a doctor and register to the programme to obtain medical cannabis legally; 30-day supply as prescribed by a doctor; No allowance made for patients to cultivate their own cannabis at home; Pennsylvania can have up to 25 licensed medical cannabis growers and up to 50 dispensaries; Medical cannabis can only be obtained from a dispensary; There are an estimated 116,000 registered medical cannabis patients in Pennsylvania, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health; Possession of less than 30g (1oz) of cannabis for recreational use is a misdemeanour punishable by up to 30 days in prison and a fine of up to $US500; Possession of over 30g of recreational cannabis is a misdemeanour punishable by up to a year in prison and fines of up to $US5000; Sale or distribution of less than 30g of cannabis without remuneration is a misdemeanour punishable by up to 30 days in prison and fines of up to $US500; Sale or distribution of more than 30g of cannabis is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison and fines of up to $US15,000; Cultivation of any number of plants is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison and fines of up to $US15,000. Outcomes: Between 2005 and 2017, cannabis use disorder in people over the age of 12 decreased from 1.5% to 1.4%. Read more

Status: Medical Use History: 2006: Medical cannabis was legalised 2009: Dispensary system for medical cannabis implemented and sales begin Policy Framework: Patients must have a qualifying condition, of which there are 14 listed; Patients may possess no more than 2.5oz (70g); Patients can cultivate up to 12 plants and 12 seedlings in their homes; No more than nine state-licensed dispensaries are allowed to operate in Rhode Island at a time; There are an estimated 18,728 registered medical cannabis patients in Rhode Island, according to the Rhode Island Department of Health; Possession of less than 1oz (30g) of cannabis for personal recreational use is decriminalised to a civil infraction (like a speeding ticket) punishable by a $US150 fine; Possession of less than a kg of cannabis is a misdemeanour punishable by a year in prison and fines of up to $US500; Possession with intent to distribute is a felony punishable by up to life in prison and fines of up to $US500,000; Cultivation or sale is a felony punishable by up to life in prison and fines of up to $US500,000. Outcomes: Between 2005 and 2017, cannabis use disorder in people over the age of 12 decreased from 2.6% to 2.5%; In 2018, sales of medical marijuana reached $US60.2 million. Read more

Status: Prohibited History: 2014: Legalisation of CBD (cannabidiol) oil - children with severe epilepsy can be treated with CBD oil if recommended by a doctor Policy Framework: Possession of less than 1oz (30g) of cannabis for a first-time offender is a misdemeanour punishable by 30 days in prison and a fine of $US200; Possession of less than 1oz of cannabis for a subsequent offence is a misdemeanour punishable by a year in prison and a fine of up to $US2000; Sale or trafficking is a felony punishable by sometimes more than 25 years in prison and fines of up to $US200,000; Cultivation of cannabis is a felony punishable by more than 25 years in prison and fines of up to $US200,000. Outcomes: Between 2005 and 2017, cannabis use disorder in people over the age of 12 decreased from 1.7% to 1.4%. Read more