Vote Smart provides easy access to congressional and state voting records and maintains a collection of key votes grouped by issue. Vote Smart uses the following criteria to select key votes:
Vote Smart provides a summary of the version of the bill text associated with each selected key vote. Our summaries are written by Vote Smart's staff and interns, who adhere to our strict policies and procedures in order to guarantee absolute impartiality and accuracy. They do not necessarily reflect the content of the final version of the bill, but rather the version voted on in that stage. While many procedural votes take place before a full chamber vote, our voting stages reflect the final reading of each chamber vote. Each key vote selection is reviewed by the project's community of advisors, who are political scientists and journalists from all fifty states.
For more information about the legislative process, see here.
| Date | State | Bill No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 4, 2017 | WV | SB 386 | Authorizes the Use of Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (76 - 24) |
| March 29, 2017 | WV | SB 386 | Authorizes the Use of Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 6) |
| March 27, 2017 | TN | HB 173 | Prohibits Local Government from Enacting Drug-Related Sanctions | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5) |
| March 21, 2017 | IA | HF 524 | Authorizes the Use of Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (96 - 0) |
| March 21, 2017 | OR | SB 863 | Prohibits Marijuana Retailers from Customer Record-Keeping | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 6) |
| March 8, 2017 | NH | HB 640 | Reduces Penalties for Marijuana Possession | Bill Passed - House (318 - 36) |
| Sept. 8, 2016 | MI | HB 4827 | Establishes Medical Marijuana Tracking System | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10) |
| Sept. 8, 2016 | MI | HB 4210 | Authorizes Edible Medical Marijuana Products | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 9) |
| Sept. 8, 2016 | MI | HB 4209 | Establishes Regulations for Medical Marijuana Facilities | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
| Sept. 8, 2016 | MI | SB 141 | Establishes Penalties for the Unauthorized Sale of Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11) |
| Sept. 8, 2016 | MI | SB 1014 | Exempts Medical Marijuana Rules from Administrative Procedures Act | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11) |
| Aug. 1, 2016 | NJ | A 457 | Authorizes Medical Marijuana Treatment for PTSD | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 9) |
| June 16, 2016 | NJ | A 457 | Authorizes Medical Marijuana Treatment for PTSD | Bill Passed - House (56 - 13) |
| May 18, 2016 | IL | SB 2228 | Classifies Minor Marijuana Possession as Civil Violation | Bill Passed - House (64 - 50) |
| May 16, 2016 | LA | SB 271 | Expands Eligibility for Medical Marijuana | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 14) |
| May 11, 2016 | LA | SB 271 | Expands Eligibility for Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (62 - 32) |
| May 10, 2016 | OH | HB 523 | Authorizes Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (71 - 26) |
| April 21, 2016 | NH | HB 1631 | Amends Penalty for Possession of Marijuana | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Failed - Senate (14 - 10) |
| April 20, 2016 | LA | SB 271 | Expands Eligibility for Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16) |
| April 19, 2016 | IL | SB 2228 | Classifies Minor Marijuana Possession as Civil Violation | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 14) |
| April 19, 2016 | LA | SB 271 | Expands Eligibility for Medical Marijuana | Bill Failed - Senate (19 - 16) |
| April 5, 2016 | NE | LB 643 | Authorizes Medical Marijuana | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (30 - 15) |
| March 29, 2016 | HI | HCR 127 | Authorizes a Study on the Potential Impact of Drug Legalization | Joint Resolution Passed - House (37 - 7) |
| March 16, 2016 | PA | SB 3 | Establishes Medical Marijuana Program | Bill Passed - House (149 - 43) |
| March 8, 2016 | SD | SB 171 | Authorizes Medical Marijuana | Bill Failed - House (25 - 43) |
| March 7, 2016 | FL | HB 307 | Amends Medical Marijuana Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11) |
| March 4, 2016 | HI | HB 2707 | Authorizes Nurses to Certify Medical Marijuana Patients | Bill Passed - House (38 - 9) |
| Feb. 25, 2016 | CO | SB 80 | Establishes Regulations for Secured Medical Marijuana Cultivation | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 15) |
| Feb. 25, 2016 | VT | S 241 | Authorizes Recreational Use of Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
| Feb. 25, 2016 | UT | SB 73 | Authorizes Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
| Feb. 23, 2016 | OR | SB 1511 | Establishes Regulations for Marijuana Dispensaries | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 10) |
| Feb. 23, 2016 | SD | SB 171 | Authorizes Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
| Feb. 23, 2016 | WY | SF 96 | Classifies 3 Ounces of Marijuana Edibles as a Felony | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 7) |
| Feb. 22, 2016 | UT | SB 89 | Authorizes the Use of Medicinal Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 8) |
| Feb. 14, 2016 | NM | SJR 5 | Authorizes the Use of Marijuana | Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 24) |
| Feb. 11, 2016 | NH | HB 1694 | Authorizes the Recreational Use of Marijuana | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (190 - 112) |
| Jan. 29, 2016 | NM | HB 195 | Specifies Employer is not Liable for Medical Marijuana Workers' Compensation Costs | Bill Passed - House (33 - 29) |
| Jan. 21, 2016 | MD | SB 517 | Authorizes Marijuana Paraphernalia | Veto Override Passed - House (86 - 55) |
| Jan. 21, 2016 | MD | SB 517 | Authorizes Marijuana Paraphernalia | Veto Override Passed - Senate (29 - 17) |
| July 2, 2015 | OR | SB 460 | Authorizes Retail Sale of Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (40 - 19) |
| June 26, 2015 | WA | HB 2136 | Amends Regulations Regarding Recreational Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (59 - 38) |
| June 25, 2015 | OR | HB 2041 | Establishes Sales Tax on Retail Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (43 - 15) |
| June 18, 2015 | DE | HB 39 | Decriminalizes Possession of Small Amounts of Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 9) |
| June 3, 2015 | LA | HB 149 | Amends Penalties for Marijuana Possesion | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13) |
| June 2, 2015 | DE | HB 39 | Decriminalizes Possession of Small Amounts of Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (24 - 14) |
| May 30, 2015 | IL | SB 33 | Authorizes Medical Marijuana for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder | Bill Passed - House (68 - 36) |
| May 21, 2015 | IL | HB 218 | Classifies Marijuana Possession as a Civil Violation | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 19) |
| May 13, 2015 | LA | HB 149 | Amends Penalties for Marijuana Possesion | Bill Passed - House (54 - 37) |
| May 7, 2015 | HI | HB 321 | Establishes a Medical Marijuana Dispensary System | Conference Report Adopted - House (36 - 13) |
| May 7, 2015 | KS | HB 2049 | Reduces Penalties for Marijuana Possession | Bill Passed - House (81 - 36) |
| May 7, 2015 | TX | SB 339 | Authorizes Medical Use of Cannabis | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5) |
| May 4, 2015 | CO | SB 14 | Authorizes Caregivers to Administer Medical Marijuana Treatments to Certain Students on School Property | Bill Passed - House (51 - 13) |
| May 4, 2015 | LA | SB 143 | Authorizes Pharmacies to Distribute Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| April 23, 2015 | IL | HB 218 | Classifies Marijuana Possession as a Civil Violation | Bill Passed - House (62 - 53) |
| April 23, 2015 | MO | HB 830 | Authorizes Cultivation of Industrial Hemp | Bill Passed - House (104 - 41) |
| April 15, 2015 | IA | SF 484 | Expands Medical Marijuana Uses | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 19) |
| April 10, 2015 | WA | SB 5052 | Amends Medical Marijuana Regulation System | Bill Passed - House (60 - 36) |
| April 6, 2015 | ID | S 1146 | Authorizes Medical Marijuana Oil | Bill Passed - House (39 - 30) |
| March 26, 2015 | NJ | ACR 224 | Expands New Jersey's Medical Marijuana Program | Joint Resolution Passed - House (42 - 23) |
| March 14, 2015 | NM | SB 383 | Authorizes Decriminalization of Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 20) |
| March 10, 2015 | HI | SB 879 | Reduces Penalties for Possession of Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 3) |
| March 10, 2015 | HI | HB 321 | Establishes a Medical Marijuana Dispensary System | Bill Passed - House (43 - 8) |
| March 9, 2015 | UT | SB 259 | Authorizes Use of Medical Cannabis | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 15) |
| Feb. 24, 2015 | IA | SF 219 | Reduces Penalties for Possession of Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 13) |
| Feb. 18, 2015 | ND | HB 1430 | Authorizes the Use of Medical Marijuana | Bill Failed - House (26 - 67) |
| Feb. 9, 2015 | CO | SB 65 | Prohibits Withdrawing Public Assistance Funds at Certain Places | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| Sept. 24, 2014 | PA | SB 1182 | Authorizes Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 7) |
| July 16, 2014 | National | H Amdt 1086 | Prohibits States from Penalizing a Bank for Providing Financial Services to Marijuana Businesses | Amendment Adopted - House (231 - 192) |
| June 20, 2014 | NY | A 6357E | Authorizes Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 10) |
| June 19, 2014 | NY | A 6357E | Authorizes Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (117 - 13) |
| May 30, 2014 | National | H Amdt 748 | Prohibits Federal Agencies from Preventing States from Authorizing the Use of Medical Marijuana | Amendment Adopted - House (219 - 189) |
| May 29, 2014 | CA | AB 1894 | Establishes a State Entity to Oversee Medical Cannabis | Bill Failed - House (26 - 33) |
| May 16, 2014 | MN | SF 2470 | Establishes a Patient Registry for Medical Marijuana | Conference Report Adopted - House (89 - 40) |
| May 16, 2014 | MN | SF 2470 | Establishes a Patient Registry for Medical Marijuana | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (46 - 16) |
| May 1, 2014 | IA | SF 2360 | Authorizes Medical Marijuana Oil | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 8) |
| April 30, 2014 | IA | SF 2360 | Authorizes Medical Marijuana Oil | Bill Passed - House (77 - 20) |
| April 24, 2014 | IA | SF 2360 | Authorizes Medical Marijuana Oil | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 12) |
| April 5, 2014 | MD | SB 364 | Reduces Penalties for Possession of Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (78 - 55) |
| March 26, 2014 | NH | HB 492 | Authorizes the Recreational Use of Marijuana | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (192 - 140) |
| March 14, 2014 | MD | SB 364 | Reduces Penalties for Possession of Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 8) |
| March 12, 2014 | NH | HB 1625 | Classifies Personal Possession of Marijuana as a Civil Violation | Bill Passed - House (215 - 92) |
| March 8, 2014 | WA | SB 5887 | Establishes Medical and Retail Marijuana Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 15) |
| Feb. 17, 2014 | WA | HB 2149 | Amends Medical Marijuana Program | Bill Passed - House (67 - 29) |
| Jan. 15, 2014 | NH | HB 492 | Authorizes the Recreational Use of Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (170 - 162) |
| Dec. 12, 2013 | MI | SB 660 | Authorizes the Growth and Sale of Pharmaceutical-Grade Marijuana | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 18) |
| Dec. 12, 2013 | MI | SB 660 | Authorizes the Growth and Sale of Pharmaceutical-Grade Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (87 - 22) |
| Nov. 13, 2013 | MI | SB 660 | Authorizes the Growth and Sale of Pharmaceutical-Grade Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16) |
| July 6, 2013 | OR | HB 3460 | Authorizes Retail Medical Marijuana Establishments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (31 - 28) |
| July 3, 2013 | OR | HB 3460 | Authorizes Retail Medical Marijuana Establishments | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
| June 24, 2013 | NJ | S 2842 | Authorizes Medical Marijuana for Minors | Bill Passed - House (55 - 13) |
| June 20, 2013 | NJ | S 2842 | Authorizes Medical Marijuana for Minors | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
| June 6, 2013 | LA | HB 103 | Reduces Penalties for Marijuana Possession | Motion Rejected - Senate (24 - 11) |
| June 3, 2013 | NV | SB 374 | Establishes Framework for Medical Marijuana Dispensaries | Bill Passed - House (28 - 14) |
| May 31, 2013 | CA | AB 473 | Establishes a State Agency to Regulate Medical Marijuana Sales | Bill Failed - House (35 - 37) |
| May 29, 2013 | LA | HB 103 | Reduces Penalties for Marijuana Possession | Bill Passed - House (54 - 38) |
| May 20, 2013 | CA | SB 439 | Exempts Certain Medical Marijuana Collectives and Cooperatives from Prosecution | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12) |
| May 17, 2013 | IL | HB 1 | Authorizes the Use of Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 21) |
| May 8, 2013 | CO | HB 1317 | Establishes Regulations for the Retail Marijuana Industry | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (37 - 28) |
| May 8, 2013 | CO | HB 1318 | Establishes Sales Taxes for Retail Marijuana | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (37 - 28) |
| May 8, 2013 | CO | HB 1317 | Establishes Regulations for the Retail Marijuana Industry | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 6) |