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 7, 2023 | MD | HB 556 | Requires Legalization of Recreational Cannabis by July 1, 2023 | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 12) |
| March 28, 2023 | DE | HB 2 | Establishes State Regulations and Taxes for Recreational Cannabis | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 5) |
| March 28, 2023 | DE | HB 1 | Authorizes Recreational Cannabis Use for Adults 21 and Older | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 4) |
| March 16, 2023 | KY | SB 47 | Establishes Legal Medical Cannabis | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11) |
| March 7, 2023 | SD | SB 1 | Expands Definition of Who Can Access Medical Marijuana Program | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 15) |
| March 7, 2023 | HI | SB 669 | Authorizes Individuals to Grow Up to 6 Cannabis Plants for Recreational Use | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 3) |
| March 1, 2023 | NC | SB 3 | Authorizes the Use of Medical Cannabis for Those Who Qualify | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 10) |
| Feb. 27, 2023 | NJ | A 3946 | Amends Tax Provisions Relating to Cannabis | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 3) |
| Feb. 22, 2023 | VA | SB 1337 | Establishes New Regulations and Provisions to the Medical Marijuana Program | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13) |
| Feb. 22, 2023 | WA | SB 5123 | Prohibits Employers from Denying Employment Due to Positive Cannabis Drug Test | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21) |
| June 29, 2022 | DE | HB 276 | Authorizes Medical Marijuana Patients to Possess Firearms | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 4) |
| June 6, 2022 | NC | SB 711 | Authorizes Medical Marijuana Products for Specified Conditions | (36 - 7) |
| June 2, 2022 | LA | HB 629 | Prohibits Use of Marijuana Odor to Justify Warrantless Searches | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10) |
| June 1, 2022 | NY | S 8837 | Requires Coverage of Medical Marijuana by Certain Insurers | Bill Passed - Senate (54 - 9) |
| May 24, 2022 | RI | H 7593 | Authorizes Recreational Use of Marijuana | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 5) |
| May 24, 2022 | RI | S 2430 | Authorizes Recreational Use of Cannabis/Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate |
| May 24, 2022 | LA | HB 988 | Prohibits Discrimination Against Employees Using Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 32) |
| May 20, 2022 | OK | HB 2179 | Expands Medical Marijuana Licensing and Fees | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 7) |
| May 19, 2022 | OK | HB 3208 | Amends Various State Medical Marijuana Laws and Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 8) |
| May 19, 2022 | DE | SB 280 | Requires Medical Marijuana Centers and Safety Compliance Facilities to have a Labor Peace Agreement | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 7) |
| May 12, 2022 | DE | HB 371 | Repeals Penalties for Possession of 1 Ounce of Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 7) |
| May 4, 2022 | CT | HB 5329 | Increases Regulation of Marijuana Sales | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| April 28, 2022 | NH | HB 629 | Reduces Certain Restrictions on Cannabis | "Ought to Pass" Report Not Adopted - Senate (9 - 15) |
| April 28, 2022 | OK | HB 4287 | Expands Regulations on Sale of Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 11) |
| April 27, 2022 | OK | HB 3752 | Requires That Land Used to Grow Marijuana is Returned to Its Former State Before Sale | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 7) |
| March 31, 2022 | MD | HB 837 | Establishes Regulations for the Legal Use of Cannabis and Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 15) |
| March 28, 2022 | SD | SB 151 | Requires Automatic Expungement of Marijuana Convictions | Veto Override Failed - Senate (17 - 17) |
| March 21, 2022 | CO | HB 22-1037 | Authorizes Dual Marijuana Businesses | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 5) |
| March 9, 2022 | SD | SB 24 | Limits Cultivation of Cannabis Plants | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (24 - 11) |
| March 4, 2022 | UT | SB 195 | Expands the Ability of Doctors to Recommend Medical Cannabis Products to Patients Suffering from Chronic Pain | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 1) |
| March 4, 2022 | OR | HB 5201 | Establishes New Fees for Marijuana Businesses | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 7) |
| March 3, 2022 | OR | HB 4074 | Establishes Cannabis Licensing, Human Trafficking Reporting, and Marijuana Testing Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 0) |
| March 2, 2022 | OR | HB 4016 | Establishes Moratoria on Cannabis Licensure | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 3) |
| Feb. 23, 2022 | SD | SB 3 | Authorizes the Sale of Recreational Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| Feb. 15, 2022 | VA | SB 391 | Establishes Legal Framework for Sale of Recreational Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
| Feb. 14, 2022 | NM | SB 100 | Establishes the Cannabis Regulation Act | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11) |
| Feb. 9, 2022 | SC | S 150 | Authorizes Certain Forms of Medical Cannabis | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 15) |
| Feb. 8, 2022 | SD | SB 20 | Authorizes Medical Marijuana as a Defense Against Prosecution for Possession and Use | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10) |
| Jan. 25, 2022 | SD | SB 26 | Amends the Definition for a Medical Cannabis Practitioner | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 4) |
| Jan. 25, 2022 | OH | SB 261 | Expands Medical Marijuana Program | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5) |
| Jan. 19, 2022 | WA | SB 5004 | Establishes a Tax Exemption for Medical Marijuana Patients | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 8) |
| Jan. 13, 2022 | MS | SB 2095 | Amends Medical Marijuana Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 5) |
| June 25, 2021 | OR | HB 3000 | Prohibits Minors from Purchasing Products Containing Delta-8 THC Outside of a Regulated Cannabis Market | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 3) |
| June 24, 2021 | AZ | SB 1847 | Expands the Usage of Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 3) |
| June 22, 2021 | RI | S 568 | Establishes the Cannabis Control Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9) |
| June 21, 2021 | OR | SB 96 | Expands the Oregon Liquor Control Commission to Include Testing Standards for Industrial Hemp-Derived Vapor Items | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 5) |
| June 17, 2021 | CT | SB 1201 | Authorizes Recreational Use of Cannabis for Adults | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (16 - 11) |
| June 7, 2021 | LA | HB 652 | Reduces Penalties for Possession of Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 17) |
| May 27, 2021 | OK | SB 1033 | Amends Medical Marijuana and Patient Protection Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 11) |
| April 23, 2021 | MT | HB 701 | Amends Marijuana Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 16) |
| April 6, 2021 | WA | HB 1443 | Expands the Duties of the Task Force on Social Equity in Cannabis | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 16) |
| March 31, 2021 | GA | SB 195 | Amends Hemp Farming Laws | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (43 - 9) |
| March 30, 2021 | NY | S 854 | Authorizes the Legalization of Adult Recreational Cannabis Use | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 23) |
| March 25, 2021 | NH | SB 60 | Establishes Penalties for Having an Open Marijuana Container in a Vehicle | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 3) |
| Feb. 27, 2021 | VA | HB 2312 | Authorizes the Simple Possession of Marijuana | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 19) |
| Feb. 26, 2021 | CO | SB 21-111 | Establishes a Program to Support Entrepreneurs in the Marijuana Industry | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 15) |
| Feb. 24, 2021 | AL | SB 46 | Authorizes the Legalization and Regulation of Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10) |
| Feb. 23, 2021 | IN | SB 201 | Amends Cannabis Possession While Driving Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20) |
| Feb. 5, 2021 | VA | SB 1406 | Expands Adult Cannabis Use and Eliminates Criminal Penalties | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| Dec. 17, 2020 | NJ | S 2535 | Reduces Fines and Sentences Related to Marijuana Possession | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 2) |
| Dec. 17, 2020 | NJ | A 21 | Rescinds the Classification of Marijuana as a Schedule I Drug. | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 17) |
| Nov. 16, 2020 | NJ | A 1897 | Reduces Criminal Penalty for Marijuana Possession | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 4) |
| Oct. 2, 2020 | VA | SB 5029 | Prohibits Search and Seizure Based Solely on the Odor of Marijuana | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
| Sept. 23, 2020 | MI | HB 4982 | Authorizes Convicts of Marijuana Misdemeanors to Apply for Expungement | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 2) |
| Sept. 22, 2020 | VT | S 54 | Authorizes the Sale and Regulation of Cannabis | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 6) |
| Aug. 28, 2020 | VA | SB 5029 | Prohibits Search and Seizure Based Solely on the Odor of Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14) |
| June 30, 2020 | OH | SB 3 | Amends Drug Penalties | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 4) |
| June 3, 2020 | IA | HF 2589 | Expands the Medical Marijuana Program to Include Severe Autism and PTSD | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17) |
| May 27, 2020 | LA | HB 819 | Expands Access to Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 6) |
| April 22, 2020 | VA | HB 972 | Establishes Provisions Decriminalizing Marijuana | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 14) |
| March 12, 2020 | AL | SB 165 | Establishes a Medical Marijuana Program | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11) |
| March 10, 2020 | CO | HB 20-1080 | Repeals State Residency Requirement for Medical Marijuana Business Licenses | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 9) |
| Sept. 11, 2019 | CA | AB 545 | Authorizes the Review of Activities of the Bureau of Cannabis Control | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 0) |
| Sept. 5, 2019 | CA | AB 1291 | Requires Cannabis Businesses to Enter Into Labor Peace Agreements | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9) |
| Aug. 30, 2019 | CA | SB 223 | Authorizes Medical Cannabis on K-12 Campuses | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 7) |