Key Votes
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About the Selection and Descriptions of Key Votes
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:
- The vote should be helpful in portraying how a member stands on a particular issue
- The vote should be clear for any person to understand
- The vote has received media attention
- The vote was passed or defeated by a very close margin
- Occasionally, if a specific bill is consistently inquired about on the Voter's Research Hotline, the vote will be added
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.
results per page:
| Date | State | Bill No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 25, 2007 | National | H Amdt 674 | State and Federal Medical Marijuana Law Enforcement and Implementation | Amendment Rejected - House (165 - 262) |
| June 15, 2005 | National | H Amdt 272 | Medical Marijuana Use Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (161 - 264) |
| Jan. 6, 2011 | IL | SB 1381 | Legalize Medical Marijuana | Bill Failed - House (56 - 60) |
| Feb. 21, 2011 | MT | HB 161 | Repeals Montana Medical Marijuana Law | Bill Passed - House (62 - 37) |
| March 4, 2011 | MT | HB 389 | Warning Labels for Medical Marijuana | Bill Failed - House (40 - 59) |
| April 11, 2011 | WA | SB 5073 | Regulations for the Use of Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (54 - 43) |
| May 5, 2011 | DE | SB 17 | Authorizes Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (27 - 14) |
| April 27, 2011 | MT | SB 423 | Medical Marijuana | Conference Report Adopted - House (70 - 30) |
| May 5, 2011 | VT | S 17 | Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (99 - 44) |
| March 8, 2012 | NH | HB 1526 | Reduces Penalties for Possession of Less than One-Half Ounce of Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (162 - 161) |
| March 8, 2012 | NH | HB 1705 | Legalizes Marijuana for Individuals Over 21 Years of Age | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (228 - 89) |
| April 25, 2012 | NH | SB 409 | Authorizes Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (236 - 96) |
| May 15, 2012 | CO | HB 1005 | Establishes Limits for Driving Under the Influence of Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (38 - 24) |
| April 25, 2012 | CT | HB 5389 | Authorizes the Use of Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (96 - 51) |
| June 5, 2012 | RI | H 7092 | Reduces Penalties for Possession of Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (50 - 24) |
| May 31, 2012 | CA | AB 2312 | Regulations for Marijuana Dispensaries | Bill Passed - House (41 - 30) |
| May 16, 2012 | RI | H 7888 A | Authorizes Medical Marijuana Dispensaries | Bill Passed - House (64 - 7) |
| June 25, 2012 | NJ | A 1465 | Reduces Penalties for Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (44 - 31) |
| March 11, 2013 | NM | HB 465 | Reduces Penalties for Marijuana Possession | Bill Passed - House (37 - 33) |
| March 25, 2013 | MD | HB 1101 | Authorizes Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (108 - 28) |
| April 1, 2013 | MD | SB 580 | Expands Affirmative Defense to include a Caregiver Providing Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (95 - 37) |
| Feb. 25, 2013 | IN | HB 1006 | Amends the Criminal Code | Bill Passed - House (80 - 13) |
| April 16, 2013 | VT | H 200 | Reduces Penalties for Small Amounts of Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (92 - 49) |
| April 17, 2013 | IL | HB 1 | Authorizes the Use of Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (61 - 57) |
| May 31, 2013 | CA | AB 473 | Establishes a State Agency to Regulate Medical Marijuana Sales | Bill Failed - House (35 - 37) |
| May 8, 2013 | CO | HB 1318 | Establishes Sales Taxes for Retail Marijuana | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (37 - 28) |
| May 29, 2013 | LA | HB 103 | Reduces Penalties for Marijuana Possession | Bill Passed - House (54 - 38) |
| May 8, 2013 | CO | HB 1317 | Establishes Regulations for the Retail Marijuana Industry | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (37 - 28) |
| June 3, 2013 | NV | SB 374 | Establishes Framework for Medical Marijuana Dispensaries | Bill Passed - House (28 - 14) |
| July 6, 2013 | OR | HB 3460 | Authorizes Retail Medical Marijuana Establishments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (31 - 28) |
| June 24, 2013 | NJ | S 2842 | Authorizes Medical Marijuana for Minors | Bill Passed - House (55 - 13) |
| Dec. 12, 2013 | MI | SB 660 | Authorizes the Growth and Sale of Pharmaceutical-Grade Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (87 - 22) |
| Feb. 17, 2014 | WA | HB 2149 | Amends Medical Marijuana Program | Bill Passed - House (67 - 29) |
| March 12, 2014 | NH | HB 1625 | Classifies Personal Possession of Marijuana as a Civil Violation | Bill Passed - House (215 - 92) |
| Jan. 15, 2014 | NH | HB 492 | Authorizes the Recreational Use of Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (170 - 162) |
| April 5, 2014 | MD | SB 364 | Reduces Penalties for Possession of Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (78 - 55) |
| April 30, 2014 | IA | SF 2360 | Authorizes Medical Marijuana Oil | Bill Passed - House (77 - 20) |
| 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 16, 2014 | MN | SF 2470 | Establishes a Patient Registry for Medical Marijuana | Conference Report Adopted - House (89 - 40) |
| March 26, 2014 | NH | HB 492 | Authorizes the Recreational Use of Marijuana | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (192 - 140) |
| May 29, 2014 | CA | AB 1894 | Establishes a State Entity to Oversee Medical Cannabis | Bill Failed - House (26 - 33) |
| June 19, 2014 | NY | A 6357E | Authorizes Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (117 - 13) |
| 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) |
| Feb. 18, 2015 | ND | HB 1430 | Authorizes the Use of Medical Marijuana | Bill Failed - House (26 - 67) |
| March 10, 2015 | HI | HB 321 | Establishes a Medical Marijuana Dispensary System | Bill Passed - House (43 - 8) |
| March 26, 2015 | NJ | ACR 224 | Expands New Jersey's Medical Marijuana Program | Joint Resolution Passed - House (42 - 23) |
| April 6, 2015 | ID | S 1146 | Authorizes Medical Marijuana Oil | Bill Passed - House (39 - 30) |
| April 23, 2015 | MO | HB 830 | Authorizes Cultivation of Industrial Hemp | Bill Passed - House (104 - 41) |
| April 10, 2015 | WA | SB 5052 | Amends Medical Marijuana Regulation System | Bill Passed - House (60 - 36) |
| April 23, 2015 | IL | HB 218 | Classifies Marijuana Possession as a Civil Violation | Bill Passed - House (62 - 53) |
| May 13, 2015 | LA | HB 149 | Amends Penalties for Marijuana Possesion | Bill Passed - House (54 - 37) |
| June 26, 2015 | WA | HB 2136 | Amends Regulations Regarding Recreational Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (59 - 38) |
| May 30, 2015 | IL | SB 33 | Authorizes Medical Marijuana for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder | Bill Passed - House (68 - 36) |
| May 4, 2015 | CO | SB 14 | Authorizes Caregivers to Administer Medical Marijuana Treatments to Certain Students on School Property | Bill Passed - House (51 - 13) |
| June 25, 2015 | OR | HB 2041 | Establishes Sales Tax on Retail Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (43 - 15) |
| July 2, 2015 | OR | SB 460 | Authorizes Retail Sale of Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (40 - 19) |
| May 7, 2015 | HI | HB 321 | Establishes a Medical Marijuana Dispensary System | Conference Report Adopted - House (36 - 13) |
| Jan. 21, 2016 | MD | SB 517 | Authorizes Marijuana Paraphernalia | Veto Override Passed - House (86 - 55) |
| Jan. 29, 2016 | NM | HB 195 | Specifies Employer is not Liable for Medical Marijuana Workers' Compensation Costs | Bill Passed - House (33 - 29) |
| Feb. 11, 2016 | NH | HB 1694 | Authorizes the Recreational Use of Marijuana | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (190 - 112) |
| May 7, 2015 | KS | HB 2049 | Reduces Penalties for Marijuana Possession | Bill Passed - House (81 - 36) |
| 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) |
| May 18, 2016 | IL | SB 2228 | Classifies Minor Marijuana Possession as Civil Violation | Bill Passed - House (64 - 50) |
| 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) |
| March 29, 2016 | HI | HCR 127 | Authorizes a Study on the Potential Impact of Drug Legalization | Joint Resolution Passed - House (37 - 7) |
| June 16, 2016 | NJ | A 457 | Authorizes Medical Marijuana Treatment for PTSD | Bill Passed - House (56 - 13) |
| March 4, 2016 | HI | HB 2707 | Authorizes Nurses to Certify Medical Marijuana Patients | Bill Passed - House (38 - 9) |
| April 6, 2017 | WV | SB 386 | Authorizes the Use of Medical Marijuana | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (74 - 24) |
| April 4, 2017 | WV | SB 386 | Authorizes the Use of Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (76 - 24) |
| April 10, 2017 | TN | HB 109 | Amends Marijuana Possession Laws | Bill Failed - House (44 - 45) |
| May 3, 2017 | VT | H 170 | Authorizes Recreational Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (75 - 71) |
| April 22, 2017 | IA | HF 524 | Authorizes the Use of Medical Marijuana | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (83 - 11) |
| March 21, 2017 | IA | HF 524 | Authorizes the Use of Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (96 - 0) |
| March 8, 2017 | NH | HB 640 | Reduces Penalties for Marijuana Possession | Bill Passed - House (318 - 36) |
| June 1, 2017 | CA | AB 1578 | Prohibits State Law Enforcement from Cooperating with Federal Marijuana Law Enforcement | Bill Passed - House (41 - 33) |
| June 21, 2017 | MA | H 3768 | Authorizes Reforms to Recreational Marijuana Laws | Bill Passed - House (126 - 28) |
| Jan. 4, 2018 | VT | H 511 | Authorizes Possession of 1 Ounce of Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (81 - 63) |
| April 15, 2018 | AK | HB 316 | Amends Rules Concerning Release of Marijuana Conviction Records | Bill Passed - House (30 - 10) |
| April 12, 2018 | LA | HB 579 | Authorizes Additional Uses for Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (60 - 40) |
| April 10, 2018 | ME | LD 1719 | Authorizes Adult-Use of Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (112 - 34) |
| June 6, 2018 | NY | A 2142 | Requires Certain Marijuana Convictions be Sealed | Bill Passed - House (98 - 41) |
| June 6, 2018 | NY | A 9016 | Authorizes Medical Marijuana for Opioid-Use Disorder | Bill Passed - House (108 - 28) |
| May 31, 2018 | CA | AB 1793 | Amends Marijuana Convictions | Bill Passed - House (43 - 28) |
| Oct. 2, 2018 | MI | HB 4668 | Prohibits Marijuana Infused Beer | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (101 - 4) |
| Feb. 13, 2018 | UT | HB 197 | Authorizes the Cultivation and Distribution of Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (38 - 32) |
| Feb. 9, 2018 | UT | HB 195 | Authorizes Terminal Ill Individuals to Try Medical Cannabis | Bill Passed - House (40 - 26) |
| Nov. 27, 2018 | IL | SB 3136 | Authorizes More Discretion by the State Police in Positive Cannabis Testing Terminations | Veto Override Passed - House (86 - 24) |
| March 12, 2018 | TN | HB 1875 | Authorizes Commissioner of Agriculture to Exempt Industrial Hemp from Regulatory Requirements | Bill Passed - House (79 - 7) |
| Sept. 17, 2020 | VT | S 54 | Authorizes the Sale and Regulation of Cannabis | Conference Report Adopted - House (92 - 56) |
| March 1, 2019 | MT | HB 498 | Authorizes Parolee Use of Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (60 - 39) |
| March 15, 2019 | NM | SB 323 | Reduces Criminal Penalties for Marijuana Possession | Bill Passed - House (44 - 20) |
| March 13, 2019 | FL | SB 182 | Authorizes the Use of Medical Marijuana by Smoking | Bill Passed - House (101 - 11) |
| March 5, 2019 | GA | HB 324 | Authorizes Sale of Medical Marijuana Oil | Bill Passed - House (123 - 40) |
| March 7, 2019 | HI | HB 1383 | Authorizes Marijuana Possession of 3 Grams or Less | Bill Passed - House (34 - 16) |
| March 7, 2019 | NM | HB 356 | Authorizes Sale of Recreational Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (36 - 34) |
| March 27, 2019 | KS | HB 2244 | Authorizes the Use of of CBD Oil Containing THC for Certain Medical Conditions | Bill Passed - House (89 - 35) |
| April 4, 2019 | NH | HB 481 | Authorizes the Recreational Sale of Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (200 - 163) |
| April 30, 2019 | TX | HB 63 | Authorizes the Decriminalization of Cannabis Possession | Bill Passed - House (103 - 42) |