The road to cannabis law reform has been a long one, however progress continues to be made. Road to Cannabis Law Reform

Legal Changes Through the Years

States that have legalized cannabis

States that have legalized medical cannabis

1911 – Massachusetts is 1st state to ban cannabis in the U.S.

1970 – Controlled Substances Act (CSA) is passed – Classi�es cannabis as a schedule I controlled substance, federally prohibiting cannabis across the U.S.

1973 – Oregon is 1st state to pass cannabis decriminalization legislation

1979 – 1991 – 5 states (Virginia, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Wisconsin, and Louisiana) enact laws legalizing medical marijuana with a physician’s pre-scription; however, CSA federal law prohibits the prescription of cannabis

1991 – San Francisco is 1st to pass a city ordinance in favor of medicinal cannabis use

1996 – Voters make California the 1st state to legalize medical cannabis

1998 – Alaska, Oregon, and Washington voters legalize cannabis

1999 – Maine voters legalize cannabis

2000 – Colorado and Nevada voters & Hawaii legislature legalize cannabis

2004 – Montana voters and Vermont legislature legalize cannabis2006 – Rhode Island

legislature legalizes cannabis

2008 – Michigan voters legalize cannabis

2010 – Arizona voters, New Jersey legislature, and D.C. council legalize cannabis

2011 – Delaware legislature legalizes cannabis; 1st ever cannabis legalization bill introduced to Congress

2012 – Connecticut legislature and Massachusetts voters legalize cannabis

2015 – Federal Judge rules the Rohrabacher-Farr amendment prevents DEA and Department of Justice from pursuing lawful cannabis businesses

2013 – Illinois and New Hampshire legislatures legalize cannabis

2015 – 23 states and the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana for medicinal use while 4 states (Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington) have legalized marijuana for recreational use

1972 – Shafer Commission recommends decriminalizing cannabis for personal use

1973 – Oregon is 1st state to pass cannabis decriminalization legislation

2014 – Maryland, Minnesota, and New York legislatures legalize cannabis; Rohrabacher-Farr amendment to government spending bill prohibits federal spending penalizing financial institutions providing services to cannabis businesses in legalized States

States Moving Towards Legalizing Marijuana for Recreational Use

Will be on the 2016 Ballot

California -Multiple legalization initiatives under way

Vermont - Key state political figures showing support; legislative hearings on how to legalize cannabis

Michigan - Two initiatives, Michigan Cannabis Coalition and MI Legalize, are collecting signatures

Maine - Legalize Maine campaign well on the way to collecting enough signatures to qualify for the ballot

Rhode Island -Current legalization bill under study by State legislature

Massachusetts - CRMLA initiative will be on the ballot in 2016; 2nd looser initiative may also be on the ballot

Arizona - Collected over 2/3 signatures supporting the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol (CRMLA) to qualify for the ballot

Nevada - CRMLA initiative is on the ballot in 2016

Federal Legalization of Cannabis

Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2015Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act

Submitted to Senate (S.2237) in November 2015

Proposes to amend the Controlled Substances Act and outlines the deregulation of cannabis

Proposes to amend the Controlled Substances Act and subject marijuana to the same regulations as alcohol

Submitted to House of Representatives (H.R. 1013) in February 2015

Marijuana Businesses Access to Banking Act of 2015

Introduced to House of Representatives (H.R. 2076) and Senate (S.1726)

Bill proposes to protect institutions providing financial services to cannabis-related businesses

Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act,

2016

Submitted to House of Representatives (H.R. 2995) and Senate (S.1910)

Prohibits use of federal funds made available by this bill from being used to penalize institutions providing financial services in States where cannabis is legalized

Banking

The Future of Cannabis Law

Cannabis-Friendly Merchant Services

As cannabis laws continue to evolve, Guardian Data Systems is working to provide cannabis business owners the same financial services that other businesses have and the sustainable growth of the industry.

Guardian Data Systems provides the expert guidance and consulting services that your business or financial institution needs to transparently navigate cannabis financial services while maintaining state and federal compliance including:

Copyright © 2016 Guardian Data Systems | Infographic Designed by Mad Fish Digital Sources: abovethelaw.com, alternet.org, congress.gov, governing.com, guardiandatasystems.com, norml.org, procon.org, washingtonpost.com

Merchant Services

FinCEN Compliance

Financial Consulting

Investment Opportunities

Business Development

Seed to Sale Tracking Systems

Equipment Leasing/Financing

& more