State laws may provide additional rights and benefits to individuals coping with cancer. Various laws related to employment, disability insurance, health insurance, COVID-19, accessing medical records, estate-planning, other cancer-related state laws, and immigration are included below. We also have a chart of state laws on creating a will that can be found here. Please note that this information changes frequently, so check back for up-to-date information.
This chart includes the state laws related to various issues individuals coping with cancer may encounter.
| State | Medical Marijuana Law | Death with Dignity Law | Right to Try Law | Digital Assets Law | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALABAMA | CBD only | http://alisondb.legislature.state.al.us/ALISON/SearchableInstruments/2015rs/PrintFiles/SB326-int.pdf | x | http://alisondb.legislature.state.al.us/ALISON/SearchableInstruments/2015rs/PrintFiles/SB357-enr.pdf | x | https://legiscan.com/AL/text/HB138/2017 | ||
| ALASKA | full legalization | http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/statutes.asp | x | x | http://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Text/30?Hsid=HB0108Z | |||
| ARIZONA | medical marijuana legal | http://apps.azsos.gov/public_services/Title_09/9-17.pdf | x | http://apps.azsos.gov/election/2014/Info/PubPamphlet/english/prop303.pdf | x | https://www.azleg.gov/viewdocument/?docName=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.azleg.gov%2Fars%2F14%2F13101.htm | ||
| ARKANSAS | medical marijuana legal | https://www.uaex.edu/business-communities/voter-education/Issue 6 - Full Text.pdf | x | http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/2015/2015R/Acts/Act374.pdf | x | http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/2017/2017R/Acts/Act886.pdf | ||
| CALIFORNIA | full legalization | https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201720180AB64 | AB-15, The End of Life Option Act (June 9, 2016) | https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201520162AB15 | x | http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201520160AB1668 | x | http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displayText.xhtml?lawCode=PROB&division=2.&title=&part=20.&chapter=&article= |
| COLORADO | full legalization | https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/sites/default/files/Section 16 - Retail.pdf | Prop 106, The End of Life Options Act (December 16, 2016) | http://www.leg.state.co.us/LCS/Initiative Referendum/1516initrefr.nsf/b74b3fc5d676cdc987257ad8005bce6a/99fbc3387156ab5c87257fae00748890/$FILE/2015-2016 145bb.pdf | x | http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2014a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont3/CE8AAA4FAF92567487257C6F005C8D97?open&file=1281shhs_01.pdf | x | https://law.justia.com/codes/colorado/2016/title-15/fiduciary/article-1/part-15/ |
| CONNECTICUT | medical marijuana legal | https://portal.ct.gov/DCP/Drug-Control-Division/Drug-Control/Medical-Marijuana | x | ftp://ftp.cga.ct.gov/2016/tob/h/2016HB-05270-R01-HB.htm | x | https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_802b.htm | ||
| DELAWARE | medical marijuana legal | http://www.delcode.delaware.gov/title16/c049a/index.shtml | No state law, but federally legal (May 2018) | x | http://delcode.delaware.gov/title12/c050/index.shtml | |||
| *DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA | full legalization | https://code.dccouncil.us/dc/council/code/titles/7/chapters/16B/ | The D.C. Death with Dignity Act (February 18, 2017) Federal budget may defund | http://lims.dccouncil.us/Download/33261/B21-0038-Introduction.pdf | No state law, but federally legal (May 2018) | |||
| FLORIDA | medical marijuana legal | http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0300-0399/0381/Sections/0381.986.html | x | http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=_h0269er.docx&DocumentType=Bill&BillNumber=0269&Session=2015 | x | http://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2016/Chapter740/All | ||
| GEORGIA | CBD oil | https://dph.georgia.gov/low-thc-oil-faq-law-enforcement | x | http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20152016/160399.pdf | x | http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/en-US/display/20172018/SB/301 | ||
| HAWAII | medical marijuana legal | http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol06_Ch0321-0344/HRS0329/HRS_0329-0121.htm | Our Care, Our Choice Act (effective 2019) | https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2018/bills/HB2739_HD1_.HTM | No state law, but federally legal (May 2018) | x | https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol12_Ch0501-0588/HRS0556A/HRS_0556A-.htm | |
| IDAHO | CBD oil | https://odp.idaho.gov/cannibidiol/ | x | https://legislature.idaho.gov/legislation/2016/H0481.pdf | x | https://legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/Title15/T15CH14PT1/ | ||
| ILLINOIS | full legalization | http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=3503&ChapterID=35 | x | http://ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=09900SB0029eng&GA=99&SessionId=88&DocTypeId=SB&LegID=83309&DocNum=29&GAID=13&Session=&print=true | x | http://ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=3728&ChapterID=60 | ||
| INDIANA | CBD oil | https://legiscan.com/IN/text/SB0052/2018 | x | https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2015/bills/house/1065 | x | https://law.justia.com/codes/indiana/2016/title-32/article-39 | ||
| IOWA | CBD only | https://www.legis.iowa.gov/publications/search/document?fq=id:966724&pdid=966700 | x | x | https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/LGE/87/Attachments/SF333_GovLetter.pdf | |||
| KANSAS | CBD only | http://www.kslegislature.org/li_2018/b2017_18/measures/documents/sb282_enrolled.pdf | No state law, but federally legal (May 2018) | https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/s204/BILLS-115s204enr.pdf | x | http://www.kslegislature.org/li_2018/b2017_18/measures/sb63/ | ||
| KENTUCKY | CBD oil | https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=46889 | x | |||||
| LOUISIANA | medical marijuana legal | http://www.legis.la.gov/legis/ViewDocument.aspx?d=1003807 | x | http://www.legis.la.gov/Legis/ViewDocument.aspx?d=880125%20%20http://www.legis.la.gov/Legis/ViewDocument.aspx?d=977765 | x | http://www.legis.la.gov/Legis/Law.aspx?d=111641 | ||
| MAINE | full legalization | https://legislature.maine.gov/lawlibrary/recreational_marijuana_in_maine/9419 | Maine Death with Dignity Act (March 19, 2019) | https://www.deathwithdignity.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/2019-ME-LD-1313.pdf | x | http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0138&item=1&snum=127 | x | https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/bills_128th/billtexts/HP059501.asp |
| MARYLAND | medical marijuana legal | https://mmcc.maryland.gov/Documents/01-15-2020_health-General_article_13-3301-13-3316.pdf | x | https://legiscan.com/MD/bill/HB584/2017 | x | https://govt.westlaw.com/mdc/Browse/Home/Maryland/MarylandCodeCourtRules?guid=NB416A5604EBC11E6954C8B1204045FDF&originationContext=documenttoc&transitionType=Default&contextData=(sc.Default) | ||
| MASSACHUSETTS | full legalization | http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/gov/departments/dph/programs/hcq/medical-marijuana/legal-reference.html | No state law, but federally legal (May 2018) | https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/s204/BILLS-115s204enr.pdf | ||||
| MICHIGAN | full legalization | http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(n4bcelx5vg31zpdeonfx143w))/mileg.aspx?page=GetObject&objectname=mcl-333-26424 | x | http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2013-2014/publicact/htm/2014-PA-0346.htm http:/www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2013-2014/publicact/htm/2014-PA-0345.htm | x | http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(jc4ybzdkyktnhc2awdbk0pj1))/mileg.aspx?page=GetObject&objectname=mcl-Act-59-of-2016 | ||
| MINNESOTA | medical marijuana legal | https://www.revisor.mn.gov/laws/?id=311&doctype=Chapter&type=0&year=2014 | x | https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF100&version=3&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0 | x | https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/521A | ||
| MISSISSIPPI | CBD only | http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2014/html/HB/1200-1299/HB1231SG.htm | x | http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2016/html/SB/2500-2599/SB2527SG.htm | x | http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2017/pdf/history/HB/HB0849.xml | ||
| MISSOURI | medical marijuana legal | https://www.sos.mo.gov/CMSImages/AdRules/csr/current/19csr/19c30-95.pdf | x | http://www.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills141/biltxt/truly/HB1685T.htm | x | https://legiscan.com/MO/text/HB1250/2018 | ||
| MONTANA | medical marijuana legal | https://leg.mt.gov/bills/2011/billpdf/SB0423.pdf | End-of-life option legal through Baxter v. Montana | https://www.deathwithdignity.org/states/montana/ | x | http://leg.mt.gov/bills/2015/billpdf/SB0142.pdf | x | https://leg.mt.gov/bills/2017/billhtml/SB0118.htm |
| NEBRASKA | fully illegal | https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=28-401 | Investigational Drug Use Act | https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=30764 | x | https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=30-501 | ||
| NEVADA | full legalization | https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NAC/NAC-453A.html | x | http://www.leg.state.nv.us/Session/78th2015/Bills/AB/AB164_EN.pdf | x | https://legiscan.com/NV/text/AB239/id/1616593 | ||
| NEW HAMPSHIRE | medical marijuana legal | http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rules/state_agencies/he-c400.html | x | http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill_status/billText.aspx?id=433&v=SA&txtFormat=html | ||||
| NEW JERSEY | medical marijuana legal | https://www.nj.gov/health/medicalmarijuana/program-rules/ | Aid in Dying for the Terminally Ill Act (effective August 1st 2019) | https://www.deathwithdignity.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/2018-NJ-A-1504.pdf | No state law, but federally legal (May 2018) | https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/s204/BILLS-115s204enr.pdf | x | https://legiscan.com/NJ/text/A3433/id/1650990 |
| NEW MEXICO | medical marijuana legal | https://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/20 Regular/final/SB0139.pdf | No state law, but federally legal (May 2018) | https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/s204/BILLS-115s204enr.pdf | x | https://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/17 Regular/final/SB0060.pdf | ||
| NEW YORK | medical marijuana legal | http://public.leginfo.state.ny.us/lawssrch.cgi?NVLWO: | No state law, but federally legal (May 2018) | https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/s204/BILLS-115s204enr.pdf | x | https://law.justia.com/codes/new-york/2016/ept/article-13-a/ | ||
| NORTH CAROLINA | CBD for epilepsy only | http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2015/Bills/House/PDF/H766v6.pdf | x | http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/Sessions/2015/Bills/House/HTML/H652v4.html | x | https://www.ncleg.net/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/PDF/ByChapter/Chapter_36F.pdf | ||
| NORTH DAKOTA | medical marijuana legal | https://www.legis.nd.gov/cencode/t19c24-1.pdf | x | https://legiscan.com/ND/text/2259/id/1201774/North_Dakota-2015-2259-Enrolled.pdf | x | https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/65-2017/documents/17-0217-03000.pdf | ||
| OHIO | medical marijuana legal | https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-documents?id=GA131-HB-523 | x | https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA131-HB-290 | x | http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/2137 | ||
| OKLAHOMA | medical marijuana legal | http://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/DeliverDocument.asp?CiteID=483199 | x | http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf_pdf/2015-16 ENR/hB/HB1074 ENR.PDF | x | https://law.justia.com/codes/oklahoma/2014/title-58/section-58-269/ | ||
| OREGON | full legalization | https://olis.leg.state.or.us/liz/2007R1/Downloads/MeasureDocument/SB161 | Death with Dignity Act (1994) | http://www.oregon.gov/oha/ph/ProviderPartnerResources/EvaluationResearch/DeathwithDignityAct/Pages/ors.aspx | x | https://olis.leg.state.or.us/liz/2015R1/Downloads/MeasureDocument/HB2300/Enrolled | x | https://olis.leg.state.or.us/liz/2016R1/Downloads/MeasureDocument/SB1554/Enrolled |
| PENNSYLVANIA | medical marijuana legal | http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=0003 | x | https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/li/uconsCheck.cfm?yr=2017&sessInd=0&act=33 | ||||
| *PUERTO RICO | medical marijuana legal | http://www.salud.gov.pr/Estadisticas-Registros-y-Publicaciones/Reglamentos/Reglamento 155.pdf | No state law, but federally legal (May 2018) | https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/s204/BILLS-115s204enr.pdf | ||||
| RHODE ISLAND | medical marijuana legal | http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText09/SenateText09/S0185aa.pdf | No state law, but federally legal (May 2018) | https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/s204/BILLS-115s204enr.pdf | x | https://law.justia.com/codes/rhode-island/2014/title-33/chapter-33-27/ | ||
| SOUTH CAROLINA | CBD for epilepsy only | http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess120_2013-2014/bills/1035.htm | x | http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess121_2015-2016/prever/4542_20160526.htm | x | https://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t62c002.php | ||
| SOUTH DAKOTA | fully illegal | https://atg.sd.gov/OurOffice/Media/pressreleasesdetail.aspx?id=2167 | x | http://www.sdlegislature.gov/docs/legsession/2015/Bills/HB1080P.pdf | x | http://sdlegislature.gov/Legislative_Session/Bills/Bill.aspx?File=HB1080ENR.htm&Session=2017&Bill=1080 | ||
| TENNESSEE | CBD for seizures only | http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/109/Bill/HB0197.pdf | x | http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/109/Bill/HB0143.pdf | x | https://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/2016/title-35/chapter-8/ | ||
| TEXAS | CBD oil | https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/HS/htm/HS.481.htm | x | http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/84R/billtext/pdf/HB00021F.pdf | x | https://capitol.texas.gov/Search/DocViewer.aspx?ID=85RSB011935B&QueryText=%22sb+1193%22&DocType=B | ||
| UTAH | medical marijuana legal | https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title26/Chapter61A/26-61a-S102.html?v=C26-61a-S102_2019092320190923 | x | http://le.utah.gov/~2015/bills/hbillenr/HB0094.pdf | x | https://le.utah.gov/~2017/bills/static/HB0013.html | ||
| VERMONT | full legalization | https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/18/084/04230 | Act 39, Vermont Patient Choice and Control at the End of Life Act (May 2013) | http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/2014/Acts/ACT039.pdf | No state law, but federally legal (May 2018) | https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/s204/BILLS-115s204enr.pdf | x | https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/chapter/14/125 |
| VIRGINIA | CBD oil | https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title54.1/chapter34/section54.1-3408.3/ | x | https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?151+ful+SB732ER+pdf | x | http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?171+ful+CHAP0080 | ||
| WASHINGTON | full legalization | http://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5073&Year=2011 | The Washington Death with Dignity Act (March 5, 2009) | http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=70.245&full=true | x | https://goldwaterinstitute.org/article/washington-state-35th-state-to-adopt-right-to-try-act-terminally-ill-patients/ | x | https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=11.120 |
| WEST VIRGINIA | medical marijuana legal | http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2017_SESSIONS/RS/bills/SB386 SUB1 enr.pdf | x | http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Text_HTML/2015_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb2026 intr.pdf | x | http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=SB102%20SUB1%20ENR.htm&yr=2018&sesstype=RS&i=102 | ||
| WISCONSIN | CBD only | http://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2017/related/acts/4 | x | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2017/related/lcactmemo/act165.pdf | x | http://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/711 | ||
| WYOMING | CBD for epilepsy only | http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2015/Enroll/HB0032.pdf | x | http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2015/Enroll/SF0003.pdf | x | https://advance.lexis.com/documentpage/?pdmfid=1000516&crid=ef0694ee-cd42-412a-ab40-84d8a9137cb4&nodeid=AACAAEAALAAB&nodepath=%2FROOT%2FAAC%2FAACAAE%2FAACAAEAAL%2FAACAAEAALAAB&level=4&haschildren=&populated=false&title=Article+10+Uniform+Fiduciary+Access+ | ||
| GUAM | medical marijuana legal | http://www.guamlegislature.com/Public_Laws_33rd/P.L. No. 33-220.pdf |