This dataset on LawAtlas.org tracks sweeping legislation that broadly decriminalizes drug possession, providing a high-level overview of legislation that decriminalizes personal possession of most or all controlled substances. This dataset does not include laws or bills that decriminalize possession of only a few, specific substances (e.g., marijuana only or psychedelic substances only). The dataset covers all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia and includes enacted state laws and pending state bills as of March 15, 2022. It also captures state bills that were introduced on or after January 1, 2021, but have since failed.
The data were created using the sentinel surveillance of emerging laws and policies legal mapping method, with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.