New York Marijuana Legalization (MRTA)
Under the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA), it is legal for adults 21 and older to possess, use, and grow specific amounts of cannabis in New York State.
Criminal Law
Laws filed under this category in plain English.
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Arizona Smart and Safe Act (Prop 207)
Proposition 207 legalized the recreational use, possession, and cultivation of marijuana for adults aged 21 and older in Arizona.
Nevada Legal Marijuana (Question 2)
Nevada allows adults 21 and older to possess, purchase, and consume marijuana, but strictly prohibits smoking it in public or while driving.
Oregon Measure 110 (Drug Decriminalization)
In 2020, Oregon became the first state to decriminalize the personal possession of all drugs, treating addiction as a health issue rather than a criminal one.
Illinois SAFE-T Act (No Cash Bail)
Illinois became the first U.S. state to completely eliminate the cash bail system. Whether you sit in jail before your trial is now based entirely on the risk you pose, not how much money you have.
Alaska Recreational Marijuana (Measure 2)
Alaska has some of the most permissive marijuana laws in the U.S., largely due to the state's strong constitutional right to privacy within the home.
New York Bail Reform Act
New York significantly altered its criminal justice system by eliminating cash bail for most misdemeanors and non-violent felonies, though the law has been heavily amended since its passing.
Indiana Hate Crimes Law
Indiana was one of the last states to pass a hate crimes law. It allows judges to increase the sentence of a convicted criminal if the crime was motivated by bias against certain protected traits.
Virginia Legal Marijuana Laws
In 2021, Virginia became the first Southern state to legalize the personal possession and home cultivation of recreational marijuana for adults 21 and older, though retail sales are not yet legally established.
Illinois Legal Recreational Marijuana
Illinois legalized the recreational sale and use of marijuana in 2020. It was the first state to do so entirely through the state legislature rather than a voter ballot initiative.
Ohio Legal Recreational Marijuana (Issue 2)
In November 2023, Ohio voters passed Issue 2, legalizing the recreational use and home cultivation of marijuana for adults 21 and older.
New York Clean Slate Act
Starting in late 2024, the Clean Slate Act automatically seals many criminal records in New York after a certain period of time, allowing formerly incarcerated people to get jobs and housing without discrimination.
Pennsylvania Clean Slate Law
Pennsylvania was the first state to pass a 'Clean Slate' law, automatically sealing the criminal records of individuals with minor, non-violent convictions after they stay out of trouble for 10 years.
California Proposition 64 (Legal Marijuana)
Prop 64 legalized the recreational use, possession, and cultivation of marijuana for adults 21 and older in California.
Colorado Prop 122 (Legal Psychedelics)
In 2022, Colorado voters passed Proposition 122, legalizing the personal use, possession, and cultivation of certain psychedelic plants and fungi (like 'magic mushrooms') for adults 21 and older.
New Jersey Criminal Justice Reform Act (Bail)
New Jersey largely eliminated the use of money bail. Instead of making you pay to get out of jail, a judge uses a risk assessment algorithm to decide if you are safe to release before trial.
Virginia Abolishes the Death Penalty
In 2021, Virginia became the first Southern state to completely abolish the death penalty. It was a historic shift for a state that had previously executed more people than any other state in U.S. history.
Texas Open Container Law
Texas law strictly forbids having an open container of alcohol in the passenger area of a motor vehicle on a public highway, regardless of whether the vehicle is parked or moving.
California Proposition 47 (Shoplifting)
Prop 47 was a voter-approved initiative that downgraded many non-violent property and drug crimes from felonies to misdemeanors to reduce prison overcrowding.
Connecticut Legal Recreational Marijuana
Connecticut legalized the recreational use, possession, and retail sale of cannabis for adults 21 and older, while also automatically erasing hundreds of thousands of past low-level marijuana convictions.
Maine Legal Recreational Marijuana
Maine legalized the recreational use, possession, and cultivation of marijuana in 2016, and has one of the most generous home-grow allowances in the country.
Florida Justifiable Use of Force (Stand Your Ground)
A person who is not engaged in unlawful activity and is attacked in any place where they have a right to be has no duty to retreat and has the right to stand their ground and meet force with force.
Texas Castle Doctrine and Use of Force
Presumes the use of force is reasonable if someone is unlawfully and with force entering or attempting to enter your occupied habitation, vehicle, or place of business.
New York Justification and Duty to Retreat
In New York, a person may not use deadly physical force if they know they can retreat with complete safety, except when in their own home or preventing certain violent felonies.
California Self-Defense and No Duty to Retreat
While not a statutory 'Stand Your Ground' state, California jury instructions establish that a person being attacked has the right to stand their ground and pursue an assailant until the danger has passed.
Ohio Self-Defense Burden of Proof Shift
The burden of proof is on the prosecution to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a person did not act in self-defense, provided the defendant presents evidence tending to support the claim.
UK Criminal Justice and Immigration Act (Self-Defence)
Provides a statutory footing for the common law defense of self-defence, specifying that a person may use such force as is reasonable in the circumstances as they believed them to be.