It should be noted that this article is for information purposes only and should not, under any circumstances, be accepted as legal advice.

The West Coast has a reputation for being the more laid back side of America and, as a result, medical marijuana is legal in many of the West Coast states. In comparison, the more conservative East Coast has a much smaller area in which medical marijuana is legalized. With only three states in total where medical marijuana can be used legally, we look at the East Coast states where medical marijuana is legal:

Maine

Medical marijuana was legalized in Maine back in 1999, and has therefore been legal in the Pine Tree State for over 10 years. The vote went to ballot and 61% voted in favour of making the drug legal for medical use. There are certain conditions in which medical marijuana is prescribed and these are epilepsy, glaucoma, MS, cancer, AIDS, Hepatitis C, Alzheimer’s, Crohn’s and nail patella syndrome. Patients on medical marijuana need to pay a $100 processing fee for a card, which enables them to legally possess up to 2.5 ounces of useable medical marijuana. They may also cultivate up to six marijuana plants, of which only up to three can be mature at any one time.

Vermont

The Green Mountain State legalized medical marijuana in 2004 in a senate bill relating to medical marijuana usage for those people with severe illness. Sufferers of cancer, AIDS, MS or those that are HIV positive can take medical marijuana, although registration is mandatory. Users must not possess more than two mature plants, seven cannabis plants and 2 ounces of medical marijuana at any one time.

Rhode Island

A 2006 senate bill made medical marijuana legal in Rhode Island for sufferers of the same conditions specified in Maine. Rhode Island accepts medical marijuana cards from any other US state or territory, and users can grow up to 12 marijuana plants and possess up to 2.5 ounces of medical marijuana. Meanwhile primary caregivers may not possess more than 24 marijuana plants and 5 ounces of medical marijuana at any one time.

Maryland

Medical marijuana is not legal in Maryland. However, in 2003 the state passed a bill that allowed defendants being prosecuted for marijuana usage to enter a medical defence. This defence must be approved by a physician in order to stand up in court. If the court finds medical necessity to be a mitigating factor, then the only penalty that they can impose is a fine, not to exceed $100.

DC

Medical marijuana only became legal in Washington DC in late July 2010. As a result, the state has not yet decided how the medical marijuana program will run, and this program is not expected to be active before the end of 2010. Currently sufferers of chronic and debilitating conditions can possess up to 2 ounces of marijuana, but medical marijuana cards and cultivation regulations still need to be decided.

New Jersey

The Garden State is another state which didn’t see medical marijuana become legal until early 2010. The program was supposed to become active six months after being voted in, but at the end of July Governor Christie asked for more time, and as a result the program will come into effect at the end of January 2011.

The bill will not only protect patients using medical marijuana from prosecution, but also provides for the creation of alternative treatment centers for patients using the drug.