Fact Checked by Doctor NameIntroduction of Wyoming Marijuanas Law
Table of Contents
Wyoming stands alone as the only state with no legal provisions for medical or recreational marijuana access, retaining criminal prohibitions rivaling those of the early 20th century.
Nearly all types of cannabis remain strictly forbidden in Wyoming, including medical use, industrial hemp, and CBD oil containing even trace amounts of THC.
The state first enacted cannabis bans over a century ago and has stubbornly resisted reform efforts ever since.
While America has widely embraced the liberalization of marijuana policies, Wyoming refuses to adapt.
The state imprisons cannabis consumers, blocks research, and denies medicine to the suffering – all to maintain outdated laws with no basis in science or public health.
This article explores the background of Wyoming’s draconian marijuana policies and the faint glimmers of hope for advocates demanding reform.
Historical Context of Wyoming Cannabis Law
- Wyoming first prohibited cannabis in 1913 and strengthened penalties in 1929, establishing harsh felony laws before the federal Marihuana Tax Act.
- Efforts to allow medical access have been repeatedly stonewalled, including a 2016 ballot initiative struck down by the state Supreme Court.
- Wyoming rejected hemp legalization for years after federal reforms, bowing only when commercial interests demanded change in 2019.
- The legislature has blocked even modest decriminalization measures proposed in 2020 and 2022 supported by most residents.
- Powerful forces, including law enforcement, the prison industry, and pharmaceutical lobbyists, have upheld prohibition for decades through disinformation and insider influence.
- Wyoming has a lengthy history of ignoring public will to maintain antiquated marijuana policies that harm residents and tarnish social justice.
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Current Legal Status: Is Marijuana Legal in Wyoming?
Medical Marijuana and CBD in Wyoming
Qualifying Medical Conditions and Patient Registration in Wyoming
To qualify, people must get a signed diagnosis from a qualified doctor that they have one of the allowed diseases, such as: For Patients Medical Conditions Include:
There are no qualifying conditions, as medical cannabis is illegal in the state of Wyoming. Only medical CBD is available. Only patients with epilepsy or seizure disorders may qualify for medical CBD oil.
- Cancer
- Epilepsy
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
- Parkinson’s Disease (PD)
Obtaining Medical CBD Products in Wyoming
- The lack of in-state access forces Wyoming patients to transport CBD oil across state lines to avoid violating federal laws. This necessitates traveling long distances to reach medical marijuana states.
- Regulations prohibit state employees from assisting residents in obtaining CBD oil. Doctors cannot legally prescribe cannabis preparations or guide patients.
- With no legal local sources, some desperate families have moved across state lines, uprooting their lives to ensure access to medical CBD for their children.
- The ban on production forces patients into underground markets with untested products of uncertain origin and composition. Quality control remains a major concern.
Restrictions and Regulations in Wyoming
- Law enforcement maintains that only the narrow CBD allowance provides any legal protections for possession. Products exceeding the 0.3% THC limit can justify criminal charges.
- The THC cap on legal CBD oil is an arbitrary threshold not based on any science. Many experts argue higher levels may be necessary for therapeutic efficacy in some conditions.
- Banning full-spectrum cannabis preparations with a balanced cannabinoid profile denies patients access to the most medically effective options, according to research.
- Legal protections remain tenuous even for permitted CBD products. Defendants still have the burden of proving a preparation meets the THC limit if facing charges.
- The lack of licensed dispensaries and regulated product testing exposes sick Wyoming residents to serious health risks from uncontrolled black market CBD oil of dubious origins.
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Recreational Marijuana in Wyoming
Current Status in Wyoming
- Wyoming stands alone as the only state with no allowances for recreational marijuana. Adult use remains fully criminalized.
- Possession of any amount, no matter how small, can lead to fines, jail time, and lifelong criminal records.
- The lack of legal possession limits means even trace amounts can technically justify charges and convictions.
Legal Age in Wyoming
- With recreational marijuana completely prohibited, no legal age applies in Wyoming currently.
- If adult-use legalization ever occurs, policymakers have indicated that 21 would likely be the minimum age, matching alcohol regulations.
- Setting the limit at 21 risks pushing younger adult consumers to the underground market, as seen in states that have adopted this age restriction.
Potential Future Changes in Wyoming
- Bills to legalize medical marijuana access have been repeatedly proposed but rejected by the legislature.
- Full adult-use legalization does not appear to have serious momentum in Wyoming currently.
- Most advocates are focused on incremental change, like decriminalization, before pursuing broader reforms.
Hemp and CBD Laws in Wyoming
- Wyoming waited until 2019 to legalize industrial hemp, long after most states had reformed policies to permit this non-psychoactive crop.
- Hemp-derived CBD with no THC content can now be legally sold. But CBD oil containing any amount of THC remains prohibited.
- Marijuana-derived CBD preparations with a balanced profile of cannabinoids have greater medical efficacy, according to studies. But these products remain banned.
- Allowing hemp but not medical marijuana is scientifically dubious since both derive from the same cannabis plant species. The key difference is an arbitrary legal THC threshold.
- CBD legislation has provided a symbolic win but falls short of meaningful medical access. Only full cannabis preparations can offer relief for many conditions.
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Cannabis Cultivation and Home Growing in Wyoming
- Wyoming still considers personal cultivation a crime punishable by 10 years in jail and a $10,000 fine for any number of plants.
- State home growing penalties are among the heaviest in the U.S. Even small personal grows face multi-year penalties.
- There are no allowances for individual medical marijuana patients or caregivers to cultivate their cannabis.
- Police actively pursue tips and conduct aerial surveillance seeking out backyard grows to strictly enforce prohibitions.
- As Wyoming has no licensed dispensaries, home cultivation is the only potential source of medical cannabis for suffering patients.
- Home growers, including those only producing for personal medical use, face strict, disproportionate punishment.
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Marijuana Sales and Distribution in Wyoming
- The sale or distribution of any amount of marijuana remains a felony in Wyoming, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and significant fines.
- Harsh mandatory minimum sentences are imposed even for small sales, gifting, or transfers between individuals.
- There are no legal medical or recreational dispensaries operating in the state.
- The lack of regulated retail outlets forces many medical patients to obtain cannabis through the unregulated illicit market with no quality control or safety standards.
- Law enforcement dedicates tremendous resources to seeking out and prosecuting unlicensed sellers and distributors through sting operations and raids.
- Wyoming prosecutors aggressively pursue marijuana sale and distribution charges even in cases involving consenting adults, small amounts of cannabis, and no other criminal activities.
Marijuana Public Use and DUI Laws in Wyoming
- Public consumption of marijuana remains illegal in Wyoming, carrying fines and potential jail time.
- The state has applied public consumption laws broadly, with people facing charges even for possession in their private residences if the activity is observable to the public.
- Wyoming also has some of the strictest marijuana DUI laws in the country. Trace THC levels alone can justify charges, even when impairment cannot be shown.
- Drivers face license suspension, fines, and possible jail time even for first offenses when no accident or erratic driving has occurred.
- Unlike alcohol, THC can remain detectable in blood and urine for weeks after any impairment wears off, leading to false DUI charges.
- The harsh laws provide incentives for questionable traffic stops and chemical tests fishing for residual THC to charge fully sober drivers.
Social Equity and Cannabis in Wyoming
- As all marijuana possession remains prohibited, Wyoming has yet to address equity for impacted communities.
- If laws change, records should be deleted and assistance provided to those harmed by selective enforcement.
- Sociological research shows cannabis laws have been disproportionately used to target minorities despite equal usage rates.
- Wyoming should ensure equity by offering economic opportunities, loans, and rehabilitation resources.
- Models from other states illustrate how to enact restorative justice and redress damages from discriminatory policing and prosecutions.
Weed Recent Legislative Changes in Wyoming
- In 2020, possession of under 3 ounces changed from a felony to a misdemeanor – a small step but far short of most states’ decriminalization laws.
- Multiple bills have since aimed to legalize medical marijuana or further reduce criminal penalties, but lawmakers rejected all.
- HB0037 in 2021 would have legalized medical marijuana and created licensed dispensaries, but it failed to pass the House.
- HB0143 in 2023 sought to legalize strictly regulated medical weed access but was voted down in committee.
- SB0088 in 2022 would have built on the 2020 law by decriminalizing up to 2 ounces of marijuana, but the bill was defeated.
- Resistance remains strong among key legislators, but cracks are emerging as public attitudes rapidly evolve toward reform.
- Opposition is particularly firm among lawmakers with backgrounds in law enforcement and corrections.
- Gov. Mark Gordon has firmly opposed legalization efforts, vowing to block any reforms that reach his desk.
- Despite obstacles, advocates continue to organize, lobby, and demonstrate to pressure elected officials to align marijuana policies with public opinion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is medical marijuana or CBD legal in Wyoming?
A: Only high-CBD, low-THC hemp-derived CBD oil is permitted in Wyoming. Whole-plant medical marijuana and products containing any amount of THC remain illegal for any purpose.
Q: What conditions qualify for medical CBD oil in Wyoming?
A: Only intractable epilepsy currently. The legislature has repeatedly refused to expand the list of qualifying conditions despite evidence showing marijuana’s therapeutic benefits for numerous ailments.
Q: Are there protections for medical use?
A: No, outside of the CBD allowance for epilepsy, all cannabis possession carries criminal penalties in Wyoming regardless of medical necessity. There are no protections for bona fide medical use.
Q: What are common arguments against legalizing medical marijuana in Wyoming?
A: Opponents claim a lack of FDA approval, the potential for abuse, concerns about drugged driving, and risks of addiction or mental illness. However, evidence contradicts many of these claims.
Q: Does marijuana have legitimate medical uses?
A: Yes, abundant research highlights the therapeutic benefits of cannabis for a wide range of conditions, including chronic pain, seizures, PTSD, and side effects of chemotherapy. Denying patients access lacks scientific or ethical justification.
Q: Could legal access reduce unsafe black-market marijuana use?
A: Yes, studies show regulated legal markets decrease risks associated with unregulated product quality, unsafe production methods, contamination, uncertain dosing, and criminal sales.
Q: How do Wyoming’s marijuana policies compare regionally?
A: Most nearby states, including Colorado, Montana, and New Mexico, have legalized recreational marijuana.
Wyoming remains an island of prohibition in the West, sticking to outdated policies that now lie far outside the mainstream.
Q: Can I be charged with a DUI for marijuana in Wyoming?
A: Yes, Wyoming has a zero-tolerance law for THC impairment while driving. Even residual THC from use days earlier can justify a DUI charge.
Q: How do I stay informed about changing marijuana laws?
A: Check reputable sites like NORML, MPP, and state-specific groups like Wyoming NORML for the latest legislative developments and reform efforts.
Q: Are there any current bills proposed to change Wyoming’s marijuana laws?
A: For the 2023 session, HB0143 aims to legalize medical marijuana access. HB0106 seeks to build on 2020’s decriminalization progress. Both face substantial opposition.
Q: What are the prospects for future legalization efforts in Wyoming?
A: Full recreational legalization likely faces poor prospects currently. Advocates are focused on incremental steps like expanding medical use legalization and further decriminalization for now.
Conclusion
The future of cannabis law reform in Wyoming remains uncertain at best.
Despite strong public support for liberalization, especially for medical use, entrenched political interests have prevented progress and meaningful change.
While recent small victories like reduced possession penalties and CBD allowances are encouraging, Wyoming still has the most regressive marijuana policies in America.
Sustained pressure from advocates and educational efforts focused on lawmakers provide some hope for incremental progress.
However, barring an unprecedented shift, Wyoming’s prohibitionist regime seems unlikely to catch up with the rest of the nation anytime soon.
For the many residents suffering under repressive cannabis laws, reform cannot come soon enough.
