On May 19, the Vermont legislature passed a medical marijuana law with a vote of 20-7 in favor. Vermont patients who live with cancer, multiple sclerosis or AIDS are now allowed to possess or grow up to three plants by the law of their state.
Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine, Nevada, Oregon and Washington have passed similar laws by ballot initiative, but only Hawaii has previously passed a med-pot law by state vote like Vermont.

On May 12, a similar med-pot bill was underhandedly killed in Connecticut despite winning a vote in the state's House. Democratic majority leader James Amann flouted democracy by stalling its final passage before the end of the session, killing the bill.

On the civic level, the town of Plymouth, California, passed an ordinance last May to regulate med-pot dispensaries. Councilors felt the ordinance became necessary after local Mike Koll applied for a business license to sell medical marijuana. The ordinance ensures that med-pot dispensaries are far from schools, libraries and public parks, and only in areas zoned for "light industry."

In Argentina, the government is considering a law that would legalize med-pot. The law was proposed in July 2003 by Buenos Aires representative Irma Parentella, an elected member of the Alternative for a Republic of Equals Party.

As of May 2004, the proposed law is still working its way through the difficult process of government approval.